Ripken’s Streak Comes to End

The Streak is apparently over.

After 16 years and 2,632 consecutive games, Cal Ripken took himself out of the Baltimore Orioles’ starting lineup Sunday night and was not expected to play--ending the most amazing iron man record in sports history.

“I think the time is right,” Ripken told Manager Ray Miller.

The 38-year-old third baseman said he was not hurt. But with the Orioles out of playoff contention and playing their final home game of the season against the New York Yankees, Ripken decided to end the string that began on May 30, 1982.

An Orioles source said Ripken, who had started every game during his streak, was not planning to play Sunday night.

The end came during a magical season that has featured the historic home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, a perfect game by David Wells and the Yankees’ pursuit of the AL record for victories.

There had been recent talk that Ripken would volunteer to end the streak, which broke Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130. Before the game, he walked into Miller’s office and asked to have his name removed from the lineup. Rookie Ryan Minor started in his place.

One out into the game, when it became evident that Ripken would not be playing, all of the Yankees walked to the top step of the dugout, stood and applauded.

Ripken emerged from the Orioles dugout, tipped his hat toward the Yankees and stepped back down to the bench. With the sellout crowd standing and cheering, Ripken came out again and bowed to his fans.

There was an immediate rush to the souvenir stands at Camden Yards, with fans lining up to buy programs to the mark the historic night.

Ripken was batting .273 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs.

His numbers are among the lowest of his career, which began in 1981. His streak began the next season, when he became the AL Rookie of the Year.

It started when Ronald Reagan was still in his first term as president. It was overseen by eight managers--including his father, Cal Sr.--and lasted longer than most baseball careers. It was analyzed, criticized and scrutinized.

On Sept. 6, 1995, Ripken passed Gehrig’s record. Then a shortstop, Ripken became the sport’s all-time iron man on June 14, 1996, when he played in his 2,216th consecutive game--surpassing the record previously held by Japan’s Sachio Kinugasa.