Chronology of Ripken's Streak
Posted: Monday September 21, 1998 12:50 AM
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Chronology of Cal
Ripken's Iron Man streak, which ended Sunday at 2,632
consecutive games:
1982
May 30 -- The streak begins with Ripken batting eighth and
playing third base in a game against Toronto. Ripken played
third base for the first 27 games of the streak.
June 5 -- Ripken's record streak of 8,243 consecutive
innings, spanning 904 games, begins in a game at Minnesota.
July 1 -- Orioles manager Earl Weaver moves Ripken to
shortstop in a game at Cleveland.
Streak: 118 games -- Wins A.L. Rookie of the Year Award
after hitting .264 with 28 homers and 93 RBI.
1983
Streak: 280 -- Plays every inning of every game for the first
of four straight seasons. Won A.L. Most Valuable Player Award
after hitting .318 with 27 homers and 102 RBI. Led the majors in
hits with a club-record 211. Helps the Orioles to a World Series
championship over Philadelphia, 4-1.
1984
Streak: 442 -- Set A.L. record for assists by a shortstop
(583). Hit .304 with 27 homers and 86 RBI.
1985
April 10 -- In Game 444 of the streak Ripken sprained his
left ankle during a pickoff play in the third inning of a game
against Texas, but does not leave the game. X-rays taken after
the game were negative.
April 11 -- Ripken does not play in an exhibition game at
the U.S. Naval Academy
April 12 -- Ripken is in the lineup for a game against
Toronto to keep the streak alive.
Streak: 603 -- Hit .282 with 26 homers and 110 RBI.
1986
Streak: 765 -- Leads A.L. shortstops for fourth straight year
in home runs (25), RBI (81) and runs (98). Batted .282.
1987
September 14 -- Ripken's record innings streak of 8,243,
spanning 904 games, ends in Toronto when Weaver inserts Ron
Washington at shortstop in the bottom of the eighth inning of an
18-3 Blue Jays rout.
Streak: 927 -- Hit .252 with 27 homers and 98 RBI.
1988
June 25 -- Plays in 1,000th consecutive game as Orioles visit
Boston.
Streak: 1,088 -- After enduring an 0-for-29 stretch in
April, the longest hitless streak of his career, Ripken hits
.264 with 23 homers and 81 RBI.
1989
August 18 -- Plays in 1,208th straight game to pass Steve
Garvey for the third-longest consecutive games streak.
Streak: 1,250 -- Hit .257 with 21 homers and 93 RBI.
1990
June 12 -- Played in 1,308th consecutive game to move into
second-place on the all-time list ahead of Everett Scott (New
York Yankees, Boston, 1918-1925).
Streak: 1,411 -- Commits only 3 errors in 161 games (681
chances). Has streaks of 95 errorless games and 431 errorless
chances, both records for a shortstop. Hits for his lowest
average (.250) for a full season, but still leads the Orioles in
homers (21), RBI (84) and runs (78).
1991
Streak: 1,573 -- Wins his second A.L. M-V-P Award. Ripken's
34 home runs are the most for a shortstop in 22 years. Enjoyed
career-highs with a .323 batting average and 114 RBI.
1992
September 11 -- In Game 1,713 of the streak, Ripken twists
right ankle running out a double against Milwaukee, but did not
come out of the game. As a precaution, the Orioles recalled
shortstop Manny Alexander from Rochester of International
League.
1993
June 6 -- In Game 1,790 of the streak, Ripken twisted right
knee when his spikes caught in the infield grass against
Seattle. Though he did not come out of the game, the knee was
swollen the next day. He said later, "It was the closest I've
come to not playing."
July 15 -- Ripken hits 278th homer as a shortstop, most ever
hit by a major leaguer at that position surpassing Hall-of-Famer
Ernie Banks' mark of 277, in game against Twins.
Streak: 1,897 -- Led major league shortstops in homers for
the ninth time in the last 11 years with 24 and in RBI for the
eighth time with 90. Led A.L. shortstops in assists (495) for
the seventh time in his career, tying the A.L. record. Led A.L.
shortstops in total chances (738) for the fifth time.
1994
May 24 -- Hits 300th career homer in game against Brewers.
August 1 -- Plays 2,000th straight game as Baltimore visits
Minnesota.
August 12 -- Players go on strike. Season is cancelled by
owners one month later.
Streak: 2,009 -- Batted over .300 (.315) for fourth time in
his career and drove in 75 runs. Led major league shortstops in
fielding percentage (.985).
1995
Baseball strike continues, placing Ripken's streak in
jeopardy if owners use replacement players. Ripken vows he will
honour the strike and not participate in replacement games for
the sake of the streak. Orioles owner Peter Angelos adamantly
refuses to employ replacement players.
April 26 -- On a belated opening day, the streak continues
in Kansas City.
September 5 -- Ripken ties Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130
consecutive games played as Orioles beat California 8-0. He
receives ovation of more than five minutes from sellout crowd at
Camden Yards when game becomes official in the bottom of the
fifth. One inning later, he homers into left-field seats.
September 6 -- Ripken establishes a new record of 2,131
consecutive games played in a 4-2 victory over California. He
again hits a homer, this time in the fourth inning. When the
game becomes official after the top of the fifth, there is a
22-minute ovation for Ripken, who takes a victory lap.
October 1 -- Ripken concludes 1995 season by playing in his
2,153rd game -- a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Streak: 2,153 -- Received Sports Illustrated and Sporting
News Sportsman of the Year Awards. Led all AL shortstops with a
.989 fielding percentage and 100 double plays turned. Hit .262
with 17 homers and 88 RBI in 144 games.
1996
May 28 -- Ripken enjoys his first career three-homer game and
collects a career-high eight RBI in a 12-8 win at Seattle.
May 29 -- Ripken hits his 334th career home run, moving past
Eddie Murray for first-place on the team's all-time list, in a
9-8 loss at Seattle.
June 14 -- Ripken plays 2,216th consecutive game in 6-1 win
at Kansas City, setting a new consecutive games world record.
Previous mark of 2,215 was held by third baseman Sachio
Kinugasa who played with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan's Central
League.
July 15 -- Ripken starts at third base for the first time
since June 30, 1982 as the Orioles beat Toronto, 8-6, at Camden
Yards. He had made 2,216 consecutive starts at shortstop, a
major league record at any position.
August 9 -- Ripken registers 2,500th career hit, a single
off Chicago's Bill Simas, in a 4-3 loss to the White Sox.
September 29 -- Plays in 163rd game of season in a 4-1 loss
at Toronto to extend consecutive games streak to 2,316 games.
Streak: 2,316 -- Starter on the AL All-Star team for the
13th consecutive season. Surpassed 100 RBI for the fourth time
in his career. Hit .278 with 26 homers and 102 RBI.
1997
April 2 -- Ripken opens the 1997 season at third base to
extend his consecutive games streak to 2,317. He homers to give
the Orioles a 1-0 lead over the Kansas City Royals.
July 8 -- Plays in his 15th consecutive All-Star Game, and
first at third base.
July 20 -- Drew his third career ejection when umpire Al
Clark tossed him after a strikeout call.
Streak: 2,478 games -- Since breaking Gehrig's streak, he
has played in 346 straight games, which would be the second
longest streak in baseball behind Jeff Bagwell (351). Finished
with a 6-for-36 slump, but hit .270 with 17 homers and 84 RBI.
1998
March 31 -- Bats fifth in the season opener against the
Kansas City Royals.
April 25 -- Play in his 2,500th straight game as the Orioles
host Oakland.
September 20 -- Not in the starting lineup for the first
time since May 29, 1982. Entered the day with the streak at
2,632 consecutive games.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
