[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 568 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 568

             Recognizing and congratulating Cal Ripken, Jr.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 2, 1998

   Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Ehrlich) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 
                             and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
             Recognizing and congratulating Cal Ripken, Jr.

Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr., the Baltimore Orioles' All-Star shortstop and third 
        baseman for 16 consecutive years, ended his record-breaking consecutive-
        games-played streak on September 20, 1998, after having started and 
        played in 2,632 consecutive games;
Whereas during that time Ripken was named Rookie of the Year (1982), Most 
        Valuable Player (1983 and 1991), and 1983 All-Star Game MVP, earned 2 
        Gold Gloves, achieved the Major League career record for most home runs 
        by a shortstop (353), and created an amazing record of 8,243 consecutive 
        innings played without a break;
Whereas on the day Ripken's streak began, May 30, 1982, the following items were 
        in the news: British troops had invaded the Falkland Islands; President 
        Reagan was serving his first term; a fledgling cable station called MTV 
        was completing its first year in business; Olivia Newton John was at the 
        top of the pop charts; the movie Conan the Barbarian was a hit; a 19-
        year-old college freshman named Michael Jordan led the University of 
        North Carolina to the NCAA Championship; and the running of John Riggins 
        powered the Washington Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XVII;
Whereas upon returning to the lineup the day after his streak ended, Ripken 
        recorded his 2,874th career hit, moving him ahead of Baltimore's other 
        favorite son, Babe Ruth, on baseball's all-time hit list;
Whereas baseball fans and historians alike widely credit Ripken with saving 
        America's pastime in 1995 when he broke Lou Gehrig's legendary 
        consecutive-games-played record and restored confidence in baseball 
        following a bitter strike that canceled the 1994 World Series;
Whereas on the nights Ripken tied and then broke Gehrig's streak, he hit home 
        runs in his home ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards;
Whereas the player with the next best consecutive-games-played streak on the day 
        Ripken's streak ended had played 327 games, meaning that player would 
        have to play 14 more years without missing a game to break Ripken's 
        record;
Whereas baseball fans will always recognize 1998 as one of the most historic 
        years in baseball history with the setting of Ripken's record and the 
        shattering of Roger Maris' single-season home run record by 2 players, 
        the St. Louis Cardinals' Mark McGwire (who was 18 years old when 
        Ripken's streak began) and the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa (who was 13 
        years old when Ripken's streak began);
Whereas Ripken further endeared himself to the citizens of the great State of 
        Maryland when he remarked the night he ended his streak: ``If this is 
        going to end, let it end where it started--Baltimore'';
Whereas Ripken and his wife, Kelly, have established the Kelly and Cal Ripken, 
        Jr., Foundation, which supports community adult and family literacy and 
        youth recreational programs in the greater Baltimore area;
Whereas in an age when prepackaging and hype have taken away so much from the 
        true essence of sports and sportsmanship, Ripken quietly ended his 
        streak with little fanfare, informing his manager of his decision a few 
        minutes before the game; and
Whereas for 16 years Ripken never missed a day of work and served as a model to 
        the Nation's children and as a representative of the working men and 
        women of the United States, who rise each day to do their jobs and 
        provide for themselves and their families: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and 
congratulates Cal Ripken, Jr., of the Baltimore Orioles for breaking 
Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games-played streak, establishing a new record 
of 2,632 games, and playing baseball with unparalleled grace, 
endurance, and skill, as Ripken said, ``the only way I know.''
                                 <all>