[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CAL RIPKEN'S STREAK OF PLAYING 2,632 CONSECUTIVE GAMES

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, Sunday, September 20, 1998 marked the 
end of an era in sports. Cal Ripken, baseball's Iron Man, took a well-
deserved day off. As the Baltimore Sun put it, ``The Streak died of 
natural causes. It was 2,632.''
  Cal Ripken sat in the dugout Sunday night not because of injury, or 
illness, or a manager's decision. Cal voluntarily took himself out of 
the lineup because he felt he was not playing up to his own standards, 
and would not contribute enough to the team. Cal's quietly monumental 
decision exemplifies the dignity and class with which he has conducted 
himself throughout his career.
  When Cal Ripken began his streak in 1982, Ronald Reagan was 
President, I was a Congresswoman, ``Dallas'' was the most popular TV 
show, and the movie ``ET'' was setting box office records. A baby born 
that year is about to be a junior in high school. Ryan Minor, who 
played in Cal's place Sunday night, was 8 years old.
  I was in the stands September 6, 1995, the night that Cal played game 
number 2,131. I've watched history being made on the Senate floor, but 
that night I watched history being made on the glorious green field of 
Camden Yards. I will never forget the joy we all felt as the banners 
rolled, the light bulbs flashed, and Cal took his victory lap.
  Records are made to be broken, but I can't imagine Cal's record being 
broken in our lifetime. The next closest player, Albert Belle, would 
have to play in every game for the next 14 years to equal The Streak.
  What Cal has accomplished is simple: Every day for the last 16 years, 
he got up, got dressed, and went to work. He represents the old-
fashioned ethic displayed by millions of Marylanders every day as they 
work hard, play by the rules, and take care of their families. It's not 
fancy, it's not flashy, but it is the glue that holds our communities, 
our society, and our nation together.
  So to Cal Ripken, I say hats off, thank you for being you, and thank 
you for showing all of us how it's supposed to be done.''

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