[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 132 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10334-S10335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 168--CONGRATULATING AND HONORING CAL RIPKEN, JR. FOR 
HIS AMAZING AND STORYBOOK CAREER AS A PLAYER FOR THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES 
   AND THANKING HIM FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO BASEBALL, THE STATE OF 
                    MARYLAND, AND THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. SARBANES (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
Hutchinson, and Mr. Reid) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 168

       Whereas Calvin (Cal) Edwin Ripken, Jr. was born in Havre de 
     Grace, Maryland on August 24th, 1960;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. was raised in Aberdeen, Maryland 
     and taught baseball by his father, Cal Ripken Sr., who spent 
     his career with the Baltimore Orioles where he developed the 
     Ripken Way;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. entered the major leagues in 1981 
     as a Baltimore Oriole and played his entire 21 year career 
     for the Orioles, ranking third all-time in Major League 
     Baseball for years played with 1 team and first during the 
     period of free agency;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. redefined the shortstop position, 
     both offensively by hitting the most home runs as a shortstop 
     in major league history and receiving the most Silver Slugger 
     Awards by a shortstop, and defensively by setting 11 
     different fielding records;
       Whereas on May 30th, 1982, Cal Ripken, Jr. played in the 
     first game of his Iron Man Streak;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. was named the American League (AL) 
     Rookie of the Year in 1982;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. led the Baltimore Orioles to a 
     World Championship Season in 1983, winning the AL Most 
     Valuable Player (MVP) award, becoming the first and only 
     player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in back-
     to-back seasons;
       Whereas in 1987, Cal Ripken, Jr. ended his consecutive 
     innings played streak with a record 8,243;
       Whereas in 1987, Cal Ripken, Jr., playing with brother 
     Billy Ripken at second base and father Cal Ripken, Sr. as 
     manager, became a part of the first pair of brothers to play 
     together for their father in the history of Major League 
     Baseball, making the name Ripken synonymous with the 
     Baltimore Orioles;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. was the first recipient of the Bart 
     Giamatti Caring Award in 1989;
       Whereas in 1990, Cal Ripken, Jr. had the greatest defensive 
     single season of any shortstop, setting major league records 
     in fielding percentage (.996), fewest errors committed (3), 
     and consecutive games without an error (95);
       Whereas in 1991, Cal Ripken, Jr. won his second AL MVP 
     award, becoming 1 of only 22 major leaguers to win multiple 
     MVP awards, won the first of 2 Golden Glove awards, and 
     became the first player in baseball history to win the All-
     Star MVP and Home Run Contest in the same season as winning 
     the MVP award;
       Whereas in 1992, Cal Ripken, Jr. was awarded the Roberto 
     Clemente Award, presented annually to the player who best 
     exemplifies the game of baseball both on and off the field;
       Whereas on September 6th, 1995, Cal Ripken, Jr. played in 
     his 2131st consecutive game, breaking the record of the great 
     and honorable Lou Gehrig;
       Whereas in Cal Ripken Jr.'s 14 seasons of pursuit of Lou 
     Gehrig's record, Cal Ripken, Jr. conducted himself with 
     complete dignity, humility, and honor that attracted the 
     attention of both baseball fans and all Americans and played 
     a crucial role in bringing baseball back as America's 
     national pastime after the labor problems of baseball in 
     1994;
       Whereas in 1995, Cal Ripken, Jr. earned the following 
     awards: the Associated Press and United Press International 
     Male Athlete of the Year; The Sporting News Award Major 
     League Player of the Year; and the Sports Illustrated 
     Sportsman of the Year;
       Whereas on September 20th, 1998, Cal Ripken, Jr. 
     voluntarily ended his consecutive games streak at 2632;
       Whereas in 1999, Cal Ripken, Jr. became 1 of 32 players to 
     hit over 400 home runs;
       Whereas in 2000, Cal Ripken, Jr. became 1 of 24 players 
     with 3,000 hits, joining only 6 other players with over 400 
     home runs and 3,000 hits and becoming only the second 
     infielder and first shortstop or third baseman to be in this 
     club, along with fellow Baltimore Oriole first baseman and 
     good friend Eddie Murray;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. was named to Major League 
     Baseball's All-Century Team in 2000;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. won his second All-Star Game MVP 
     award in 2001, becoming the first American League player to 
     win 2 such MVP awards, and setting baseball records for most 
     All-Star appearances at 19, All-Star starts at 17, All-star 
     starts at shortstop at 14, and consecutive starts at 16;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. is retiring from the game that he 
     loves to continue his other passions, the teaching of 
     baseball to children and charitable work through the 
     ``Reading, Runs, and Ripken'' program, the Cal Ripken Little 
     League Division which has over 700,000 children, the Kelly 
     and Cal Ripken, Jr. Foundation, and the Cal Ripken, Jr./Lou 
     Gehrig ALS Research Fund;
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. has pledged $9,000,000 for the 
     construction of a baseball facility in Harford County, 
     Maryland; and
       Whereas Cal Ripken, Jr. transcended the game of baseball 
     and became a symbol of excellence, reliability, consistency, 
     and served as a role model for the children of his hometown 
     of Aberdeen, Maryland, the city of Baltimore, Maryland, all 
     Maryland residents, and all Americans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. HONORING CAL RIPKEN, JR.

       The Senate--
       (1) honors and congratulates Cal Ripken, Jr. for--
       (A) his contributions to both baseball and America as an 
     exemplar of endurance, professionalism, and the American work 
     ethic;
       (B) his entire career as a Baltimore Oriole, a major league 
     baseball player, and for his conduct both on and off the 
     field;

[[Page S10335]]

       (C) his excellent treatment of all baseball fans in all 
     stadiums and his community service both in the State of 
     Maryland and throughout America; and
       (D) all of his qualities and traits that helped him serve 
     as a role model for all Americans; and
       (2) wishes Cal Ripken, Jr. the best for what will 
     undoubtably be a productive and giving retirement.

     SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this resolution to--
       (1) the legendary Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr.; and
       (2) the Baltimore Orioles' owner, Peter Angelos.

                          ____________________