[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10105-H10107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DESIGNATING A PORTION OF INTERSTATE ROUTE 395 LOCATED IN BALTIMORE, 
                    MARYLAND, AS ``CAL RIPKEN WAY''

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3218) to designate a portion of Interstate Route 395 located 
in Baltimore, Maryland, as ``Cal Ripken Way''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3218

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

        The portion of Interstate Route 395 located in Baltimore, 
     Maryland, beginning at the junction of Interstate Routes 395 
     and 95 and ending at Conway Street shall be known and 
     designated as ``Cal Ripken Way''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the portion of 
     Interstate Route 395 referred to in section 1 shall be deemed 
     to be a reference to the ``Cal Ripken Way''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 3218.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise in support of H.R. 3218, which 
was authored by my colleague from Maryland, Congressman John Sarbanes, 
to designate a portion of I-395 in Baltimore as ``Cal Ripken Way.''
  Cal Ripken, Jr. played for 21 seasons with my hometown team, the 
Baltimore Orioles. Known as the Iron Man, he is perhaps most famous for 
playing in 2,632 consecutive games, breaking the record for consecutive 
appearances that was set by another legend of baseball, Lou Gehrig.
  However, his career was not only about his resilience but about the 
dedication and the hard work he brought, both to the field and to our 
community. He finished his career with more than 3,000 hits, an 
incredible achievement that is one of the most difficult to accomplish 
in baseball. These hits included 431 home runs, and they produced 1,695 
RBIs.
  He began his career by earning the Rookie of the Year award. He went 
on to receive two Golden Glove awards, and was twice named the American 
League's Most Valuable Player. He was also twice named as the Most 
Valuable Player at the Major League All Star Game.
  In recognition of his achievements and of his importance to the game 
of baseball, he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame this year, the 
first year in which he was eligible to be so honored. Cal Ripken 
represents the very best that we have ever seen in the game of 
baseball.
  Since leaving baseball, he has come to represent the very best of our 
community and, indeed, of our Nation by finding new ways to help build 
the same dedication to excellence in our young people that he brought 
to his incredible career. He established and

[[Page H10106]]

manages the Cal Ripken Baseball Division, in which literally hundreds 
of thousands of youngsters have participated, learning not only the 
skills of baseball, but the work ethic that will help them succeed in 
whatever they choose to do in life.

                              {time}  1315

  With his brother, he also established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation 
in honor of their father to give underprivileged youth the opportunity 
to participate in baseball and softball.
  In recognition of his ability to motivate and inspire, he was 
recently selected to serve our Nation as a Special Sports Envoy for the 
United States Department of State. At the time of his appointment, 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted that Cal Ripken brought 
``integrity to the game of baseball,'' and I think his personal 
integrity is truly his greatest legacy.
  Cal Ripken is not only a sports hero who has achieved extraordinary 
accomplishments through hard work and sheer perseverance, he is a 
popular figure who has cultivated, in a way that increasingly few 
sports figures do, his ability to be a positive role model.
  Cal has synchronized his personal character with his physical 
abilities and has consistently used his extraordinary gifts to make a 
difference in the lives of others.
  As a Baltimorean, I thank my colleague Congressman Sarbanes for his 
work on this legislation. I join all of my colleagues from Maryland in 
recognizing the incredible legacy that Cal Ripken has given not only to 
our city but to our Nation of excellence on the field and service off 
the field. I can think of no more fitting way to honor Cal Ripken than 
by naming the interstate that passes by Camden Yards, which is only a 
few blocks from my house, where he played his entire career in his 
honor, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3218.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to voice my very strong support for H.R. 
3218. H.R. 3218 designates Interstate Route 395 in Baltimore, Maryland, 
as ``Cal Ripken Way.''
  Cal Ripken, Jr. is a native son of Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 
Harford County, about 35 miles northeast of Baltimore. Cal Ripken, also 
known as ``Iron Man,'' is best known for his record-shattering streak 
of playing 2,632 straight games for the American League's Baltimore 
Orioles over 17 years, from May 1982, through September 1998. An 
unbelievable record. He retired from Major League Baseball in October 
2001, after playing 21 straight years for the Orioles, between 1981 and 
2001.
  On September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's record of 
2,130 consecutive games played, a record that had stood for 57 years. 
On that historic night at Camden Yards, Ripken not only broke the 
record but also hit a home run in the fourth inning of that game.
  His father, Cal Ripken, Sr., was a former baseball player, coach, and 
scout for the Orioles. In 1987 and 1988, Cal Ripken, Sr. managed the 
Orioles, and both Cal Ripken, Jr. and his brother Billy played for the 
team that year, a first in baseball history.
  Since leaving the game in 2001, Cal Ripken has dedicated his life and 
his work to youth. He established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, which 
uses baseball- and softball-themed programs to help instill leadership 
qualities, a strong work ethic, sportsmanship, and healthy habits. He 
also built the Ripken Youth Baseball Academy, the largest baseball 
academy in the United States, where thousands of young people learn the 
finer points of baseball and deepen their love for playing it.
  He served as the first commissioner of the White House T-Ball 
initiative for President George Bush from 2001 to 2004. And on July 29, 
2007, Cal Ripken was fittingly inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.
  When I was growing up, Madam Speaker, I served 5\1/2\ years as a 
batboy for the Knoxville Smokies baseball team. I served other seasons 
as ball chaser, scoreboard operator, clubhouse boy. In my freshman year 
at the University of Tennessee, I served as a public address announcer. 
I grew up in minor league baseball. My father gave Earl Weaver his 
first managerial job in Knoxville, managing the Knoxville Smokies in 
1956, and we became a farm club of the Baltimore Orioles. People who 
later played with Cal Ripken or who he knew through the Orioles like 
Milt Pappas, Jerry Walker, Ron Hansen, Willie Tasby, Mike Cuellar, Dave 
Nicholson, and many other players who later played for the Orioles 
played in Knoxville.
  Baseball has meant a lot to me and my family through the years, and 
it is a real honor and privilege for me to stand here before you today 
and announce my support for this very appropriate legislation to honor 
a truly great American, Cal Ripken, Jr.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Maryland, sponsor of the legislation (Mr. Sarbanes).
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding his 
time and for his support. I thank Congressman Duncan for his support of 
H.R. 3218, which it was my privilege to introduce in the House.
  This legislation honors Cal Ripken, Jr. on his induction into the pro 
baseball Hall of Fame by renaming Interstate 395 in Baltimore, which 
runs into the city and ends near Oriole Park at Camden Yards, as ``Cal 
Ripken Way.'' It is fitting that we would pass this measure today on 
the eve of the 12th anniversary of Cal's setting the consecutive games 
record. I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar for his assistance in 
bringing this measure to the floor.
  Cal's stellar career no doubt made him worthy of induction into the 
Hall of Fame. In fact, he was elected to the Hall with the highest vote 
total ever, the highest vote percentage for any position player, and 
the third highest vote percentage in history.
  But the numbers don't even begin to explain what he means to our 
national pastime. Too often, our sports stars are famous for all the 
wrong reasons. But time and again Cal Ripken, Jr. has been a source of 
pride for baseball.
  Cal was a spectacular player but not a flashy one. He played 
fundamental baseball, always doing the little things and setting the 
example for how a professional should perfect his trade. And he showed 
up every day.
  From the heights of the World Series championship in 1983 to the 
depths of the 21-game losing streak that began the 1988 season, Cal was 
there every day. After the cancellation of the 1994 World Series, many 
fans mark September 6, 1995, the night Ripken played in his 2,131st 
game, as the night that America came back to baseball.
  Ripken's commitment to working hard and playing by the rules became 
known as ``The Ripken Way.'' He inspired the people of Baltimore every 
season with his quiet and unassuming dedication to his work and 
continues to do so in retirement through numerous charitable works and 
his youth baseball foundation.
  In fact, I believe that Cal has inspired Americans all over the 
country. I think Tony Kornheiser captured this well in a column that 
appeared in the Washington Post on September 7, 1995. He wrote: ``When 
I look at this record, I think I hear the rhythms of America. This 
celebration of Cal is the fanfare for the common man. Going to work 
every day . . . building a career, providing for our family like our 
fathers did before us is something we can all relate to.''
  Madam Speaker, if we pass this legislation, when travelers come to 
visit Baltimore or pass by on their way to another destination, they 
will not only be reminded of a terrific ballplayer whose name has 
become synonymous with the Orioles but also a model American and the 
promise of doing things the ``Ripken Way.'' I hope my colleagues agree 
that this is a fitting tribute to one of the best loved and most 
enduring figures in the history of baseball.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I will just close by saying that Cal 
Ripken is certainly a throwback to the old days in which little boys 
could look up to major league baseball players as real heroes and role 
models in their lives, and I can't adequately express my great 
admiration for Cal Ripken.
  I urge support for this legislation.

[[Page H10107]]

  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  First of all, I want to thank again Mr. Sarbanes for sponsorship. I 
want to thank you, Mr. Duncan. I didn't know you had that kind of 
relationship to baseball and to the Baltimore Orioles.
  As I listened to Mr. Duncan and Mr. Sarbanes, Madam Speaker, I was 
just reminded that, sitting on the Government Reform Committee, in that 
committee we dealt with the whole issue of steroids. We saw players 
come before our committee, many of them having to put their heads down 
when asked certain critical questions about character. And it is so 
good to know that there is somebody like Cal Ripken around, somebody 
who does not mind accepting the role as a role model and being just 
that.
  So many young people look up to sports figures, and they try to 
emulate them. All you have to do is go to a baseball game and you will 
see them with the jerseys on with names of players on the back. And if 
you go to Memorial Stadium, now called Oriole Park, you will see a lot 
of jerseys with little kids, trying to dream the Cal Ripken dream, with 
his name on their backs.
  So it is with great honor that I ask all of our Members to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3218, to 
designate a portion of Interstate 395 located in Baltimore, MD, as 
``Cal Ripken Way.''
  Cal Ripken, Jr. was not only a remarkable baseball player, he was an 
outstanding role model for the youth of America. He exhibited the 
utmost in professionalism and sportsmanship in every aspect of his 
life.
  Cal Ripken, Jr. was known to many as the ``Iron Man'' for tirelessly 
overcoming many minor injuries to always be in the lineup for his team 
and for the fans. He took the field for the Baltimore Orioles on May 
30, 1982 and did not miss a game until September 19, 1998. On September 
6, 1995, millions of fans worldwide tuned in to watch Cal Ripken, Jr. 
surpass Lou Gehrig for the most consecutive games played, at 2,131 
games. He ended his streak having played in 2,632 consecutive games.
  By the time he retired from professional baseball, in October 2001, 
Cal Ripken had played 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. During 
that time, Mr. Ripken had broken the team's record for career games 
played, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, homeruns, RBIs, total bases, and 
walks. He is a member of Major League Baseball's exclusive 3,000 hit 
club.
  Cal Ripken stuck with his team through the good years and the bad 
years with a level of professionalism rare in sports today. He was a 
favorite among fans and holds the record for most All-Star votes 
received by any single player. He was voted to play in the All-Star 
game 19 times, and won the game's Most Valuable Player, MVP, honor 
twice. On Thursday, July 26, 2007, Cal Ripken, Jr. was inducted into 
the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, with the 
third highest percentage of votes ever received.
  After his storied baseball career, Cal Ripken, Jr. continues to make 
a difference in his community an across the country. Along with his 
brother Billy, he formed the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to give 
underprivileged children the opportunity to attend baseball camps 
around the country and to learn his beloved game.
  Between 2001 and 2004, Ripken served as commissioner of the White 
House Tee Ball Initiative, in which he worked to promote the value of 
teamwork and volunteerism amongst young players. On April 9, 2007, 
Ripken announced a partnership with the recently formed ``Reviving 
Baseball in the Inner City'' program, with the donation of $1 million 
in cash and equipment from the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3218, to dedicate 
a portion of our Nation's highway system to commemorate the tremendous 
career and outstanding leadership of Cal Ripken, Jr.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3218.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________