gold star for USAHOF

1. Cal Ripken Jr.

1. Cal Ripken Jr.
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: August 24, 1960 in Havre de Grace, MD USA
  • Weight: 200 lbs.
  • Height: 6'4"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: August 10, 1981
  • Final Game: October 06, 2001
  • Rookie of the Year - 1982
  • Most Valuable Player - 1983
  • Silver Slugger - 1983
  • TSN All-Star - 1983
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1983
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1983
  • Silver Slugger - 1984
  • TSN All-Star - 1984
  • Silver Slugger - 1985
  • TSN All-Star - 1985
  • Silver Slugger - 1986
  • Silver Slugger - 1989
  • TSN All-Star - 1989
  • All-Star Game MVP - 1991
  • Gold Glove - 1991
  • Most Valuable Player - 1991
  • Silver Slugger - 1991
  • TSN All-Star - 1991
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1991
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1991
  • Gold Glove - 1992
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial Award - 1992
  • Roberto Clemente Award - 1992
  • Silver Slugger - 1993
  • TSN All-Star - 1993
  • Silver Slugger - 1994
  • TSN All-Star - 1994
  • TSN All-Star - 1995
  • All-Star Game MVP - 2001
  • MVP - 1982
  • MVP - 1983
  • MVP - 1984
  • MVP - 1985
  • MVP - 1989
  • MVP - 1990
  • MVP - 1991
  • MVP - 1993
  • MVP - 1994
  • MVP - 1995
  • Rookie of the Year - 1982
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
2310232946368862339072 0.276
 

The selection of Cal Ropken Jr. at the top was straightforward.

Cal Ripken Jr. is without question the greatest Baltimore Oriole ever, and also one of the best baseball players that existed.

Playing his entire pro career with Baltimore, Ripken appeared in only 23 Games in 1981 and was still eligible to be a rookie in 1982.  Why do we mention this?  Because he would become the American League Rookie of the Year in '82!   This was not just a ROY year, as it was the beginning of the greatest iron man streaks of sports.  Ripken Jr. would play 2,632 consecutive games, which would shatter the 2,130 mark that was set by Lou Gehrig.

Like Gehrig, Ripken did not just play in those games, and he excelled in them.  From 1983 to 2001, he was named to the All-Star team, and the Shortstop established himself as an elite player regardless of position.  Ripken was named the MVP in 1983 and 1991, and throughout his career, he showed off his power and batting skill.  The Shortstop would have twelve 20 Home Run Seasons (with 10 in a row), with four 100 RBI campaigns.  Ripken also had four .300 years, and his leadership took the Orioles to the 1983 World Series Titles and two other post-seasons.

We also want to mention that as celebrated as Ripken was, this was one of the greatest defensive infielders ever.  He may have only won two Gold Gloves, but he was first in the American League among all fielders in Defensive bWAR five times and was second three other times.  Seriously, how did Ripken only win two Gold Gloves?  This is the biggest baseball travesty that is not discussed.

Ripken retired with 3,184 Hits, 431 Home Runs, and 1,695 RBIs, all of which lead the franchise.  He is also first all-time in bWAR (95.9), Games Played (3,001), Runs (1,647), and Doubles (603).  He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, his first year of eligibility.

HIs number 8 was retired by the team after he retired and two years later he entered the Orioles Hall of Fame.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Short Stop
  • Acquired: Selected in the 2nd Round of the Amateur Draft 6/6/78.
  • Departed: Retired after the 2001 Season.
  • Games Played: 3001
  • Notable Statistics: 1,647 Runs Scored
    3,184 Hits
    603 Doubles
    44 Triples
    431 Home Runs
    1,695 Runs Batted In
    36 Stolen Bases
    .276/.340/.447 Slash Line
    95.9 bWAR

    28 Playoff Games
    14 Runs Scored
    37 Hits
    10 Doubles
    0 Triples
    1 Home Runs
    8 Runs Batted In
    0 Stolen Bases
    .336/.411/.455 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1983)
    MVP (1983 & 1991)
    The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year (1983 & 1991)
    All-Star (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001)
    Rookie of the Year (1982)
    Silver Slugger (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993 & 1994)
    Gold Glove (1991 & 1992)
    Roberto Clemente Award (1992)
    Lou Gehrig Award (1992)
    All-Star MVP (1991 & 2001)
    Highest bWAR for Position Players (1983, 1984 & 1991)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (1984 & 1991)
    Highest Defensive bWAR (1984, 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1994)
    Most Plate Appearances (1983)
    Most Hits (1983)
    Most Total Bases (1991)
    Most Doubles (1983)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1983 & 1991)
    Most Sacrifice Flies (1988)
    Most Outs Made (1996)
    Most Assists (1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993 & 1996)
    Most Total Zone Runs (1991 & 1994)
    Most Putouts by a Shortstop (1984, 1985,1988, 1989, 1991 & 1992)
    Most Assists by a Shortstop (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991 & 1993)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Shortstop (1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994 & 1995)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Third Baseman (1998)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Shortstop (1984, 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1994)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Shortstop (1983, 1984 & 1991)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Shortstop (1990, 1991, 1994 & 1995)

More in this category: 2. Jim Palmer »

Comments powered by CComment