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Cal Ripken Jr. stood on sacred baseball ground this morning, at home plate in the exact spot where it was planted at the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street. Ripken began his major league career in this neighborhood and he returned today, the site of the first Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Youth Development Park, for the announcement of a partnership that’s creating the Ripken Foundation – Nike RBI Initiative.
This partnership strives to support instructional baseball and softball leagues at 30 organizations across 14 states, with the goal of expanding access to the sport for youth around the country.
Players from the James Mosher Baseball youth league sat in a line in front of Ripken at The Harry & Jeanette Family Center Y at Stadium Place as he talked about the program and promised to offer them tips during the instructional period that followed.
“It kind of gives us a chance to look into why we started the Foundation, and it was really to capture dad’s spirit,” Ripken said later in a media scrum.
“He had a really coaching spirit, helping minor league guys get to the big leagues, and he also went out and did different clinics in different areas to expose kids to baseball and the values of sports. So now when we kind of think about him, I think about him like as a teacher, because a coach does a whole lot more than just teach you how to play. Kind of helps with your confidence, kind of puts you in the right direction, and sometimes there’s issues that, if you have a good, trusting relationship with your coach, they start asking you questions. And that’s really the magic that happens through the relationship through sports, and hopefully that’s what we’re capturing with kids.”
Tony Reagins, chief baseball development officer for Major League Baseball, was instrumental in putting this idea into action, “and start to teach the game of baseball a little bit and get kids playing it,” Ripken said.
“Instead of just watching it, you want to play it, then you learn how to love it, and then you watch more games. We couldn’t be prouder of our partnership.”
The emotions flooded back to Ripken this morning. Remembering the house beyond center field that served as a hitting backdrop, sometimes blocked by a tall pitcher like Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Thoughts of his father, the third base coach when Ripken broke into the majors in 1981.
“Time is flying by,” Ripken said. “I’ve been out of the game 24 years and time keeps adding up. In some ways it seems like it was just yesterday that we were in this ballpark. I remember I made my debut at third base, I came in as a pinch-runner actually the night before, and I remember standing at third base when I got the start the next day and I kept thinking, ‘This is where Brooks Robinson played.’ And all the history, the rich history of the Orioles. All of a sudden, you were involved in that.
“One of the hard times for me was when they decided to move down to Camden Yards. I’m thinking, ‘Why can’t we just fix this place up? It’s got magic, it’s got history in it.’ And then, one step in Camden Yards you realize that was way better. And it doesn’t eliminate the history. The history’s still here. … Wonderful memories here. Got my first hit here, hit my first homer here, shook my dad’s hand running around third base. A lot of good moments, a lot of good memories.”
Ripken has moved onto the next phase of his life as a minority owner of the Orioles under control person David Rubenstein. He sits behind the plate much more often than in the past, with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh seated next to him last night.
“I’m having a great time,” Ripken said. “You get pulled back in. I used to think the world revolved around baseball when you played it, and then when you get out and you start doing other things, you realize that maybe the world doesn’t revolve around baseball. And now getting back in with the ownership group again with the Orioles, it feels like the world does revolve around baseball again.
“You get pulled in, you’re watching every pitch, you’re pulling for different players, you’re getting to know the players a little bit better, and it’s wonderful to watch them develop and to play the game. So yeah, I’m getting sucked back in.”
The closeness provides a clear view of the team’s struggles this season, the hard fall into last place and the firing of manager Brandon Hyde.
“The expectations were sky high, and rightfully so, the seasons that we’ve had recently. And I think all of us were a little bit disappointed getting off to a slow start,” Ripken said.
“To me, I look at it as the injury bug hit us. It hits everybody, but it hit us particularly strong, and a lot of our key players were out. Some didn’t have full spring trainings. And the season’s a long season, and when you get into it and things aren’t going right, you’ve got to find a way to right yourself.
“The game was really exciting last night. It seemed like we had a lot of our full guys back last night, familiar positions, players hitting in the same roles. It felt a lot like last year and the year before, so encouraged by that.”
Ripken isn’t making the decisions on dismissals and how the team approaches the trade deadline. He has a specific lane and happily stays in it.
“I haven’t been pulled that far back in yet,” he said.
“I’m a resource for Mike Elias and I’m happy to help him think through things. Mike’s our guy. He's the architect that brought winning baseball back. Peppered the organization with a lot of talent. There’s a lot of hope in the future right now in the future for the Orioles, and so, you’ve got to trust your guy. Trust Mike.
“It was a tough decision. I know that he agonized over it and thought about it. But I think in the end, he thought a change was necessary at that time."
Ripken described Hyde’s dismissal as “unsettling” because his father was fired as manager only six games into the 1988 season. That’s a memory he’d rather block.
“You don’t really know what’s happening inside the clubhouse,” Ripken said. “I will tell you that this group of guys has reacted pretty well to that. They kind of stabilized themselves. Tony Mansolino has done a good job. He’s familiar in the clubhouse. And to me, with the Wild Card spots and all that kind of stuff, if you can edge back to .500, if you can make that up in the next few months and you get close, you’ve got a shot at the end.
“This team is way too talented. Looking forward to how they play when they get fully healthy, and we’re getting pretty close right now. There is no reason to lose total hope. But not only is it this season, you’re thinking for the future, as well. I fully support Mike, as do the other owners, and he has brought it back. There’s an excitement in the ballpark and an expectation that goes along with success that we’re all gonna have to live with.”
Would Ripken welcome a larger role in the organization if it’s presented?
“What are you offering,” he replied with a smile.
“I’m happy with the way my life is going right now. I’ll be 65, as the CareFirst commercial just told everybody, and it’s a time in your life where you’re enjoying the freedom of your choices and going around, but I love being involved with the Orioles and as I said before, I’ll help in any way they want me to.”
* Dean Kremer was listed as tonight's starter, but left-hander Keegan Akin will serve as the opener.
