masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBaseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. was deeply saddened by the news that longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler passed away last night at age 86.

Ripken released a statement today that read:

“Today, Baltimore lost a very special man in Ernie Tyler. The Tyler family is synonymous with Orioles baseball, and O’s games won’t be the same without Ernie. His commitment and dedication to the Orioles and to the game was something my family and I have always admired. He was Baltimore’s true Iron Man and…Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. was deeply saddened by the news that longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler passed away last night at age 86.

Ripken released a statement today that read:

“Today, Baltimore lost a very special man in Ernie Tyler. The Tyler family is synonymous with Orioles baseball, and O’s games won’t be the same without Ernie. His commitment and dedication to the Orioles and to the game was something my family and I have always admired. He was Baltimore’s true Iron Man and he will be missed.”

Ripken, of course, basically ended Tyler’s consecutive-games streak at 3,819 – accumulated at Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards – after inviting the other Iron Man to his Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, N.Y.