Baltimore Orioles History: Cal Ripken Sets Game Streak Record

Lou Gehrig‘s consecutive games streak was expected to last forever. However, on this day in 1995, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken did what was thought to be impossible, eclipsing Gehrig as he played his 2131st consecutive game.

There are some records that will seemingly never be broken. Some, such as Cy Young‘s 511 career victories, or Nolan Ryan‘s 5716 strikeouts, are likely to withstand the test of time. Others, like Babe Ruth‘s 714 home runs of Ty Cobb‘s 4191 hits, have fallen by the wayside.

And then, there was Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak. He played in 2130 games until the disease which would come to bear his name forced him from the lineup. No one had even come close over the years. That is, until Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken came along. On this day in 1995, Ripken did the unthinkable, passing Gehrig for the all time consecutive games played mark.

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It was a moment that baseball sorely needed. On the heels of the disastrous player’s strike, and the cancellation of the 1994 World Series, the game desperately needed a positive story. Ripken provided exactly that, taking the field and having his victory lap once the game became official in the fifth inning. Fittingly, Ripken was 2-4 in that game, belting a home run as he cemented his place in MLB history.

Of course, it took a lot of luck for Ripken to get to that point. Both of his children were born on off days. He had twisted his knee in a bench clearing brawl in 1993, and had been barely able to walk, but managed to play that night. A sprained ankle almost sidelined him in 1985, long before the streak was even considered, but the Orioles had an off day the next day.

In the end, Ripken ended up playing in 2632 consecutive games before sitting out on September 20, 1998. Ryan Minor became a permanent answer on Jeopardy when he took over, ending that streak. Considering how many players, including members of the Hall of Fame, never reached 2632 games in their careers, Ripken’s mark is all the more impressive.

Next: Blue Jays all time 25 man roster

They say that records are made to be broken. In this case, after breaking a seemingly unbreakable record, Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken may well remain in the history books for the foreseeable future.