January 10, 2007
A TRIBUTE TO THE IRON MAN BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC. CONGRATULATES
CAL RIPKEN, JR. ON HIS ELECTION INTO THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
Everyone is special in his or her own way, but some people are just a little more unique. People like Cal Ripken, Jr. He is the son of a ballplayer, who, at a very young age, showed a magnificent talent for playing baseball. In a career that spanned 21 seasons with the same team, Cal Ripken, Jr. displayed the special combination of skill, inner strength and drive to become one of the best ever.
His accomplishments in the great game will long be remembered. Cal played the game the way it was meant to be played every day. He played a record 2,632 consecutive games, earning the nickname Iron Man. For this reason, fans and major leaguers from across the country admire and respect him. Cal Ripken, Jr. is one of just eight players in history to amass more than 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. Selected to baseball¹s All-Century team, this two-time Gold Glove Award winner and eight-time Silver Slugger Award winner, was a terrific all-around player. Twice the American League¹s Most Valuable Player, Cal and his fellow Oriole teammates made their hometown proud when they clinched the title of 1983 World Series Champions. Other notable career highlights include his participation in 19 consecutive All-Star Games. To top off a career that others can only dream about, yesterday, January 9, 2007, Ripken received the highest honor of recognition election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Babe Ruth League, Inc. has the highest regard for Cal Ripken, Jr., which was made evident by the renaming of our youth baseball division from the Bambino Division to Cal Ripken Baseball, a Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc. Cal and Babe Ruth League share a common vision to provide every youngster the opportunity to play baseball and have fun.
We consider Cal Ripken, Jr. to be an outstanding role model of the same caliber as the late George Herman 'Babe' Ruth. It was a sincere privilege to name our youth division after him. What we appreciate so very much is that Ripken doesn¹t just lend his name; he also lends his expertise and gets personally involved.
His long-range goal is to grow the game of baseball at the grass roots level on a global scale. He doesn¹t take this responsibility lightly. As Cal has indicated many times, he cannot find a more important or rewarding role than what he is doing now. He is giving back to the game at its most important level, the kids. In our opinion, no one makes a better ambassador for the great game of baseball than Cal Ripken, Jr.
To our partner and dear friend in baseball, Cal Ripken, Jr., we salute you on this prestigious and deserving honor. Your dedication to today¹s youth goes above and beyond the call. You not only played the game with integrity, but also with an intensity to compete and to lead by example both on and off the field. You have touched the lives of millions worldwide. You truly are a legend in your own time.
Steven Tellefsen
President/CEO
Babe Ruth League, Inc.
