Why is Cal Ripken's record held in such high regard?

Question

I understand that he was a phenomenal player and should be an easy first round HOF entrant, but what is the big deal with the streak?

I understand that showing up and playing every day is somewhat of an accomplishment, but it is held up there with some of the greatest sports feats of all time and I think that is sad.

First and foremost, how many guys actually shoot for this record? Most don't care. If everyone was trying for it, don't you bet there would be at least a dozen others (maybe more) that would have achieved the consecutive games? This was pretty much a 5 man competition (assuming 4 others care) and he won...big deal.

In choosing to shoot for such a record, is it not possible that playing through nagging injuries, soreness, etc might have caused Ripken's contributions to lack at times? What if with proper rest he would have been 10% more productive in his career, would that diminish the record?

Some great answers here. One thought I would like to add is that if somehow it was as important a feat to play in every game in a season as it was to hit a ton of home runs (thus having nearly everyone trying to do it) then I think you would have at least 100 guys playing 162 games a year. I don't buy that other's couldn't have done it.

The point that Cal did it despite the fact that nearly all MLB players don't care is a good one though.

Answer 1

Man, you answered your own question, by saying: "... How many guys actually shoot for this record? Most don't care."

By that yardstick alone, Cal's record of 3,198+ consecutive games played is EXTRAORDINARY! If no one else cares, and this outstanding player, who did it everyday in the same Oriole uniform, at that--did do it, then isn't that one he11 of an acomplishment?

Of the three former players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame this next year, i.e., Ripken, Mark McGwire, and lovable Mr. Tony Gwinn, Cal is the most dominant, the most durable, and yes, the most reliable of the three, and dang well better be inducted on the first ballot, or there is something wrong 'round here.

Answer 2

I think I understand the point you are trying to make but i think you maybe dont understand the significance of the record. You say " How many guys even shoot for this record". That says a lot about Cal, he DID care and went to work everyday caring and understanding that he was capable of making a difference every game. Is it possible that playing through various injuries might have caused him to contribute less? It might have hurt his career numbers but they are Hall of Fame worthy in the first place. How about the impact he might have had on his teammates by going out and performing everyday? Who's to say that simply by watching him that some of his teammates didnt get out there and work just a bit harder and maybe give that little extra that gave his team a chance. Would they have put out that effort if Ripken wasnt there? 8 other guys giving an extra 5% out of respect for Cal adds up to 40% so if he sacrified 10% of personal stats for the betterment of the team doesnt that make his record even more amazing. Cal Ripken was as unselfish as he was good and I have to believe that if it was for the better of the team he would have forgone the record to help the team. Hit bat wasnt always great during the streak but I dont think you will hear that his glove ever became a problem during it, offensive slumps are normal but he gave his team the best chance of winning often simply by his being there and caring about the game like he did.
and as for the question if others tried wouldnt there be at least a dozen others that could do it. I think the answer is a very resounding NO. How many players can play 162 game season without missing a game? This past season I dont believe there was a single player that did, I think 3 played 161 games. And even more amazing was he did the bulk of his work at SS, most SS are lucky to get in 155 games and the risk of injury is higher with every double play they must make during the season.

Answer 3

Most players do not start out one day saying today I start my consequitive games streak. They become so valuable to their team that the manger does not dare take them out of the line up and so consistant that there is no temptation to take them out. That is what is so increadble about the streak. After a few years of being that valuable and that consistant, then people notice there is a streak going on. Generally after 3 or 4 years a player will get a little lattitude about continueing but very very very few players are so valuable to their team and so durable that they go even two years in a row without missing a game. They sit against a pitcher they struggle against, they sit when they are in a funk or have a minor nagging injury to nurse. They sit to keep them from fading toward the end of the year.

Now just to make it even more interesting, Ripken is a shortstop. That means he's in posisition that's physically demanding and high injury risk. All of the iron man streaks anywhere close to Ripken's have been by first basemen. Nobody thought a shortstop or any other skilled defensive posisition would break the streak. Actually nobody expected Gehrig's streak to be broken.

Biggio had the longest streak since Ripken's. He like Ripken was just too valuable, durable and consistant to sit. Finally an injury broke Biggio's streak.

So I feel the streak was a major feat. It mean his team could count on him year after year to be there EVERY day. That is unbelievably difficult to do. Much harder than hitting 600 HRs or collecting 300 wins. Even if every player in the majors wanted to break that record few could go a year or two without suffering an injury and very few would not noticiably hurt their production doing it. Ripken made it through all that. Never went on the DL while the streak continued. He rarely suffered extended slumps and any time he did there was a chorus of people blaming the streak on those rare slumps. Ripken set a new standard in consistancy. Nobody in baseball's history was able to uphold a standard of excellence like that. There have been more talented players to grace the game but never one more consistent.

Answer 4

First off shooting for the record is easier said than done. The MLB season is 162 games long. There are often long spells where there is no day off, therefore the chance to rest simply does not exist.

Then whats this about him not being productive? He was an excellent shortstop. 431 home runs from a position not usually associated with power numbers, 1695 RBI's, 3184 Hits. That's just his hitting, he is also reknown as an excellent fielder.

He achieved that while he was in the streak. I don't see how he suffered in anyway. I also don't think anyone will break this record either.

Answer 5

The Mick 7 always speaks so eloquently so I will say a few shorts words... Cal Ripkin deserves a place in the Hall, more deserving than any other nominee this year.

However Babe Ruth was once quoted to have said about his equally famous teammate " This Iron Man stuff is baloney. I think he's making one of the worst mistakes a ball player can make. The guy ought to learn to sit on the bench and rest."

Sad but true, Gehrig died at the age of 37

Answer 6

To try and trivialize what Ripkin did is ridiculous. His stats speak for themselves. Sure, he might have played hurt and maybe he should have sat out a game or two every now and then, but he didn't! He always had his teams best interest at heart and approached the game in the proper way. You're right, most don't care about breaking records because they are in it for the money only. That's not to say Ripkin didn't want to make the big bucks, I'm sure he did. But he had a sense of history about the game and understood where this record fit in the scheme of things. He did it for baseball as much as he did it for himself. It's easy for people to sit back after the fact and judge what he should or should not have done. The fact is he did it and as a baseball fan I'm glad he did it. I'll be in Cooperstown in August to celebrate his entrance into the hall along with Tony Gwynn.

Answer 7

Because Cal Ripken is what baseball should be about. He came to work everyday, and on top of that he was one of the classiest men in the game. It is a very respectable feat, and makes a very brash statement. It might not be as exciting as a home run record, but it surely is a milestone in baseball.

Answer 8

I think the essence of Cal's greatness (aside from Gold Glove fielding, redefining the position of shortstop, winning the MVP and surviving Peter Angelos) is that he didn't shoot for this record. He tried to do the best he could every day for his team, he believed he was better than the next guy, and his managers (even the ones not related to him) agreed.

He was lucky not to get hurt, he was also diligent about doing his best to stay healthy and in shape. He was (and remains) the ultimate synergy of talent and effort, and he did it while appearing to care about the game and the fans.

Answer 9

Because I don't think I've been to work 2,632 consecutive times myself.

Saying that's there's 52 weeks in a year and 5 work days in a week, that's over 10 years without missing a day of work. I work in an office where I sit on my *** most of the day, and somedays when I'm sick I find it tough to make it to work, I couldn't imaging travelling across the nation and playing shortstop while line drives were smacked my direction while i've got the flu.

It's an admirable feat, not one that took the most talent, but something that no one else really comes close to.

Answer 10

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