Cal: Celebrating the Career of a Baseball Legend
by By Sporting News, News, The Sporting
Category: Sports & Recreation , Baseball , General

Among baseball players, few have the respect and adoration that Cal Ripken Jr. has earned throughout his career. With dignity and class, Cal has played on, and on, and on, eclipsing Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games in 1995. And on he went, finally calling the record quits in 1998 and moving into exclusive baseball company with his 400th home run and 3,000th hit. 2001 will mark the end of his extraordinary career, which has been captured in Cal.  The Sporting News, in conjunction with the writers and photographers at The Baltimore Sun, will brings you the commemorative celebration of a celebrated career, from his sensational rookie season in 1983 to his 2001 All-Star Game heroics and his final moment on the field.  Nine chapters recap Ripken's amazing career. The Sporting News  senior writer and former Baltimore Sun  columnist Ken Rosenthal looks at Ripken The Icon, finding Ripken's rightful place in baseball history. The Sun's  Joe Strauss recaps Ripken's final playing days, from his retirement announcement to his final curtain call at Camden Yards to his final game at Yankee Stadium. Other chapters recall Ripken's spine-tingling run into baseball history, Cal's coming of age on the national scene, his mold-breaking play as a shortstop and the role his family, especially his father and brother, played in his career.  It's the ultimate keepsake of a player for the ages.