Cal Ripken Jr., a Baltimore Orioles legend and Hall of Fame player, shares insights from his iconic career and transition to business. He discusses the challenges of maintaining focus through 2,632 consecutive games and reflects on the evolution of baseball, including the impact of specialization. Ripken also highlights the importance of loyalty in Major League Baseball, contrasts experiences of small-market teams, and recounts emotional moments from pivotal career milestones that deepened his bond with fans.
Cal Ripken Jr.'s remarkable career exemplifies dedication and perseverance, influencing perceptions of player reliability in professional sports.
Ripken highlights the challenges youth baseball faces today, with concerns over early specialization leading to decreased participation and increased injuries.
Deep dives
The Unbreakable Streak
Cal Ripken's record of playing 2,632 consecutive games for the Baltimore Orioles is a testament to his enduring dedication to baseball. He emphasizes the honor he felt in being available for his teammates every day, which motivated him to play through various injuries and difficulties. Ripken reflects on the pressure he felt from his father, who was a coach, as a key factor that pushed him to avoid even minor excuses for missing games. This relentless perseverance transformed Ripken into a symbol of durability and commitment in professional sports, altering perceptions of player reliability in the process.
The Evolution of Baseball
The current landscape of youth baseball shows a decline in the number of children participating in the sport, largely due to early specialization in single sports. Ripken argues that while baseball remains beloved by many, including younger players who partake in tournament-style play, fewer kids are experiencing the game casually across multiple seasons. He cites potential reasons for the increase in elbow injuries among pitchers, linking this issue to modern training practices and the pressure to achieve higher velocity pitches. This shift poses challenges for the sport's future, as young athletes focus on specific skills rather than well-rounded athleticism.
Life After Baseball
Retiring at the relatively young age of 41, Ripken faced the challenge of transitioning into a new career beyond baseball. He viewed his retirement not as a conclusion but as an opportunity to explore business ventures, including the ownership of minor league teams, which allowed him to leverage his experience in sports. Ripken acknowledges that the lessons learned from his playing days—such as work ethic and preparation—have been invaluable as he navigates the business world. As an owner, he now contemplates the high salaries of modern players, analyzing the balance between compensation and the intangible aspects of a player's value to a team.
Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., now a part-owner of the Major League Baseball team he spent more than two decades playing for, sits down with co-owner and fellow Baltimore area native David Rubenstein for "The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations." Ripken reflects on his record-making career and how he navigated the transition from professional athlete to successful businessman. This interview was recorded September 5 in New York at the Bloomberg Power Players event. Note: David Rubenstein is the controlling owner of the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles ownership group also includes Michael R. Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg LP, parent of Bloomberg News.