Cal Ripken Jr., also known as baseball?s Iron Man, finished his career in 2001 after 20 seasons with the Orioles. Along the way, he played in a record 2,632 straight games, smashing Yankee great Lou Gehrig?s 56-year-old record of 2,130 consecutive games. His 431 home runs are the most any player has hit as an Oriole. In January, Cal was elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and will be inducted in July. Now, he?s authored a children?s book, “The Longest Season,” with illustrator Ron Mazellan. It?s the story of the Orioles? dismal 1988 season, when the team lost its first 21 games, and the lessons Cal learned along the way.
Q You have accomplished so many great things. Why did you decide to write about this low point in your career?
A I think one of the hardest things for us to deal with, especially young people, is adversity. It?s how you deal with adversity that helps frames you as a person and helps you become successful. For me, the worst time in my baseball life was the beginning of that season ? when you lose 21 games and are the laughingstock. You?re getting attention for all the wrong reasons. But through it all, I was able to figure out how to be a better teammate. As a player, once you get through something like that, you know that no challenge is too great.
Q What is the central message of the book?
A Part of life is making mistakes. It?s learning to continue, even when things aren?t always going to be good. You really need to get past some of these bad things and get to the other side. I wanted to reawaken the 21-game-losing-streak season and use that as a positive message to kids.
Q What do you tell kids who want to become professional athletes?
A My best advice is to work hard and have fun. You have to put in the time, and you have to practice. Keep it fun, but work on your skills, and good things do happen.
Q Do you have any pets?
A I have three dogs ? a golden retriever and two Akitas, which are a Japanese-bred dog. Pretty cool looking.
Q You have set up a nonprofit organization, the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, to give disadvantaged children the opportunity to be involved in baseball and softball activities. How does it feel to have an impact on these kids? lives?
A The … foundation is nothing more than using baseball to get the attention of kids. You hope to give them opportunities where they can move in positive directions. Being a professional athlete with a public platform gave me an opportunity to do good work in a bunchof different areas. It wasn?t until recently, after my father died, that I wanted to focus most of my attention on what Dad was really energized about ? making a difference in kids? lives. It always makes you feel good when you help somebody else.
Q While reading “The Longest Season,” I noticed the book was written almost like a diary. What made you choose this interesting format?
A When you?re communicating to kids, you have to keep in a way they can understand. The illustrations were important. But if you really want to communicate the message, keep the words simple and meaningful.
Q Will you be writing more children?s books?
A If a project comes along that would allow me to deliver a nice message to kids, I?ll take that on.
Q Will Rachel and Ryan [Cal?s two children] be playing pro sports?
A My advice to them has always been to navigate toward something they really love to do and go for it. That?s was what my dad told me. The secret to happiness is finding something that you love to do, and if you do, then you won?t have to work a day in your life.
Q What are your predictions for the Orioles this year?
A I?m looking at 83 wins. If things go well, and the team gathers some momentum, maybe they can make a little more noise.
Tina Zou is a senior at Centennial High School in Ellicott City. She is an intern for The Baltimore Examiner.
