25th Anniversary (9-20-98), Cal Ripken Ends his Streak of 2,632 Games Played, says CTMB-1.3

25th Anniversary (9-20-98), Cal Ripken Ends his Streak of 2,632 Games Played, says CTMB-1.3

September 20, 2023 - The "Charm'tastic Mile" of Baltimore (CTMB-1.3) www.thecharmtasticmile.com. The chic & famed 1.3 mile corridor located in the heart of Charm City (Est. 1975) that connects Dwtn-West, the Inner Harbor & Harbor East that is now listed on Google search as one of the Top 10-15 Most Famous Streets in America is reporting that today is the 25th Anniversary (9-20-1998) of Baltimore Orioles Icon legend Cal Ripken ending his illustrious consecutive game-playing streak at 2,632.

On the Sunday evening of September 20, 1998 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in front of 48,013 fans to see the O's play their last home game of the season. Cal Ripken, about 30 minutes before the start of the game after batting practice, walked into the office of Orioles Manager Ray Miller and said, "I think it' time". Miller then inserted Ryan Minor at 3rd base in place of Ripken. Minor made his MLB debut 7-days prior on September 13, 1998. This past September 13th marked 500-Days until the official start of "Charm City 50", the 50th Anniversary (1975-2025) of the famous nickname coined for the City of Baltimore.

Ripken decided to end the incredible and historic streak after conversations with his then wife Kelly, his parents and a few close friends. After the game Cal said, "he ended the streak for the good of the team and chose the last home-game of the season to do it - he also added that he had no plans to retire. He would retire from baseball in 2001. The O's would finish the last 7-games of the 1998 season on the road vs Toronto (3) and Boston (4). 25-year later the 2023 Birds will finish their season in a 4-game series vs the Boston Red Sox.

Cal began his streak on May 30, 1982 when he was put into the line-up by legendary Orioles Manager Earl Weaver. The streak would last over 16-years. Ripken broke the streak of NY Yankees great Lou Gehrig 3-years earlier on September 6, 1995 (9-6-95) when he played in his 2,131 consecutive game. That streak would continue for 501 more games. It's amazing that he was able to continue the streak for another 500-games. One-year later after Ripken broke Gehrig's streak on the same-day (9-6-96) Oriole legend Eddie Murray would hit his 500th home-run at Camden Yards.

The Orioles lost the game 5-4 to the Yankees, the moment in time and Cal's legacy became more of celebration of his career, who won the game was secondary, that was the greatness of Cal Ripken Jr. The Yankees would finish '98 with a regular-season record of 114-48 and win the World Series a month later by sweeping the San Diego Padres 4-0.

Side-Note: Just minutes before the 8:07 PM start of the Yankees vs Orioles game (9-20-98) the Baltimore Ravens (1-2) lost on the road to Jacksonville Jaguars 24-10. It was the 3rd game of the season for the Ravens in their new downtown stadium (M&T Bank). 2023 marks the 25th Anniversary (1998) of the opening of M&T Bank Stadium.

For more information or news media interview requests about the history/origin of The "Charm'tastic Mile" or "Charm City 50", the 50th Anniversary of the Charm City nickname coined in 1975 please contact Derrick E Vaughan at 443-851-5244 or email: thecharmtasticmile@gmail.com