Cal Ripken Sets The Record For Consecutive Games Played
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On September 6, 1995, many baseball fans within and out of the United States tuned in to cable TV network ESPN to watch Ripken surpass Lou Gehrig's 56-year-old record for consecutive games played. The event still ranks as one of the network's most watched baseball games ever. Cal's children, Rachel and Ryan, threw out the ceremonial first balls. When the game became official in the bottom of the fifth inning, the numerical banners that displayed Ripken's streak on the wall of the B&O Warehouse outside the stadium's right field wall changed from 2130 to 2131.
Everyone attending (including the opposing Angels and all four umpires) erupted with a standing ovation lasting over 22 minutes, one of the longest standing ovations for any athlete. During the ovation, Cal also did a lap around the entire Camden Yards warning track to shake hands and give high-fives to the fans. ESPN never went to a commercial break during the entire ovation. In the game, Ripken went 2 for 4, hitting a home run and a double in the game. Mike Mussina recorded the win. Ripken's home run was hit to a seat (now marked in the stadium) in his 2130th consecutive game. He had previously hit a home-run in 1993 to the exact same seat to break Ernie Banks' record for most home-runs by a shortstop.
