Chapter 1993
Cal Ripken Jr.
At Cal’s final game in October 2001 with sons Brad (16), Greg (10) and my father-in-law Vin DeMarco. Never did figure out how to get the lawn mower to carve the kids’ jersey numbers into our small lawn!
Greg (10) at Cal Ripken Jr.’s final game, just minutes before finding his way to the railing where he scored a one-of-a-kind collectible, a ticket autographed by Cal, Eddie Murray and Dante Bichette.
In 2004, Greg (13) and Mary (10) joined me, Kate and their older brother Daniel (16) as he presented Cal Ripken Jr. with the Arthritis Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, one Iron Man to another!
Patrick (9) and I sat beyond the right centerfield wall, just below the four-digit banner that told the story for weeks as the drama mounted. On October 6, 1995 Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games played.
Brad (6) and the Oriole Bird at the last game at Memorial Stadium (October 1991). The emotional post-game ceremony included 31-year-old Cal at shortstop, accompanied by his predecessors including Mark Belanger and Luis Aparicio.
