Ripken Quietly Streaks Toward a World Record

Baseball is once again a team game for Cal Ripken. Instead of thinking about a consecutive games streak, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop is eager to help his team put together a winning streak.

Instead of chasing Lou Gehrig, Ripken is a part of the Orioles’ quest to overtake the New York Yankees in the A.L. East.

It’s quite a departure from last year, when the Orioles were big news for one reason: Ripken’s pursuit of Gehrig’s major-league record of 2,130 straight games played, a mark that was shattered on the emotional night of Sept. 6.

“It seemed like the season should have been over at that point,” Ripken said recently. “It was difficult, mentally, to play those last 20 games or so.”

Ripken followed his record-breaking night with an 0-for-15 slide, but this year there have been few distractions as he channels his energy toward helping the Orioles win their first pennant since 1983.

“On the whole, it seems like the focus is much more back where it should be--with the success and activities of the club,” he said. “I think things are slowing down and getting back to some sense of normalcy.”

For now, that is. It won’t be long before Ripken once again grabs headlines for his incredible staying power, this time as he closes in on baseball’s world record--the 2,215 games played by Sachio Kinugasa with Japan’s Hiroshima Carp from Oct. 19, 1970, to Oct. 22, 1987.

Ripken is fewer than 30 games away from becoming baseball’s all-time Iron Man--in any language, any country. Barring rainouts, he will tie Kinugasa’s record June 12 in Detroit and pass the mark the following night in Kansas City.

“I don’t know what to expect that night, just like I didn’t know what to expect last year,” Ripken said. “I don’t know what the overall significance is. Intellectually, of course, I know what it means. But how that translates to any kind of festivities or added responsibility on my part, I have no idea.”

Certainly, Kinugasa’s record isn’t nearly as notable in America as Gehrig’s mark. Virtually every baseball fan knew that Gehrig played in 2,130 straight games; in contrast, few refer to Kinugasa by name and the number 2,215 is hardly etched in anyone’s mind--even Ripken’s.

Asked last week if he knew how many straight games Kinugasa played, Ripken shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. But that doesn’t undermine his respect for the man’s streak.

“The world record should be acknowledged because it’s still a tremendous accomplishment, whether it’s in the Japanese league or whether it’s in the American League.

“It’s a tribute to perseverance, a tribute to the sport. I’ve always understood that, and I’ve always recognized that as an accomplishment,” Ripken said.

The Royals organization feels that way, too. Team officials intend to honor Ripken on June 13, although there are no plans to make the evening anything close to the lavish affair at Camden Yards last year.

“We plan to have Sachio Kinugasa here to be a part of what happens, and we’d obviously like to make the night a memorable one,” said Denny Trease, the team’s director of communications. “We certainly don’t think we can top what happened in Baltimore, but we want to recognize the feat.

“We think Mr. Kinugasa deserves some respect, too. We’re not talking Lou Gehrig here, but the gentleman certainly did something noteworthy, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge it.”

Kinugasa, now a part-time journalist for one of Japan’s largest newspapers, plans to cover the event and is expected to participate in news conferences in both Detroit and Kansas City.

The hoopla won’t end on the road, because the Orioles also plan to honor the new world record-holder when the Orioles return home June 17.

Ripken would probably be relieved to know the Orioles aren’t planning a huge ceremony.

“It would be foolish to try to outdo last year. It shouldn’t happen, because that last year was the real record-breaker,” Orioles spokesman John Maroon said. “But this is the world record, and it should be recognized.”

Until that time, Ripken will just keep on showing up at the ballpark with the intention of playing at least nine innings.

“I try not to think about it. I try to keep my focus as pure, as honest as I can,” he said. “I come to the ballpark with the idea that I want to play and help us win on a daily basis.”

That alone is what motivates Ripken, and it’s a main reason why he is quick to downplay his amazing streak

“I never set out to set any record. I’ve just always wanted to play instead of watch,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have more pride and more appreciation for my career and some of the accomplishments after the fact. Right now, though, I don’t try to spend too much time thinking about it.”