Ripken, In Pinstripes? It Could’ve Been Yanks Passed On Baltimore Star, Taking Current Angel, Among Others
If the New York Yankees had a better scouting system in 1978, it’s quite possible that Cal Ripken could have broken Lou Gehrig’s record while wearing pinstripes.
The Yankees had three chances to get Ripken in the 1978 draft. They picked Rex Hudler, Matt Winters nd Brian Ryder before the Baltimore Orioles snagged Ripken with the 48th pick overall.
Hudler is now a utility player with the California Angels. He was in the opposite dugout Wednesday when Ripken was set to play in his 2,131st consecutive game, all of them as an Oriole.
“Cal got his break earlier than I did,” Hudler said. “(Yankees owner George) Steinbrenner bought all those free agents, and there was a logjam at the bottom. While I was in Double-A and Triple-A, I kept seeing Cal surviving and doing well in the big leagues.
“I used him as a motivator.”
Hudler is well aware of the fact that he was picked 30 notches ahead of Ripken 17 years ago, and it made the record-breaking night even better.
“It would have been special even if I wasn’t here because of what he’s done,” Hudler said.
Check your keys
The Secret Service and stadium officials implemented an unprecedented security check Wednesday in an effort to provide maximum protection - not for Ripken, but for President Clinton and Vice President Gore.
Reporters and fans parking in Lot A near the stadium were asked to hand over their ignition and trunk keys. Ushers explained that the cars would be searched, and the keys would be returned to the owner before the end of the game.
Add Clinton
The expected presence of Clinton provided a bit of extra excitement in the Orioles clubhouse. “I’ll be ready when Uncle Bill comes by,” third baseman Jeff Manto said. “I’ve got a ball and pen all ready.”
Pitcher Ben McDonald wasn’t interested.
“I’ve met him and shook his hand. That’s good enough for me,” McDonald said. “Besides, I’m a Republican.”
Part of history
Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro wanted a pennant when he signed with the team prior to last season. For the time being, he’ll have to settle for his second wish.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day since I first signed with the Orioles,” Palmeiro said.
Palmeiro was present for Nolan Ryan’s sixth and seventh no-hitters, as well as Ryan’s 300th win and 5,000th strikeout.
Not quite Ripkenesque
Tim Salmon entered the night with the longest consecutive-games streak on the Angels - 49 games. At that pace, he could match Ripken’s current total in the year 2008.
It’s not going to happen.
“I know the value of a day off and what it can do for you. So do the coaches,” the Angels star said. “I would rather take a day off just to energize the batteries for a day. I’m sure Cal has a lot of aches and pains and things like that, too. That’s why it’s so hard to conceive what he’s done. It just blows me away.”
First post, 7 a.m.
The lines started Wednesday at 7 a.m. at the Baltimore post office for a one-time postmark in Cal Ripken’s honor.
Thousands of people came in for the postmark, which is in the shape of a baseball with the number 2,131 in the middle and reads “September 6, 1995 Record Breaking Station Baltimore, MD 21233.”
People brought envelopes, baseballs, bats, pennants, posters and programs.
Requests for the Cal Ripken commemorative postmark can be sent to: Record Breaking Station, Main Office Window Services, USPS, 900 E. Fayette St. Baltimore, Md. 21233-9715. Requests must be postmarked by Oct. 6.