He's perhaps most famous for simply playing the game of baseball every day. But Cal Ripken, Jr. also played at a very high level over his lengthy career, becoming a Hall of Famer and one of the most widely collected players in modern times.
Ripken made his debut for the Baltimore Orioles on August 10, 1981. He became a fixture in the lineup the following May, and he made the most of his first two full seasons in the majors, belting a total of 55 home runs en route to winning the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1982 and the AL MVP in 1983.
Little did Orioles fans know that they were witnessing the early stages of history. The next time Ripken missed a game was September 20, 1998, a span of 2,632 consecutive games. Ripken's streak passed Lou Gehrig's old mark of 2,130 straight games played on September 6, 1995, a night that was later voted Major League Baseball's Most Memorable Moment.
Along the way, Ripken amassed 19 All-Star selections, two Gold Gloves and a second AL MVP. Though he ended his career at third base, he'll be remembered for changing the game for shortstops, bringing power to a position previously manned almost exclusively by lighter-hitting defensive specialists. Fittingly, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 on his first time on the ballot.
Ripken's popularity with baseball card collectors can be attributed to his talent and longevity, but also to his humble personality and his appreciation for his fans. Though he has signed plenty of autographed cards and appeared at many shows throughout the years, his signature remains in high demand.
So does his trio of 1982 rookie cards. In a relatively light year for baseball rookies, Ripken's first-year issues stand out even though supply is not lacking. Now that he's taken his place among the other greats of the game, expect his cards to experience one more surge of interest and then maintain their values going forward.
Cal Ripken, Jr. 1982 Rookie Cards
- Donruss # 405
- Fleer # 176
- Topps # 21