Cal Ripken Marquee Hall of Fame 2007

On September 6, 1995 he started at shortstop against California in his 2,131st straight game, passing a Lou Gehrig record that had stood since 1939. Play halted for twenty-two minutes while he circled Camden Yards shaking hands with the crowd. He kept going until September 20, 1998, and ended it by choice at 2,632.

In 1983 he led the American League in hits, doubles, and runs, was voted Most Valuable Player, and Baltimore won the World Series. He won the award again in 1991. Nineteen All-Star selections and eight Silver Sluggers came from a position teams had staffed for fielding rather than hitting.

He played shortstop in every game from 1983 through 1995 and moved to third base in 1997. His 3,000th hit came at Minnesota on April 15, 2000. He retired after 2001 with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs, and the writers elected him in 2007 with 537 of 545 votes.