Cal Ripken Jr. in Rochester on August 7

Posted at: 07/09/2012 1:00 PM | Updated at: 07/09/2012 6:24 PM
By: Robin De Wind | WHEC.com

Baseball’s all-time ironman is coming back to town to be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. will travel to Rochester in August to help raise money for local organizations. He will spend time at Frontier Field with fans that flock to see him every time he comes to town.

Ripken is undoubtedly Rochester’s favorite Red Wing. He played 114 consecutive games in Rochester in 1981. In August, he’ll be formally inducted into the International League Hall of Fame. Cal Ripken’s last appearance in Rochester was back in 2003 when he was inducted into the Red Wings Hall of Fame.

Almost ten years later, Ripken is expected to once again draw 12,000 plus fans when he comes back in August to be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.

Dan Mason, Red Wings General Manager, said, “It’s a big day for Rochester to bring a guy like Cal Ripken who is a hall of famer and an American icon. Anytime you bring that to your community, it’s an exciting thing.”

Ripken was selected to the International Hall of Fame last year but couldn’t make it back for a formal induction. His visit August 7 will be for the entire day with a Hall of Fame luncheon at the Convention Center, benefiting Hillside Family of Agencies and Unity Health System.

Mason said, “He’s a very busy guy and it worked out in his schedule for him to come back to town to be inducted so we saw it as a great opportunity to raise funds for a great couple of causes.”

Ripken enjoyed a 21-year major league career with the Baltimore Orioles and he established the major league record for the most consecutive games played which were 2,632.

But Rochester fans know him as a guy who gave his all as a Red Wing and has not forgotten his roots in baseball. The Red Wings say this will be a highlight for it has already been a busy Red Wings season.

Mason said, “Every day is an event. This will be one of the bigger events we hope for this year and many years.”

Cal Ripken will be in Rochester Tuesday August 7 for the Hall of Fame luncheon and then before the Red Wings 7:05pm game, he will be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.

For tickets to the baseball game, you can call 423-Wings or go to redwingsbaseball.com. Tickets for the August 7 Red Wings game are on sale now.

For information on the luncheon, go to 454-1001. Tickets for the luncheon are $65. Tables of eight and half tables are also available.  
 

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