Other - BASEBALL: Cal Ripken Jr. played 2,632 consecutive games, one career, one team!

TiCam · Published by TiCam- 07-29-07

Ironman Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn will share the stage at the 2007 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony today in Cooperstown, N.Y. There may have never been a more perfect pairing.

They were born three months apart, played their entire careers within 100 miles of their birthplace and were members of extended baseball-playing families.

Cal Ripken

Three Reasons He's A Hall Of Famer

DURABILITY - His career is centered around his streak of 2,632 consecutive games played, which broke a record that stood 56 years. His mark probably will last as long if not longer. To break 2,632, a player would have to play every game for 16 years and then 41 games in the 17th. He ranks eighth all-time in games played with 3,001.

LOYALTY - One career, one team. Only two players -- Carl Yastrzemski (3,308) and Stan Musial (3,026) -- played their entire careers with one team and played more games with that team than Ripken did with Baltimore.

CHANGED THE GAME - He set the stage for bigger shortstops, such as Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra, to get their chances. Until Ripken, shortstops had been primarily pesky, quick defenders with little offensive ability. His 345 homers as a shortstop rank first all time, one ahead of Alex Rodriguez. (Ripken also played third base.)

Tony Gwynn

Three Reasons He's A Hall Of Famer

ABILITY - Gwynn's .338 career batting average ranks 22nd all-time but is the highest by any player who began his career after World War II, when more emphasis was placed on hitting for power versus average. In the last 75 years, only Ted Williams (.344) compiled a higher batting average. Won eight NL batting titles, tied with Honus Wagner for most in the NL.

LOYALTY - One career, one team. He is "Mr. Padre." His 2,440 games with San Diego are 1,154 more than the next in line. He is the only player to play in all nine of San Diego's World Series games. He will be the first player to have played the majority of his career in San Diego to be enshrined.

CHANGED THE GAME - He proved you could be a dangerous No. 3 hitter without slamming 35 homers. His 119 RBI in 1997 are the most by a player with less than 20 HRs (he hit 17) in a season in the last 50 years.