Ripken honored at Frontier Field
By: Mark Gruba
Updated: August 8, 2012
Former Red Wing and Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken Jr. was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame Tuesday night at Frontier Field.
Thousands of fans came out to cheer on the man many call a living legend.
"We got hear about 1:15 this afternoon," says Tim Proud, of Rochester. Proud and his son Timmy were first in line at Frontier Field to see the baseball great. "Great guy, very fan friendly", Proud said of Ripken.
The Proud's and hundreds of others came with memories, and memorabilia. As fans poured into the park, Ripken was positioned along the rail of the infield signing autographs. Mark Baron, of Rochester, was among those energized by the Hall of Fame shortstop. "He's a legend in his own time," said Baron. "he's a hero for baseball. He's a gentleman, he's what baseball should be and what it's all about."
Ripken spent two summers in Rochester as a boy when his father managed the Red Wings, then earned International League Rookie of the Year honors as a Red Wing in 1981. It was his last stop before the majors. "When I look back at Rochester it always has a special place in my heart for a couple of reasons being here, but it really was the place where I thought I could make it, said Ripken.
In 1982, Ripken won the American League Rookie of the Year award. The next year he was the league MVP and helped the Orioles win the World Series. Ripken went on to become baseball's all-time iron man, playing in a record 2,632 straight games.
During Tuesday's induction ceremony, Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly surprised Ripken with a Bills jersey, then Ripken took his place in the International League Hall of Fame. "I'm very honored to receive this award and I love every time I have a chance to come back to Rochester," Ripken told the Frontier Field crowd.
And after waiting all afternoon, Timmy Proud got his autograph, as Ripken signed a bat for the Rochester teen.
Earlier in the day, Ripken headlined a luncheon at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, helping raise thousands of dollars for the Hillside Family of Agencies.
