2,632 games in and of itself would be an impressive feat for any athlete in any sport, but 2,632 consecutive is next-level impressive.
That’s 2,632 days doing the same job, in the same place, at the same level, not once calling in sick.
On Sept. 6, 1995, Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig as baseball’s greatest iron man by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game.
Ripken’s historic streak began on May 30, 1982, his second Major League season. The streak spanned more than 17 of his 21 MLB seasons.
A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Ripken earned Rookie of the Year honors, two American League MVP awards, and 16 All-Star selections through the span of the streak.
The streak finally came to an end when Ripken himself decided it was time late in September of 1998.
After the game, Ripken told reporters, “It was time. Baseball has always been a team game. I thought about it, talked to my wife, and decided, ‘Let’s end it in the same place it started. In my home state. In front of friends and family. In front of the best fans in the world.'”
Ripken’s streak is likely one that will never be broken. The most recent player to even come close was Miguel Tejada, whose streak ended at 1,152, less than halfway to Ripken’s historic mark.
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