Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Proudly Representing Maryland's 7th District

To Designate Part of I-395 in Baltimore as “Cal Ripken Way”

September 5, 2007

Floor Procedure, H.R. 3218
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.

It is my honor to rise in support of H.R. 3218, which was authored by my colleague from Maryland, Congressman John Sarbanes, to designate a portion of I-395 in Baltimore as “Cal Ripken Way.”

Cal Ripken, Jr. played for 21 seasons with my hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles. Known as the “Iron Man,” he is perhaps most famous for playing in 2,632 consecutive games – breaking the record for consecutive appearances that was set by another legend of baseball, Lou Gehrig.

However, his career was not only about his resilience – but about the incredible skills and the hard work he brought both to the field and to our community.

He finished his career with more than 3,000 hits – an incredible achievement that is one of the most difficult to accomplish in baseball. These hits included 431 homeruns – and they produced 1,695 RBIs.

He began his career by earning the “Rookie of the Year” award. He went on to receive two Gold Glove awards and was twice named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He was also twice named as the Most Valuable Player at the Major League All-Star Game.

In recognition of his achievements and of his importance to the game of baseball, he was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2007 – the first year in which he was eligible for this honor.

Cal Ripken represents the very best that we have ever seen in the game of baseball – and since leaving baseball, he has come to represent the very best of our community and indeed of our nation by finding new ways to help build the same dedication to excellence in our young people that he brought to his incredible career.

He established and manages the Cal Ripken Baseball Division in which literally hundreds of thousands of youngsters have participated, learning not only the skills of baseball but the work ethic that will help them succeed in whatever they choose to do in life.

With his brother, he also established the Cal Ripken Senior Foundation in honor of their father to give underprivileged youth the opportunity to participate in baseball and softball.
In recognition of his ability to motivate and inspire, he was recently selected to serve our nation as a Special Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State.

At the time of his appointment, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted that Cal Ripkin brought “integrity to the game of baseball” – and I think his personal integrity is truly his greatest legacy.

Cal Ripken is not only a sports hero who has achieved extraordinary accomplishments through hard work and sheer perseverance, he is a popular figure who has cultivated in a way that increasingly few sports figures do his ability to be a positive role model.

Cal has synchronized his personal character with his physical abilities and has consistently used his extraordinary gifts to make a difference in the lives of others.

As a Baltimorean, I thank Congressman Sarbanes for his work on this legislation, and I join all of my colleagues from Maryland in recognizing the incredible legacy Cal Ripken has given not only to our City but to our nation of excellence on the field and service off the field.

I can think of no more fitting way to honor Cal Ripken than by naming the Interstate that passes by Camden Yards where he played his entire career in his honor and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3218.

WITH THAT, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.