How Baseball's Iron Man Made Sports History
Cal Ripken Jr. broke an unbelievable record by showing up for his team every single day.
Imagine going to school every single day without ever missing a single one. Now, imagine doing that for more than fifteen years! That is basically what baseball star Cal Ripken Jr. did. In 1995, he broke one of the most famous records in sports history by playing in his 2,131st game in a row.
Before Cal, another legendary player named Lou Gehrig held the record. Most people thought Lou's record would never be broken. Baseball is a tough sport, and players get tired, sore, or hurt. But Cal always kept going. Even when he was bruised or exhausted, he put on his uniform and ran onto the field.
Because he was so reliable, fans gave Cal a great nickname. They called him the Iron Man. He eventually played in 2,632 games in a row before finally taking a day off. Cal showed the world that being a hero isn't just about hitting home runs. It is also about showing up for your team every single day.