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Cal Ripken Jr. joins WTOP on 30th anniversary of record 2,131st consecutive game

It was 30 years ago Friday that Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. officially became MLB’s “Iron Man” by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game to surpass Lou Gehrig’s record.

During the iconic game, Ripken received a 22-minute standing ovation from the Baltimore crowd and swatted a home run on the way to a 4-2 Orioles win, cementing the night as one of the most special in the game’s storied history.

The Orioles will hold a ceremony Saturday in honor of Ripken’s record during their home game against the Dodgers.

Ripken joined WTOP’s Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer to reflect on that night. Listen to the conversation or read the transcript below.



The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Frederick Keys are an Orioles affiliate once again, starting in 2026

Major League Baseball renewed its affiliation with the Frederick Keys, making it a High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles once again starting in the 2026 season. It will mark the return of affiliated baseball back in Frederick County, Maryland, for the first time since 2020. The Keys will play in the South Atlantic League, and will once again be a part of the Orioles farm system, meaning fans watching players in Frederick could end up seeing those same stars play in the big leagues in the future.
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