Cal Ripken Jr. Statue Unveiled At O's Sold-Out Showdown Against Yankees
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Friday morning in Camden Yards looks much different than it did just a few hours ago. Fans packed the place for a sold out showdown-- the first of four against the New York Yankees. But the game wasn't the only thing that had fans excited.
Mike Schuh reports.
Fresh off the heels of an amazing victory for the Orioles against the Yankees, there's a new addition at Camden Yards-- a bronze statue of Oriole great Cal Ripken Jr.
The moment the gates opened at Camden Yards, diehard fans made a mad dash to watch a Baltimore Orioles legend be immortalized with a bronze statue in his likeness.
Ripken is one of six Oriole legends now with a statue at Camden Yards.
"Very proud of the pose," Ripken said. "I think it looks like me and it captures who I was as a short stop."
Spectators agreed these are how larger than life figures should be remembered.
"It looks great. It's gonna be another icon to remember Camden Yards by," said Levi Porter, fan.
"I think they're amazing. It represents who we are," said Jessica McCloskey, fan.
Adding to the excitement of the night was that as Ripken took the field, it was in front of a sold-out crowd there to cheer on an Orioles team now tied for first place.
"Everybody is here to honor Cal, but the same time everybody is amped up for the Yankees series," said Rich Bevensee, fan.
And the man who helped make the Orioles great once again got to share in their success.
"It feels really good to walk into that stadium and see the excitement and see that there's a big series in September," Ripken said.
The last statue of the legend's series will be unveiled Saturday, Sept. 29. It will honor Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.
Because of the Orioles' success, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is asking the residents to light the city orange.
