Lamar Jackson Leads Heartfelt Tribute to Cal Ripken Jr. for Breaking Baltimore ‘Belief’ Barrier With Historic MLB Feat

Well, Camden Yards turned into a party on Sept. 6 when the Orioles hosted the Dodgers. Why? Because Orioles HOF Cal Ripken Jr. was there and took all the spotlight. Notably, the Orioles pulled out all the stops to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ripken’s legendary milestone of breaking Lou Gehrig’s record by playing in his 2,131st straight game.

Reportedly, the festivities kicked off at 6:20 p.m., with Orioles greats like Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Harold Baines, and Mike Mussina joining Ripken for the big night. So, that number, 2,131, needs no explanation for baseball fans. Ripken didn’t just pass Gehrig’s mark, but he kept the streak alive until 1998, when he ended it himself at an incredible 2,632 games. It’s a record many consider untouchable, solidifying his status as baseball’s “Iron Man.” So, it deserves to be celebrated grandly.

And to make the anniversary even sweeter? NFL quarterback Lamar Jackson was there to lead the tributes, adding some extra star power to an already unforgettable celebration. “Mr. Cal, Lamar Jackson here… You make me so proud to wear number eight here in Baltimore. And there will never, ever, ever in the history be another Iron Man, someone like yourself, the greatest ever. Appreciate you. We all do,” Jackson led the pack of tributes for Ripken in a video shared by the Orioles.

Well, Lamar Jackson’s connection to Cal Ripken Jr. and that iconic No. 8 jersey actually goes back a few years.

Reportedly, in 2020, Jackson had his breakout season, guiding the Ravens to a franchise-best 14-2 record and smashing records on his way to what would almost certainly be an MVP award. Around that time, Ripken himself gave Jackson the ultimate nod of approval, saying it was his time to shine and essentially passing the torch.

“It’s his time, though. He is No. 8. He’s the No. 8 in Baltimore now,” Ripken said about Jackson. And with that blessing, Jackson stepped into the role of Baltimore’s new face of sports. So, a natural continuation of the city’s proud tradition. This time, the tribute came first from Baltimore’s newest torchbearer.

Ripken’s record is the hardest to touch

Well, there are plenty of MLB records still on the books, some that could fall one day, others that seem untouchable. Yes, Cal Ripken Jr.’s streak isn’t about piling up home runs, hits, or strikeouts, but it might be the toughest of them all to break. Why? Because playing more than 2,000 consecutive games in today’s game is virtually impossible.

If you know, these days, load management rules everything. Teams are hyper-focused on keeping players healthy over a long season, which means scheduled rest days for even the biggest stars.

And Ripken’s streak wasn’t just about showing up. For the unversed, it stretched across 17 straight seasons without missing a single game. For a player today to pull that off, they’d need not only superhuman durability but also a manager and organization willing to write their name in the lineup every day. That’s just not how the game works anymore.

So while today’s players may be more athletic than ever, the culture of baseball doesn’t leave room for another Iron Man. Hence, Ripken’s 2,632 games feel like one of those rare feats that’s probably better left untouched.