Cal Ripken, Jr.: Play Ball!

What is it like to be a major league ball player? Cal Ripken, Jr. plays third base for the Baltimore Orioles. In this autobiography for beginning readers, he talks about growing up in a baseball family, and about his love for the game. He reveals his primary goal? to play well and play every day. And he tells how, in 1995, he broke the record for playing the most games in a row. Here is Cal's story, with over 30 action-packed photographs and illustrations. Short sentences, important visual clues, and a lively text encourage young sports fans to become excited about reading.

A simple biography of the highly honored player for the Baltimore Orioles, who in 1995 broke the record for playing the most games in a row.

Cal Ripken, Jr.'s autobiography The Only Way I Know was published in 1997 to rave reviews by critics and fans alike. Publishers Weekly called it "an unusually good sports autobiography that captures the candor and generous spirit of [the] man," while Booklist called it "superior....Excellent baseball fare." Now this number one best-seller has been adapted for children sure to score a hit with young readers. This adaptation for beginning readers is written to an Easy-to-Read Level 3. In simple, clear language, it presents the highlights of Cal Ripken's life and career and his philosophy: "Play well and play every day." The art combines photos from The Only Way I Know and action-packed illustrations by Stan Silver.

Children's Literature

The story of the major league baseball player who holds the record for playing the most consecutive games (2,632), is told in an easy chapter book for young readers. The career of Cal Ripken, Jr. is described from his early baseball family days through September 1998. The Baltimore Orioles player presents his baseball career from Little League to minor league to rookie season to Major League. Slumps and streaks are reported. Excellent action photos support each chapter. The final chapter relates the excitement of the record-breaking drive. Ripken's message to do your very best, day in and day out, begins and ends his story. It is his legacy and is reflected appropriately in the telling of his life story. Career achievements identify Ripken as a skillful and honored player but his nickname, Iron Man, is only identified and not explained.

Cal Ripken is baseball’s all-time Iron Man. He retired from baseball in October 2001 after twenty-one seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. His name appears in the record books repeatedly, most notably as one of only eight players in history to achieve 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. In 1995, Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played (2,130) and voluntarily ended his streak in 1998 after playing 2,632 consecutive games. Although he finished his career at third base, he is best known for redefining the position of shortstop, and in January 2007 he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

As the President & CEO of the Ripken Baseball Group, Cal is committed to growing the game of baseball at the grassroots level. Ripken Baseball has built and operates The Aberdeen Project, a baseball complex consisting of Ripken Stadium, home to the minor league Aberdeen IronBirds, and the Ripken Youth Baseball Academy. It also owns the Class A Augusta (GA) GreenJackets and has recently opened The Ripken Experience, a youth complex in Myrtle Beach, SC. Cal is also founder of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, which brings baseball to disadvantaged youth across the country, refurbishes fields, and donates baseball equipment to public schools. He lives in Maryland with his wife, Kelly, and their children, Rachel and Ryan.

Mike Bryan has written or collaborated on many books, including Cal Ripken’s bestselling autobiographyThe Only Way I Know, Uneasy Rider, and The Afterword, a novel.