Cal Ripken, Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. is a baseball great whose dad coached him to give his best both on and off the field. Baseball's "Iron Man" made history in 1995 by breaking Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. In 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, he came to embody character, endurance, and integrity. Since retiring from the game in 2001, Ripken has given back to the city of Baltimore by generously supporting literacy, care for thyroid patients, and research on Lou Gehrig's disease. He's also honored his father's memory through the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which refurbishes fields, donates sports equipment to schools, and teaches life lessons through baseball to disadvantaged kids.