The Ripken Family: Cal played with his brother Bill at second base for 5-1/2 seasons (July 11, 1987 thru 1992) and is reunited in 1995. Also played parts of 12 seasons with his father in an O's uniform as a coach and manager. All three were together in 1987, when Cal Sr .became the first father ever to manage two sons simultaneously in major league baseball history (regular season). In addition to younger brother Bill (30), Cal has another brother, Fred (November, 25, 1961), and a sister Ellen Leigh (March 22, 1959).

Three From The Same Family: Wearing the same uniform at the same time is a rarity matched only three times before in baseball history: 1973-Jose, Hector & Tommy Cruz for St. Louis; 1963-Felipe, Matty & Jesus Alou for San Francisco; 1876-George, Sam & Harry Wright for Boston in the National League (Harry, a Hall of Famer, was the manager and pitched briefly; George was an outfielder-70 games in 1976; and Sam, a shortstop, appeared in only two games that year...We're assuming they were all in uniform together)...We count a total of 17 families with three or more representatives in the majors.

FATHER: Cal Sr. spent 15 years on the O's coaching staff, 13-1/2 as 3rd base coach. He joined the staff in 1976. Managed for 14+ seasons in professional baseball, all in the Orioles' organization. His 13+ years as a manager in the Birds' farm system (1961-1974) represent the longest tenure of any minor league skipper in Orioles' history. During that span Cal managed at all levels except rookie league. Earned the reputation as perhaps the best teacher of young players in Orioles history.

Following the 1986 season he replaced Earl Weaver to become only the seventh non-interim manager in the club's history. Was replaced by Frank Robinson on April 12, 1988 after the O's lost the first six games of the season (a streak that went to 21 before it ended). His overall record as manager was 68-101, .402.

Rip was a catcher in the O's organization, although he also played some third base and outfield and even pitched. He enjoyed his best year under Weaver at Fox Cities (Appleton, WI) in 1960. He became a player-manager the following year.

BILL AND CAL, DP DUO: Cal and Bill Ripken were the fifth set of brothers to form a second base-shortstop duo in major league history: Granny and Garvin Hamner of the 1945 Phillies; Lou and Dino Chiozza of the 1935 Phillies; Milt and Frank Bolling of the 1958 Tigers; and Eddie and Johnny O'Brien of the 1953 and 1955-1956 Pirates.

Most ever: The two Rips have played in 663 games together, started 634 games and turned 287 double plays. Prior to the Ripkens, the most any brother double play combination had ever played side by side in the majors were approximately 100 games by Pittsburgh's O'Brien twins.

Only 11 errors combined: In 1990, Cal and Bill accounted for a total of only 11 errors, the fewest in major league history by a qualifying (each playing 2/3 of their club's games at their respective positions) keystone combination. Next lowest total is 13 in 1990 by Toronto's Tony Fernandez and Manny Lee.

Triple Play: On June 15, 1989, vs New York, the two Rips teamed up on a triple play against the Yankees, the first by the Orioles in more than 10 years.

Both homered: On September 15, 1990 at Tor, Cal and Bill each homered, the only game in which that happened. They were the first brothers to homer in the same game since Graig (NY) and Jim Nettles (Det) did it September 14, 1974. Both Bill and Cal homered in the fifth inning off David Wells, the 15th time brothers had homered in the same game and the fifth time in the same inning (first since Hank and Tommy Aaron for the Milwaukee Braves on July 12, 1962).