As coach
57-626: Calvin Edwin Ripken Sr. (December 17, 1935 – March 25, 1999) was an American baseball player, scout , coach and manager . who spent 36 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played in the Orioles' farm system beginning in 1957, and later served as coach and manager of the parent club, on which his sons Cal Jr. and Billy played. Born near Aberdeen, Maryland , which he called home throughout his life, Ripken joined
114-571: A black suit during his 50 years at the helm of the Philadelphia Athletics , and Burt Shotton , manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1940s, who wore a Dodger 200 cap and a team jacket over street clothes in the dugout . After the widespread adoption of numbered uniforms in the early 1930s, Joe McCarthy , another Hall of Fame manager, wore a full uniform but no number on his back for the remainder of his career with
171-754: A catcher; although Ripken could catch and handle pitchers, the injury had robbed him of the ability to throw well. He appeared in 58 games with the Class D Appleton Foxes in 1962, and played his final games in 1964, when he made two appearances for the Class A Aberdeen Pheasants of the Northern League . As Ripken's playing career wound down, his coaching career began. His first experience as manager came in 1961, when he succeeded Billy DeMars (who had been promoted) as Leesburg's manager in June. Leesburg folded after
228-470: A coaching staff is assembled, the selection of the first-base coach is frequently made with the purpose of filling a gap in these coaching responsibilities, as the actual in-game duties of a first-base coach are relatively light. Teams may also employ individuals to work with players in other areas or activities. These positions sometimes include the word "coach" in their titles. Individuals holding these positions usually do not dress in uniform during games, as
285-486: A daughter, Ellen. They lived in a split-level house on Clover Street in Aberdeen, Maryland. Two of his sons played in the major leagues. Cal Jr. most notably broke Lou Gehrig 's record for consecutive games played and had over 3,000 hits in his Hall of Fame career. Billy, while not quite as successful as his brother, played 12 years in the major leagues. Cal Sr. also had two older brothers, Oliver and Bill. Violet Ripken
342-703: A game when I'd congratulate him, our hands would stick together." Next year, he was promoted to the Wilson Tobs of the Class B Carolina League , where he played 118 games. In 1959, he split the season between the Pensacola Dons of the Class D Alabama–Florida League and the Amarillo Gold Sox of the Texas League . Most of his playing time came in 61 games with Pensacola; he only appeared in 30 games for Amarillo. Ripken spent 1960 with
399-416: A game, as well as coordinating spring training routines and practices. A pitching coach mentors and trains teams' pitchers . Pitching coaches can alter a pitcher's arm angle, placement on the pitching rubber or pitch selection in order to improve the player's performance. The coach advises the manager on the condition of pitchers and their arms, and serves as an in-game coach for the pitcher currently on
456-411: A manager, a pitching coach, and a hitting coach, each of whom also assumes the responsibilities of the first- and third-base coaches, bullpen coach, etc. In U.S. college baseball , the title "manager" is not used; the person who fills the role of a professional manager is instead called the "head coach". Responsibilities of a youth baseball coach include providing a safe environment for everyone. A coach
513-400: A manager, he pitched batting practice and hit fungoes before games. He was one of the last members of the team to leave after games. Ripken could be tough on the players he coached, enjoying using the term "lunkhead" when talking to them, but he always made time to answer any questions they had about the game. Doug DeCinces , who played under him through the 1981 season, recalled, "He was
570-424: A number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager , who determines the starting lineup and batting order , decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decisions. Beyond the manager, more than a half dozen coaches may assist the manager in running the team. Essentially, baseball coaches are analogous to assistant coaches in other sports, as
627-463: A runner on a hit , sacrifice fly or error ; additionally, they account for the arm strength of the opposing team's fielder and the speed and position of the baserunner. The bench coach, third-base coach, and first-base coach often are assigned additional responsibility for assisting players in specific areas, particularly defense. Common designations include outfield instructor, infield instructor, catching instructor, and baserunning instructor. When
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#1732788061863684-503: A slow start in April 1987, going 9–12 while losing seven of nine games in one stretch. However, the ballclub improved in May, moving over .500 while setting a May record with 56 home runs. In June, the team fell out of contention, dropping to 28–36, their worst start since 1955. Pitching plagued the club; Harvey Rosenfeld wrote it was "the root cause of the Orioles' problems. In 1987, Ripken became
741-410: A team's specific need at a certain position. Advance scouts watch the teams that their teams are going to play in order to help determine strategy . Many scouts are former coaches or retired players, while others have made a career just of being scouts. Skilled scouts who help to determine which players will fit in well with an organization can be the major difference between success and failure for
798-405: Is just another ballplayer to me. I have a job and a life and so does he." After 1982, Weaver retired, and Ripken hoped to be a candidate for the managerial position. The Orioles announced they wanted someone with many years of experience for the job, but they went with Joe Altobelli instead. After Altobelli was fired in 1985, Ripken finally got his chance to manage, but it was only for one game in
855-430: Is responsible for inspecting fields and equipment that is used for practice and competition to ensure it is safe. Communication is key when dealing with youth baseball as being positive to other coaching staff, umpires, administrators and others shows that they have a players best interest at heart. Coaches are there not to just work with the stars to get them better but everyone so it is a fair learning experience. Teaching
912-450: The Baltimore Orioles in 1957 as a minor league player. He spent the next 36 years in the organization, mainly as a coach, with only one season and seven games coming as a manager. As a manager in the minor leagues for 13 years, Ripken won 964 games, and later compiled a 68–101 record managing the Orioles. Several of his students, including Jim Palmer , Eddie Murray , and most prominently his son Cal Jr., went on to Hall of Fame careers. He
969-593: The Fox Cities Foxes of the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League , known as the Three-I League. He had his best season that year, batting a career-high .281 with 100 hits, nine home runs, and 74 RBI. Earl Weaver , eventually a Hall of Fame manager for the Orioles but manager of Fox Cities in 1960, recalled, "He was hitting over .300 until our team bus driver quit and Cal started doing his job, too. The 15-hour bus trips were strenuous work, but Rip always
1026-607: The New York Yankees , then the Boston Red Sox . All three men retired during or after the 1950 season. Full-time coaches in professional baseball date to 1909 , when John McGraw of the New York Giants engaged Arlie Latham and Wilbert Robinson as coaches. By the 1920s, most major league teams had two full-time coaches stationed in foul territory near first base and third base when their team
1083-528: The Philadelphia Phillies . In 1981, Ripken got to coach his own son as Cal Jr. reached the major leagues. He always downplayed the father-son relationship, saying in 1981 spring training , "There isn't any father-son relationship here. I managed 14 years in the minors, including 1967 right in Miami, and saw hundreds of kids. They're all my sons, more or less. On this field or on this club, my son
1140-434: The 1960s and later. Because of the proliferation of uniformed coaches in the modern game, by the late 2000s Major League Baseball had restricted the number of uniformed staff to six coaches and one manager during the course of a game. Beginning with the 2013 season, clubs have been permitted to employ a seventh uniformed coach, designated the assistant hitting coach, at their own discretion. The first bench coach in baseball
1197-817: The 1961 season. In 1963, at the age of 27, he became a full-time manager with Fox Cities. From 1963 through 1974, he managed Fox Cities, Abderdeen (1963–64, 66), the Tri-City Atoms (1965), the Miami Marlins (1967), the Elmira Pioneers (1968), the Rochester Red Wings (1969–70), the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs (1971), and the Asheville Orioles (1972–74). As a manager in the minor leagues, Ripken oversaw
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#17327880618631254-643: The 1988 season, the Orioles again named Ripken their third-base coach. Speaking at the Annual Ripken Fan Club Banquet, general manager Roland Hemond said, "[1988] was a tough year for the Orioles, a tough year for me, and a tough year for the Ripken family. There was a lot of trauma, and I respected them for the way they handled it. I will never forget it." Brady Anderson , who played for the Orioles from 1988 through 2001 and hit 50 home runs in 1996, credited Ripken for helping him make it with
1311-522: The Baltimore Orioles organization, serving as a player, a scout, a coach, and a manager. He is remembered for helping bring about "The Oriole Way", Baltimore's tradition of excellence. The Baltimore Sun wrote, "Most Baltimore fans couldn't define the term exactly, but they liked that it implied reverence for the sport and the skills needed to play it well." Elrod Hendricks , another longtime Oriole coach who kept in touch with Ripken throughout
1368-613: The Orioles: "I'll never forget earlier in my career how Cal Sr. stayed with me, trying to help me become a better player when it might not have been the fashionable thing to do within the organization." Ripken remained with the team until after the 1992 season, when he was removed from third-base coach duties as the Orioles wished to give younger coaches opportunities. The Orioles offered him the brand new position of coordinator of minor league field operations, but he declined, disappointed at being removed from third base. Ripken maintained that he
1425-578: The absence of Weaver, who came out of retirement. On June 14, 1985, Ripken managed his son for the first time. The Orioles defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8–3 that day, and Melody Simmons of the Baltimore Evening Sun wrote that Ripken had "a Christmas-morning look on his face ... the evening's purist, a Cinderella in spikes." Ripken showed no disappointment over getting passed over each of those times, although he "thought he
1482-447: The baseball manager is to the head coach. Baseball is unique in that the manager and coaches typically all wear numbered uniforms similar to those of the players, due to the early practice of managers frequently being selected from the player roster . The wearing of uniforms continued even after the practice of playing managers and coaches waned; notable exceptions to this were Baseball Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack , who always wore
1539-455: The baseball team win three county championships and go undefeated in 1952. As a player, he was a catcher . In the late 1950s, he also played and coached soccer , once helping his team win 17 straight games. However, as former teammate J. Robert Hooper recalled, "We couldn't win the championship because Rip was in spring training ." The Baltimore Orioles signed Ripken in 1957. The scout who signed him to his first minor league contract, which
1596-516: The bottom to the top in the snap of a finger ... Have patience and stick with the Birds and root for the Birds." After the Orioles lost six consecutive games to begin the 1988 season, Ripken was fired. Several years later, he said, "It was very difficult to accept. I had been in the organization. I had worked my way up to the big leagues. I spent my life with the Orioles." The move "hurt" and "bothered" Cal Jr., but he worked through it and remained with
1653-400: The bullpen the entire game, working with relievers who are warming up to enter the game, while also offering advice on pitching mechanics and pitch selection. Generally, the bullpen coach is either a former pitcher or catcher. A hitting coach , as the name suggests, works with a team's players to improve their batting techniques and form. They monitor players' swings during the game and over
1710-496: The country as he moved from city to city. In 1975, Ripken served as a scout for the Orioles. In 1976, Ripken finally reached the major leagues when the Orioles named him their bullpen coach. Halfway through 1977, he became the third base coach for the Orioles when Billy Hunter was hired to be the manager of the Texas Rangers . Ripken served in this role through the 1986 season. During this time, and even later when he became
1767-424: The course of the season, advising them when necessary between at bats on adjustments to make. They also oversee batters' performance during practices, cage sessions, and pre-game batting practice . With the advent of technology, hitting coaches are increasingly utilizing video to analyze their hitters along with scouting the opposing pitchers. Video has allowed hitting coaches to clearly illustrate problem areas in
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1824-538: The death of Joe DiMaggio . He was buried five days later, at Baker Cemetery in Aberdeen. The Orioles wore a number 7 patch on their sleeves all through the 1999 season to commemorate Ripken's contributions to the team. A plaque hangs in the Orioles dugout at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to honor his long and distinguished career, and the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League is named in his honor. Altogether, Ripken spent 36 years in
1881-584: The development of Jim Palmer , Eddie Murray , and Rich Dauer , among other Orioles. In addition to normal coaching duties, he was also at times responsible for driving the team bus, or even fixing it. During 1969–70, managing a Triple-A team, he conducted baseball clinics for the Red Wings players. Cal Jr. always listened to these; he found them "boring" but did learn some useful baseball skills in them. Although Ripken always considered Aberdeen, Maryland, his home during this period, he and his family lived all over
1938-562: The dictator of that regimen, instructing us on everything down to how to wear our socks. He said, `Take pride in your appearance and you'll take pride in your game.'" The Orioles experienced great success during this time, reaching the World Series in 1979, which they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games. Four years later, Ripken earned a World Series ring as the Orioles won the 1983 World Series in five games over
1995-512: The eighth inning, ending Cal Jr.'s major-league record streak of 8,243 consecutive innings played. Senior said after the game, "I've been thinking about it for a long time. I wanted to take the monkey off his back. It was my decision, not his." The Orioles finished sixth in the American League East at 67–95, setting a team record with 51 home losses. Ripken stressed "patience" to begin the 1988 season, saying, "We can't just go from
2052-643: The first—and still only—father to manage two sons simultaneously in the majors, as his son Billy was called up at the All-Star break . Ripken managed Cal Jr. and Billy for the first time on July 11, in a 2–1 loss to the Minnesota Twins . The Havre de Grace Record wrote, "The Ripkens of Aberdeen became the first family of sports." On September 14, during a 17–3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays , Ripken substituted Cal Jr. with Ron Washington after
2109-410: The front office to the players. If the manager is ejected , suspended, or unable to attend a game for any reason, the bench coach assumes the position of acting manager. If the manager is fired or resigns during the season, it is usually the bench coach who is promoted to interim manager . The bench coach's responsibilities also include helping to set up the day's practice and stretching routines before
2166-779: The game he'd have to shift his sights from playing to coaching and managing ." He played with three teams in 1961: the Class D Leesburg Orioles of the Florida State League , the Double-A Little Rock Travelers of the Southern Association , and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the International League . The stint with Rochester came because the Red Wings were in desperate need of
2223-612: The greatest scout ever, the four kinds of scouts start with the letter 'P': Lucadello estimated that five percent of scouts were poor, five percent pickers, 85 percent performance scouts and five percent projectors. Modern day scouts are becoming more and more reliant on computer programs to aid and assist in the evaluation of talent being scouted. Many professional sport clubs now use computers to organize their collected information and data. Most sports still depend on human management to decide which players their organization will draft or sign. Coach (baseball) In baseball ,
2280-413: The manager in the dugout to runners and batters. While the first-base coach is primarily responsible for the batter as to whether he stops at first base or not, or for a runner already on first, the third-base coach carries more responsibility. Such duties include holding or sending runners rounding second and third bases as well as having to make critical, split-second decisions about whether to try to score
2337-467: The mound. The pitching coach is generally a former pitcher. One exception is Dave Duncan , the former pitching coach of the St. Louis Cardinals , who was a catcher . Prior to the early 1950s, pitching coaches were usually former catchers. The bullpen coach is similar to a pitching coach, but works primarily with relief pitchers in the bullpen . Bullpen coaches do not make mound visits; rather, they stay in
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2394-403: The mound. When a manager makes a visit to the mound , he or she typically is doing so to make a pitching change or to discuss situational defense. A pitching coach also helps pitchers with their mechanics and pitch selection against specific batters who may be coming up. However, to talk about mechanics or how to pitch to a particular batter, the pitching coach is the one who will typically visit
2451-732: The number of uniformed coaches is restricted by Major League Baseball rules. The most prominent of these positions are the athletic trainer and the strength and conditioning coach . All Major League Baseball teams employ an athletic trainer; most employ a strength and conditioning coach. Other positions include bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher. Some teams also employ additional coaches without specific responsibilities. Major League Baseball teams will have one or more person specifically assigned to each coaching position described above. However, minor league and amateur teams typically have coaches fulfill multiple responsibilities. A typical minor league/amateur team coaching structure will have
2508-610: The purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports, and they determine whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization. Some scouts are interested primarily in the selection of prospects; younger players who may require further development by the acquiring team, but who are judged to be worthy of that effort and expense for the potential future payoff that it could bring, while others concentrate on players who are already polished professionals, whose rights may be available soon, either through free agency or trading, and who are seen as filling
2565-423: The swing, making the adjustment period quicker for the player being analyzed. This process is typically called video analysis. Two on-field coaches are present when the team is batting. Stationed in designated coaches' boxes in foul territory near first and third base are the first-base coach and third-base coach. They assist in the direction of baserunners , help prevent pickoffs , and relay signals sent from
2622-418: The team for 13 more seasons, the rest of his career. Billy switched his number from 3 to 7, saying, "I just didn't want to see anybody else wear it." After Hall of Famer Frank Robinson replaced Ripken, the Orioles proceeded to lose 15 more consecutive games to set the record for the longest losing streak to start a season. Ripken finished his managerial record with a record of 68 wins and 101 losses. Following
2679-554: The team with regard to wins and losses, which often relates directly to the organization's financial success or lack thereof as well. Scouts tend to have to perform one of two tasks, either scouting opposition teams to research the opposition's players and tactics, or scouting individual players to identify their level of skill and to keep track of potential new signings. Contemporary Major League Baseball teams usually classify scouts and their differing responsibilities as follows: According to Tony Lucadello , considered by some to be
2736-506: The team, causing Thomas Boswell to write, "The idea that a person could find deep satisfaction through fulfilling difficult responsibilities – while never focusing on personal rewards – seems antique these days. Yet Ripken's example makes you wonder if the century, not Senior, has lost its way." After his death, no Oriole wore Cal Sr.'s number 7 until Jackson Holliday in 2024. Ripken was married to Violet ("Vi"), whom he met in high school. They had three sons, Cal Jr. , Fred, and Billy ; and
2793-404: The years, said "He was baseball and baseball was him." Sam Perlozzo , who like Ripken spent many years as a third base coach, said "When you were around him, you didn't say much. One reason was out of respect. The other was because you could learn from him, no matter how long you had been in the game." Despite his 36 years with the organization, only a little more than one of them were as manager of
2850-509: Was George Huff , who took that helm for the Illinois Fighting Illini baseball in 1905; at the time, it meant a coach present throughout the season. More recently, the bench coach is a team's second-in-command. The bench coach serves as an in-game advisor to the manager, offering situational advice, and exchanging ideas in order to assist the manager in making strategy decisions along with relaying scouting information from
2907-420: Was batting, although the manager often doubled as third-base coach, and specialists such as pitching coaches were rare. After World War II, most major league teams listed between three and five coaches on their roster, as managers increasingly ran their teams from the dugout full-time, and appointed pitching and bullpen coaches to assist them and the baseline coaches. Batting and bench coaches came into vogue during
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#17327880618632964-474: Was credited for helping sculpt his team's tradition of excellence known as "The Oriole Way." Ripken was born December 17, 1935, near Aberdeen, Maryland , in a general store his parents, Clara Amelia (Oliver) and Arend Fredrick Ripken, owned 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Aberdeen. He became involved in baseball as early as 1946, when he served as the batboy for a semipro team his older brother Oliver played for. He attended Aberdeen High School , where he helped
3021-464: Was for $ 150 a month, did not have a pen and had to borrow one from a spectator. He began his 36-year tenure in the organization as the starting catcher for the Phoenix Stars of the Class C Arizona–Mexico League . Ripken recalled, "At Phoenix, my manager was Bob Hooper , who also pitched. He was a great teacher and threw the best stiff-wrist slider I ever saw. Bob used so much resin that after
3078-474: Was hard as nails – toughness personified." During spring training in 1961, he suffered an injury after several foul tips went off his shoulder. Initial X-rays showed nothing, but three months into the season it was discovered that Ripken had a dislocated shoulder, an atrophied deltoid muscle, and a tendon problem. He continued to play, but the injury took years to fully recover from, and his son, Cal Jr. , wrote, "Practically speaking, if my father wanted to stay in
3135-576: Was kidnapped at gunpoint and safely returned on July 24, 2012. On October 15, 2013, a man with a handgun attempted to steal her car, but she scared him away. Lt. Frederick Bundick, spokesman for the Aberdeen Police, said the two incidents appeared unrelated. Cal Jr. offered a $ 100,000 reward for information leading to the kidnapper on August 1, 2013. Bibliography Footnotes Scout (sports) In professional sports , scouts are experienced talent evaluators who travel extensively for
3192-507: Was not retired, but he never coached professionally again. In 1996, Ripken was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame, along with Jerry Hoffberger and Billy Hunter , all three of whom were greatly admired by Orioles' fans. A heavy smoker who once refuted a claim that he sat in back of team buses to be alone by saying he did so to "smoke cigarettes", Ripken died on March 25, 1999, at the age of 63 from lung cancer , seventeen days after
3249-495: Was the choice" in 1985. Immediately following the 1986 season, Weaver retired for good, and Ripken was named manager of the Orioles. The Orioles were coming off their first last-place finish in Baltimore, but Ripken expressed confidence in the team at the beginning of the 1987 season, saying, "I know these guys can get the job done. I may be hardheaded, but that's what I believe. We'll be a competitive team." The Orioles got off to
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