ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Twenty-one years ago today, Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s record for most consecutive games played.
The streak was widely credited with helping baseball recover from the strike, which resulted in the cancellation of the 1994 season and a late start to the 1995 season.
As a result, Ripken broke the streak later in 1995 than he would have had there been no strike.
How much has changed in baseball since then?
After regular work stoppages, baseball has hadn’t once since—21 years of labor peace. There have been work stoppages in the NBA and NHL, and a late start to training camps in the NFL in 2011, but none in baseball.
With Alex Rodriguez’s departure, there is no player left who was active at the time Ripken broke the record.
Baseball’s oldest player, Bartolo Colon, who is 43, didn’t debut until Apr. 1997.
The Orioles’ manager 21 years ago was Phil Regan, who was a major league manager for just season.
Ripken homered in the Orioles’ 4-2 win. Mike Mussina was the winning pitcher, and the rest of the lineup had some familiar names: Brady Anderson, Harold Baines, Bobby Bonilla, Chris Hoiles and Rafael Palmeiro.
There were some less familiar names in that lineup. The Orioles’ second baseman was Manny Alexander, the third baseman was Jeff Huson, and Mark Smith was the left fielder.
Twenty years ago, Eddie Murray hit his 500th home run.