Ripken Pictures/Articles from 1978

ripkenintheminors

After sharing some video from 1981 that was shared by a fan I wanted to share some additional images recently shared by a fellow collector. He found my site and offered some clippings from 1978 publications. One is a newspaper article from 1978 that features Cal after his team won the HS state championship. The second link is for the 1978 Sun Magazine that features 2 players in rookie ball in Bluefield, WV.

Needless to say, I was thrilled when someone was gracious enough to share them with me. I hope you enjoy them as well!

1978 Washington Star

1978 Sun Magazine

grote15

Cool pics and stories! Ripken and the O's uni is like peanut butter and jelly!

shambo2000

I was born in Bluefield and raised in the area. I was 12 when Cal played for the Bluefield O's. I went to several games and have some programs and other give away stuff from the stadium burried in my many boxes of memorbilia. When/if time permits I'll dig some of it out. I also have a few items from 1973 when Eddie Murray played in Bluefield. Brings back some memories.

Shannon
shambo2000

ripkenintheminors

<< <i>I was born in Bluefield and raised in the area. I was 12 when Cal played for the Bluefield O's. I went to several games and have some programs and other give away stuff from the stadium burried in my many boxes of memorbilia. When/if time permits I'll dig some of it out. I also have a few items from 1973 when Eddie Murray played in Bluefield. Brings back some memories.

Shannon
shambo2000 >>



That would be awesome. I hope to get to Bluefield this season. I was told by the GM that they are celebrating their 50th year of affiliation with the O's this year and are trying to have some big events scheduled through the season.

GDM67

This is profoundly cool.

I live within easy driving distance of Pulaski and I saw the Bluefield O's play the Pulaski Braves in '91 at Calfee Park (the night Bruce Benedict stiffed my aunt on an autograph request), and reading through the piece, I was wondering if Pulaski still had the Phillies, then. Looked it up and there was a gap of a few years, starting in '78, when the town didn't have a team. Rats.

Calfee is a nice little park, much like the ones pictured in the article and the culture up there is very similar (there is a lady who rented rooms to players who had cooked for several of the '91 era Braves, for example.)

Thanks for sharing this

shambo2000

No team in Pulaski this year. They had been the Blue Jays for the past few years and the Rangers before that. My in-laws live in Pulaski and if you hit a foul ball out of the park down the right field line at Calfee Park it will roll through the parking lot and into their yard. I live in Salem, VA now and enjoy going to the Avalanche (Astros High A) games every chance I get. I went to the opener last night and froze my a$$ off!

Bluefield has a great park, they have made some really nice improvments to it over the past few seasons. I believe Bluefield holds the record for the longest Minor League affiliation with the same team (Orioles).

I guess I've really got this thread off topic but it's nice to talk about home with others.

Shannon

GDM67

Ah, Salem. One time home of the Salem Pirates (Dave Parker, '72 Carolina League MVP) and later the Salem Bucs.

I've seen half a dozen games there over the years. Saw Jeff Reardon and Tony Pena on a field trip with my rec league team in '77.

ravenman

i played baseball for bluefield st. in the mid 90's and our home field was the bluefield stadium---bowen field. i do believe they have finally padded the walls and light poles(in foul territory). it's not fun running into those cinderblock walls. it is an awesome place to play. do they still have the big marlboro man billboard in centerfield? also, i heard some stories of cal hanging out in cutty's lounge back in the day. cutty's lounge.....brings back memories.