April 15, 2000
Ironmanfan
Posts: 5,504 ✭✭✭✭
I know it's been discussed on another thread about the significance of 04/15/47, with the debut of Jackie Robinson. I just wanted to share with the board, the most significant April 15th in my lifetime, that being 04/15/00....
Being a huge fan, I wanted to witness in person the 3000th hit in the career of Cal Ripken Jr. Prior to the 2000 season, Cal sat on 2,991 hits (9 shy). I did some research prior to the year and noted that "on average," Cal got his 9th hit of the season in the 9th game. The 9th game that year was a road game in KC and I subsequently made airline and ticket reservations for such....Needless to say, Cal started the season out slow and there was no way it was going to happen in KC. Their next stop on their road trip was in Minnesota at the Metrodome and I had no choice but to change my plans and head there.....It was a weekend series and going in, Cal sat on 2,996 hits......I was there Friday night and saw Cal get one hit closer.....On Saturday, 04/15/00..Cal needed 3 hits....He made an out his first time up, BUT fortunately, he got hits in his next 3 AB's to reach the coveted 3,000. I didn't realize it at the time, but since his consecutive streak ended a couple years earlier, the Orioles had planned on sitting Cal on Sunday with the hope that he would get career hit 3000 in Baltimore that Monday (a game I could not attend due to work commitments)...In other words, if Cal didn't get those last 3 hits that Saturday night, I would not have seen it happen!
OK, to make a long story short, a few years ago I told Cal this story (who takes vacation days to go to Minneapolis in April?)...Shortlly thereafter, Cal while renovating his office, found a bag full of memorabilia relating to that 3000 hit game in Minnesota, which included approx. a dozen balls that were actually used in the game.
Remembering the story I had told him a year or so earlier, he actually remembered my tale and actually signed and noted one of those game used baseballs from that night "To Bill, Thanks for being there for # 3000." Needless to say, it is an item that is very special to me..
Being a huge fan, I wanted to witness in person the 3000th hit in the career of Cal Ripken Jr. Prior to the 2000 season, Cal sat on 2,991 hits (9 shy). I did some research prior to the year and noted that "on average," Cal got his 9th hit of the season in the 9th game. The 9th game that year was a road game in KC and I subsequently made airline and ticket reservations for such....Needless to say, Cal started the season out slow and there was no way it was going to happen in KC. Their next stop on their road trip was in Minnesota at the Metrodome and I had no choice but to change my plans and head there.....It was a weekend series and going in, Cal sat on 2,996 hits......I was there Friday night and saw Cal get one hit closer.....On Saturday, 04/15/00..Cal needed 3 hits....He made an out his first time up, BUT fortunately, he got hits in his next 3 AB's to reach the coveted 3,000. I didn't realize it at the time, but since his consecutive streak ended a couple years earlier, the Orioles had planned on sitting Cal on Sunday with the hope that he would get career hit 3000 in Baltimore that Monday (a game I could not attend due to work commitments)...In other words, if Cal didn't get those last 3 hits that Saturday night, I would not have seen it happen!
OK, to make a long story short, a few years ago I told Cal this story (who takes vacation days to go to Minneapolis in April?)...Shortlly thereafter, Cal while renovating his office, found a bag full of memorabilia relating to that 3000 hit game in Minnesota, which included approx. a dozen balls that were actually used in the game.
Remembering the story I had told him a year or so earlier, he actually remembered my tale and actually signed and noted one of those game used baseballs from that night "To Bill, Thanks for being there for # 3000." Needless to say, it is an item that is very special to me..
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Thanks for sharing.
"Live everyday, don't throw it away"
Bosox1976
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.