Ripken sits out at last, saying 'the time is right,' to end The Streak

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Streak is over.

After 16 years and 2,632 consecutive games, Cal Ripkn took himself out of the Baltimore Orioles' starting lineup last night and did not to play - ending the most amazing iron man record in sports history with just one week left in the season.

"I think the time is right," Ripken told manager Ray Miller.

The 38-year-old third baseman said he was not hurt. But with the Orioles out of playoff contention and playing their final home game against the New York Yankees, Ripken decided to end the string that began on May 30, 1982.

The end came during a magical season that has featured the historic home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, a perfect game by David Wells and the Yankees' pursuit of the AL record for victories.

"What Cal did is so unbelievable. That's one record I do think that will be around for a generation," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "What he's done, he's done a great thing for baseball."

Albert Belle of the Chicago White Sox played his 327th straight game Sunday, the next-longest string in the majors.

There had been recent talk that Ripken would volunteer to end the streak, which broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 straight games. Before the game, Ripken walked into Miller's office and asked to have his name removed from the lineup. Rookie Ryan Minor started in his place.

"Five minutes before the game, I saw Ripken's name on the lineup card, so this is a shock," said Minor's mother, Nancy, who was watching on television from Oklahoma. "This is history."

One out into the game, when it became evident that Ripken would not be playing, all of the Yankees walked to the top step of the dugout and applauded.

Ripken emerged from the Orioles' dugout, tipped his hat toward the Yankees and stepped back down to the bench. With the sellout crowd standing and cheering, Ripken came out again and bowed to his fans.

There was an immediate rush to the souvenir stands at Camden Yards, with fans lining up to buy programs to the mark the historic night.

As the game progressed, Ripken appeared relaxed as he laughed with teammates on the bench.

Ripken pulled himself a week before finishing his 16th straight season of playing every game. He finally did it only after the Orioles had no real chance of making the playoffs, and thus avoided yet another winter filled with answering questions about the streak.

Ripken was batting .273 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs.

The Streak started when Ronald Reagan was still in his first term as president. It was overseen by eight managers - including his father, Cal Sr. - and lasted longer than most baseball careers. It was analyzed, criticized and scrutinized.

And now, it is over.

09-21-98