There will be hundreds of captivating speakers at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, but only one is a baseball legend. Baseball Hall of Famer and former Baltimore Oriole, Cal Ripken, Jr., will set the tone for an inspiring conference as the keynote speaker at the Opening General Session.
For most people, Cal Ripken, Jr. is a household name, synonymous with baseball. Known as baseball’s “Iron Man,” Ripken broke several professional records during his 21 seasons, but none as sacred as his consecutive-games-played record of 2632. After standing for 56 years, Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games on September 6, 1995 and went on to play until 2001. Ripken represents perseverance, endurance and an everyday work ethic that endears him to fans, transformed him into a national icon — and some argue, even saved baseball at its darkest moment.
Ripken’s character and integrity on and off the baseball diamond has made a lasting impact. In 1999, Babe Ruth League Inc. changed the name of its largest youth baseball division (5-12-year-olds) from Bambino to Cal Ripken Baseball. Presently, over 700,000 youths play Cal Ripken Baseball worldwide.
Since his retirement in 2001, Ripken has continued to use his position to help grow the game he loves and inspire athletes through remarkable experiences. Ripken Baseball currently owns multiple Minor League Baseball teams and hosts numerous youth tournaments, camps and clinics at The Ripken Experience baseball complexes in Aberdeen, Maryland and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
In December 2015, Ripken was named Special Adviser to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on youth programs and outreach. In this role, Ripken advises the Commissioner and MLB’s Youth Programs Department regarding strategies and initiatives designed to grow the sports of baseball and softball at the amateur and youth levels. The key focus is on ways to provide access to quality playing opportunities for children in underserved communities and getting kids more energized and engaged with baseball.
Through the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Ripken and his family use sports-themed programs to bring police officers, youth partners and underserved kids together on a level playing field to learn invaluable life skills. In addition, the Ripken Foundation’s Youth Development Park Initiative creates clean, safe places for kids to play on multi-purpose, synthetic surface fields that promote healthy living in an outdoor recreational facility. The Ripken Foundation has created 83 completed parks across the country in 22 states, 17 of which are Adaptive Fields for children with special needs. In 2018, the Ripken Foundation impacted over 1.5 million kids nationwide through its Youth Development Park and mentoring programs.
During the Opening General Session on September 24, 2019 at the NRPA Annual Conference, Ripken will showcase how individuals can give back, create new opportunities for others and achieve their own brand of success. To learn more and to register, visit the NRPA Annual Conference website.
Matt Brubaker is NRPA's Director of Marketing.