Cal Ripken Jr. is a former shortstop and third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. He played 21 seasons for the Orioles and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a 19x All-Star, 2x MVP, 8x Silver Slugger, a part of the 3,000 hit club, and holds the record for the most consecutive games played with 2,632. These accomplishments have, in many people's eyes, distinguished him as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
In 2001, Ripken and his family established the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in memory of his father. The foundation works tirelessly to implement youth development programs and create parks that directly address the problems facing at-risk youth in distressed communities across the country. The organization also helps teach young kids critical life skills such as teamwork, communication, work ethic, and respect. Ripken also serves as a special advisor to the MLB commissioner on youth programs and outreach to help grow the game especailly at the amateur and youth levels.
Through his formative experiences during his 21-year career in the MLB and his philanthropy Ripken has developed into a desirable keynote speaker on leadership, teamwork, work ethic, and overcoming adversity. Ripken emphasizes the importance of these skills that turned him into one of the greatest MLB players of all time. Cal is a phenomenal motivator and speaks to businesses, conferences, and organizations alike on consistency, the trials and tribulations of his career, and how those lessons translate to a business audience.
