Ryan Ripken on reliving 2,131

Ryan Ripken was 2 years old when his father stepped out of the dugout again, received an encouraging shove in the back and jogged around the warning track. When the ovation at Camden Yards lasted more than 22 minutes and the entire baseball word hit the pause button to watch him.

Ripken spent much of that evening being held by his mother, Kelly, after joining his sister, Rachel, in throwing out the ceremonial first pitch from the first row of seats. Ryan used his left hand. We wouldn't find out until much later that he also batted from that side.

Cal leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Ryan tried to rub it away.

Images that he's been able to enjoy on rebroadcasts of the record-setting night for most consecutive games played at 2,131.

"Unfortunately, I tell a lot of people I don't remember a single thing about it," he said last week in a phone conversation. "I wish I did, but it's really cool to look back. I do find myself looking back and watching the reruns.

"Looking back, my dad didn't watch a ton of the reruns himself. He lived in the moment. It wasn't until recently that I think he started when it was on TV a little bit more. I think earlier in March or when COVID really hit, ESPN started showing it and to see it on there and the magnitude of it was really cool and made me proud of my dad for what he did."

The emotions that built over the course of the night, especially the moment when Cal glanced up at his father with tears in his eyes, finally have been able to reach Ryan.

There's also the curtain calls, the outpouring of affection from teammates, fans and the opposing dugout, and the lap around the field while Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" played over the public address system.

"When you care a lot about your family, and especially with my dad, that moment with all the hard work and everything, the sacrifices he put in and all the help he got along the way ... I know how much Senior influenced my dad and that was a big moment for him," Ripken said.

"He's such a driven and focused individual and to see the moment where you can finally realize what happened for him, that's a really cool thing to see. You can finally relax a little bit, and to see him relax and take it in definitely had the emotions flowing."

Ripken is a 27-year-old infielder in the Orioles organization. The name on the back of his jersey always carrying a little more weight than a typical uniform. He hasn't been able to play this summer with the minor league season canceled, but he made it back to Camden Yards last week for the filming of the ceremonial first pitch that's going to be shown today throughout Major League Baseball.

His father will be the one holding the ball this time. Ryan, normally a first baseman, will provide the target.

"Earlier in the week, my dad just sent me a text saying they want to have him throw out the first pitch for the anniversary," Ryan said. "I said, 'OK, cool, that's great,' and he says, 'Oh, by the way, would you mind being the one to catch it?'

"Just a little gesture but it was cool to be able to go do. Even though it was an empty stadium and COVID rules, everything is different, it was still a cool moment to be a part of that."

Ripken, a Gilman High School graduate, appeared last year in 48 games with Single-A Frederick and 30 with Double-A Bowie last summer and batted .276/.312/.409 with 15 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 33 RBIs. He doesn't know what his professional future holds, but he's staying ready.

"I still work out frequently and just try to keep my sanity," he said. "I still keep up doing the baseball things, but I never had a summer off, I don't think, since maybe rec ball or travel ball. I don't even know. It's not even a normal summer. But thankful that my health's in good hands and the rest of my family as well."

The trauma reached its peak in February with news that Cal had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Surgery was performed the following month and he's made a full recovery.

The baseball side of Ryan's life is more manageable by comparison.

"Definitely when you hear the word 'cancer,' that always draws a lot more stress and anxiety," he said. "Thankfully he had great doctors and people that were right on top of it and caught it early. Did what they needed to do. Just very blessed and thankful that he's moving in the right direction and, knock on wood, everything seems to be going well."

Orioles players and coaches will wear a commemorative 2131 anniversary patch on their right sleeve during today's game against the Yankees. Cal Ripken Jr. will join the broadcasts on MASN and the Orioles Radio Network to reflect on the anniversary. And baseball again will observe the breaking of an unbreakable record.

Most likely never to be done again.

"I don't see how it can be replicated," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I think that's one that's going to stand forever."