Baseball great Cal Ripken, Jr. served as the grand marshal, and had the race named for him as he was to play in his final game on the evening of the race.
When Cal Ripken, Jr. began his streak of 2,632 consecutive games played in 1982, Rayford was the player who Ripken replaced in the lineup.
Both records have since been surpassed, with the innings played mark having stood for 95 years until it was broken by Cal Ripken, Jr.
The stadium is part of Cal Ripken, Jr.'s Aberdeen Complex in his hometown of Aberdeen, Maryland, located just off Interstate 95 at Maryland Route 22.
On July 28, 2007, a fleet of 11 Superior buses transported 550 people to Cooperstown to see the induction ceremony of Cal Ripken, Jr. into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and was among several Baltimore-area bus companies that offered this service.
Cal Ripken, Jr. | Cal Thomas | Cal Jones | Cal Bruton | Cal Poly | Cal Collins | Cal Wilson | Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design | Cal Ludeman | Cal looker | Cal Abrams | Cal | So-Cal Speed Shop | Ripken Stadium | Coo Coo Cal | Cal Stewart | Cal Shaw Adobe Duplex | Cal Schenkel | Cal Rossi | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Engineering | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Architecture and Environmental Design | Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering | Cal Poly Pomona Broncos men's basketball | Cal Poly Pomona Associated Students | Cal Poly Mustangs football | Cal Nichols | Cal Newport | Cal National Bank | Cal McVey | Cal McLish |
Next year, he was promoted to the Wilson Tobs of the Class B Carolina League, where in 118 games he batted .216 with 85 hits and four home runs.
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In 1987, Ripken became the first — and only — father to manage two sons simultaneously in the majors.
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After the Orioles lost six consecutive games to begin the 1988 season, Ripken was fired; the move deeply hurt and alienated his superstar son, but he worked through it and would remain with the team for 13 more seasons.
Former Major League Baseball player Darrell Evans served as the game's spokesperson/ambassador prior to Cal Ripken's endorsement of the game.
In addition to approximately 600 dealer booths which buy, sell and trade sports memorabilia, the National is host to over 60 celebrity autograph guests during its week-long run including names such as Cal Ripken, Jr., Bob Gibson, and John Havlicek.
The Home Run Derby was first held in 1985 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was won by Cal Ripken, Jr. Today, the Derby usually sells out the all-star stadium and millions watch the event live on ESPN.