So many good things have happened to me in the game of baseball. When I do allow myself a chance to think about it, it's almost like a storybook career. You feel so blessed to have been able to compete this long. Cal Ripken, Jr. More Quotes by Cal Ripken, Jr. More Quotes From Cal Ripken, Jr. There are so many great moments in Yankee Stadium. There is nothing better or no better place better to compete when you are good and the Yankees are good and you are playing a big series in September in Yankee Stadium, four game series, there is no greater excitement anywhere than the Yankee Stadium. Cal Ripken, Jr. yankee-stadium yankees games I am driven by what you are able to accomplish and how you are able to help some people. I go about it each and every day, sometimes I think I say yes too much and I am too busy in my life. Cal Ripken, Jr. able people thinking I think the cloud of suspicion has been hanging over baseball for a while. I think there has been some positive things that have come out of that. There has been a drug test policy that was been implemented that got the blessings of both the Players Association and MLB. They are trying to maintain the integrity of this sport and trying to get it back, but that cloud I think will hang over a little longer. Cal Ripken, Jr. baseball integrity sports The reality is that players can't play forever. Cal Ripken, Jr. player play reality That's the result of the black cloud on baseball, .. Until it's rid of steroids, people are naturally going to think that. Cal Ripken, Jr. baseball clouds thinking Ultimately, at the end of the day, you couldn't say you were better than the other person because you knew you had a secret. You knew you had cheated. Cal Ripken, Jr. secret success inspirational The streak has become my identity; it's who I've become. Cal Ripken, Jr. streaks identity I don't love the idea of the responsibility falling on the manager. That just adds to their in-game responsibility. Cal Ripken, Jr. responsibility ideas fall When you're in the day-to-day grind, it just seems like it's another step along the way. But I find joy in the actual process, the journey, the work. It's not the end. It's not the end event. Cal Ripken, Jr. step you journey work When you are away from the game and busy with other areas, you realize that the world does not revolve around baseball. Cal Ripken, Jr. game you busy world Your job as a baseball player is to come to the park ready to play every day, and the manager, it's his job to make those decisions about who plays. Cal Ripken, Jr. every-day your job day I don't mind being described as vanilla in certain ways. Cal Ripken, Jr. ways being vanilla mind Baseball can be slow in many ways. The action starts with when the pitcher delivers the ball. But the action really starts when the crack of the bat happens. Cal Ripken, Jr. slow baseball action happens I see myself as extremely lucky. Cal Ripken, Jr. i-see see myself lucky I never set out to do this; I never set out to say, 'Can I break this record?' Then all of a sudden, the preparations made for the celebration put pressure on me. I said, 'Okay, I have to get there.' After 2,130, there was sort of a realization it was a foregone conclusion you're going to play tomorrow. Cal Ripken, Jr. never me you tomorrow You learn as a player not to listen to the criticism. Many of the people who put out that criticism might not be as accomplished, might not understand the game as well from the inside-out. Cal Ripken, Jr. game understand you people When you're an athlete and you play every day and are conditioning yourself every year, the aging is gradual. Cal Ripken, Jr. every-day yourself day you I had one of my best years in 1991; I was 31. I made a renewed effort to work harder. I got better at my diet. I paid attention to how much sleep I got. I was always someone of routine. I became more strict. Cal Ripken, Jr. best effort work sleep My dad had premature gray. I was always the one with the most energy, the one who continued to practice longer. I ran up and down the stairs of different stadiums. I didn't feel the need to cover up the fact that I was losing my hair or it was graying. When you're on a team, age is only a factor when you're talking in the locker room. Cal Ripken, Jr. you dad age hair I'm not trying to be a star on TV. I am who I am, which I hope comes out. I have a little bit of a different sense than most people know, and it takes a while to get used to it. Cal Ripken, Jr. i-am know hope people
