The Only Way I Know

New York: Viking Books, 1997. First Printing [stated]. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Walter Loos. [8], 326, [2]. Illustrations (some in color). Baseball card missing from rear envelope. The record-breaking Baltimore shortstop provides an insider's look at professional baseball in a candid memoir that describes his youth, all-star career with the Orioles, what is good--and bad--about baseball today, and dedication to his family and the cause of literacy. Derived from a Publishers Weekly article: Just as Babe Ruth is credited with restoring confidence in baseball after the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal, so Baltimore Oriole Ripken has been called the man who renewed fans' hopes after the disastrous strike of 1994. He accomplished this on September 6, 1995, by breaking Lou Gehrig's record of 2130 consecutive games played, a momentous occasion that drew even the president and vice-president to the ballpark. But ironically, as Ripken points out, breaking the record was less significant for him than it was for the public and the media. An exceptionally low-key man, Ripken believes simply that baseball is his job and that he should do that job as well and as long as he can. He is candid here about his life in the minors and the friends he made there who never got to the top; about his father, fired by the Orioles after dedicating three decades to the organization; and about present-day players. His is an unusually good sports autobiography that captures the candor and generous spirit of a man who has had diamond greatness thrust upon him. Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. (born August 24, 1960), nicknamed "The Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981?2001). One of his position's most offensively productive players, Ripken compiled 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career, and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). Ripken holds the record for consecutive games played, 2,632, surpassing Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years and that many deemed unbreakable. In 2007, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility with 98.53% of votes, the sixth-highest election percentage ever. Ripken grew up traveling around the United States as his father, Cal Sr., was a player and coach in the Orioles' organization. Ripken Jr. was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1978 MLB draft. He reached the major leagues in 1981 as a shortstop but moved to third base in 1982, but the following year, he was shifted to shortstop, his long-time position for Baltimore. That year, Ripken also won the AL Rookie of the Year Award and began his consecutive games played streak. In 1983, he won a World Series championship over the Philadelphia Phillies and his first AL MVP Award. One of Ripken's best years came in 1991 when he was named an All-Star, won the Home Run Derby, and was recipient of his first All-Star Game MVP Award, his second AL MVP Award, and first Gold Glove Award. He broke the consecutive games played record on September 6, 1995, in his 2,131st consecutive game, which fans voted as the league's "most memorable moment" in the history of the game in an MLB poll; Ripken voluntarily ended his 17-year streak at 2,632 games before the final home game of the 1998 season. He switched back to third base for the final five years of his career. In 2001, his final season, Ripken was named the All-Star Game MVP and was honored with the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. Ripken is considered one of the best shortstops in baseball history. At 6 ft 4 in, 225 lb, he pioneered the way for the success of taller, larger shortstops. He holds the record for most home runs hit as a shortstop (345), breaking the record previously held by Ernie Banks, and was selected as the starting shortstop for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Ripken is a best-selling author and the President and CEO of Ripken Baseball, Inc., whose goal is to grow the love of baseball from a grassroots level. Since his retirement, he has purchased three minor league baseball teams. He has been active in charity work throughout his career and is still considered an ambassador of the game.