Cal Ripken Jr., nicknamed "The Iron Man," is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players in history. He spent his entire 21-year career (1981-2001) with the Baltimore Orioles, primarily as a shortstop. He holds the record for 2,632 consecutive games played, a record that stood for over 25 years. Ripken was a 19-time All-Star, 2-time American League MVP (1983, 1991), and won two World Series championships. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. His father, Cal Ripken Sr., also played for and coached the Orioles, making them one of baseball's legendary families.
