Statistics courtesy of Stats Crew
1978 Biographical Information
Cal goes 7-2 with a .79 ERA his senior year at Aberdeen High School. He also hits .496 and leads the team in hits & RBI. In the Class A State Championship game, Cal throws a two hitter, striking out 17. To see images from the 1978 Aberdeen High School Yearbook, visit the following link: https://www.ripkenintheminors.com/1978aberdeenyearbook
June 6- Selected by Baltimore Orioles organization in second round (48th overall) of free-agent draft. Cal receives a signing bonus to be paid in 2 equal installments of $10,000. His signing agreement also includes a full four year scholarship to the school of his choice if things do not work out on the field. The Washington Star features an article on Cal in their June 8, 1978, edition. To read the article, "Pitcher Ripken Finishes in Style", visit the following link: https://www.ripkenintheminors.com/1978washingtonstar
Cal plays his first pro game in Paintsville, Kentucky, against the Highlanders in the all-rookie Appalachian League. He ends the season tied for Appalachian League lead in double plays by shortstop with 31. Cal also commits 32 errors in 63 games.
During the 1978 season, the August 13, 1978, Sun Magazine would feature a 3 page article on Cal and Tim Norris entitled, Life on "Baseball's Bottom Rung". To see the article, visit the following link: https://www.ripkenintheminors.com/1978sunmagazine
1979 Biographical Information
Shortstop on Topps National Association All-Star Team
Florida State League All-Star
Class A Shortstop of the Year
To read an article about Cal's 1979 season in Miami, visit the following link: https://www.ripkenintheminors.com/schweizerarticle
1980 Biographical Information:
Led Southern League third basemen with .933 fielding percentage, 119 putouts, 268 assists, 415 total chances and 34 double plays in 1980
Tied for Southern League lead with nine sacrifice flies
Southern League All-Star (1980 SL All-Star game was rained out)
The Charlotte O's win the Southern League Championship, sweeping the Memphis Chicks 3-0
Caribbean Winter League Championship (Caugas, .269, 6 HR & 38 RBI in 54 games). Caguas wins the 7th game of the All-Puerto Rico playoffs (No Caribbean World Series that year) and Cal is named team MVP. Cal wins the team MVP the following season in winter ball.
1981 Biographical Information
April 18 & 19, June 23- The Pawtucket Red Sox defeat the Rochester Redwings 3-2 in 33 innings. After playing 32 innings until 4:07 a.m., the game is rescheduled to resume when the Redwings return to Pawtucket in June. Cal goes 2-13 and plays every inning of the longest game in baseball history. For more information on this game, visit our "Longest Game" page at https://www.ripkenintheminors.com/thelongestgame
International League All-Star
International League Rookie of the Year
International League Top Major League Prospect
August 8- Called up to the Baltimore Orioles
August 10- Major League debut. Cal enters the game as a pinch runner for Ken Singleton and scores the winning run in the 12th inning against Kansas City at Memorial Stadium on a John Lowenstein single