3. Cal Ripken playing in a major league record 2,632 consecutive games (1982-98)
This streak has certainly become the most famous in the history of local sports and needs no explanation that hasn’t already been offered as Ripken simply went to work and played to the best of his ability through aches and pains and while manning the demanding shortstop position for most of his incredible run.
It isn’t the best streak in terms of reaching an amazing athletic feat, but the amount of tenacity shown by Ripken — to go with plenty of luck — was the ultimate example to youth of what it means to always be there for your team. And it’s remarkable to think that the longest active streak in the majors is a meager 248 from San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence, who would need to play every game until roughly his 46th birthday — he turned 31 earlier this season — to catch Ripken.
Continue to next page for No. 2
