Cal Ripken, Jr. is baseball's all-time Iron Man. He retired from the game in 2001 after a career that spanned 21 seasons. While he's best known for his incredible streak of 2,632 consecutive games played, he also redefined the position of shortstop before being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. In his post-playing career, one of his passions has been growing Ripken Baseball, a youth baseball organization that manages a group of sports complexes in Maryland, South Carolina and Tennessee, hosting a series of Ripken Experience events. Ripken Baseball will bring its Ripken Experience tournament play to The Legends Showdown in Round Rock, Texas, in partnership with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment. Charged with leading Ripken Baseball’s growth is MikeKenney, a seasoned industry professional with experience with the Harlem Globetrotters and Comcast Spectator. SportsTravel Senior Editor MattTraub talked with Cal and Mike recently about expanding the Ripken brand into Texas, how Ripken Baseball has dealt with the past year-plus during the pandemic and stay true to its organizational mission, trends for youth baseball participation, Cal's thoughts on the state of Major League Baseball and much more. 

Cal Ripken, Jr. is baseball's all-time Iron Man. He retired from the game in 2001 after a career that spanned 21 seasons. While he's best known for his incredible streak of 2,632 consecutive games played, he also redefined the position of shortstop before being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. In his post-playing career, one of his passions has been growing <a href="https://www.ripkenbaseball.com/">Ripken Baseball</a>, a youth baseball organization that manages a group of sports complexes in Maryland, South Carolina and Tennessee, hosting a series of Ripken Experience events. Ripken Baseball will bring its Ripken Experience tournament play to <a href="https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/cal-ripken-jr-nolan-ryan-and-bill-ripken-team-up-for-legends-showdown/">The Legends Showdown in Round Rock, Texas</a>, in partnership with Ryan Sanders Sports &amp; Entertainment. Charged with leading Ripken Baseball&rsquo;s growth is Mike Kenney, a seasoned industry professional with experience with the Harlem Globetrotters and Comcast Spectator. SportsTravel Senior Editor MattTraub talked with Cal and Mike recently about expanding the Ripken brand into Texas, how Ripken Baseball has dealt with the past year-plus during the pandemic and stay true to its organizational mission, trends for youth baseball participation, Cal's thoughts on the state of Major League Baseball and much more.&nbsp;

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