BOSTON – Cal Ripken Sr. would have loved this.

The man who created The Oriole Way, who breathed life into it through the years and the many ups and downs, was made for the 2024 team. Or it was made for him.

The last two lineups had seven homegrown players, and an eighth, right fielder Anthony Santander, who was plucked out of A ball in the Rule 5 draft. Also a baseball baby who needed care and nurturing.

“I saw a connection to the spirit of Dad right from the beginning,” said Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. “I don’t know that Dad would have taken his uniform off and given it to somebody, but he might have. If it’s that important to you, here.”

Having Senior’s No. 7 on the shelf since 1992 never seemed that important to the family. The time for reflection came a few days ago, after the club sought approval to pass it along to Jackson Holliday, the sport’s top prospect who debuted last night at Fenway Park.

As the latest anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-setting night approaches, he spun a popular question usually directed at himself while speaking with a group of local beat writers yesterday on a Zoom conference call. The proverbial shoe placed on the other foot. Does it really seem like it's been 25 years since he surpassed Lou Gehrig for most consecutive games played at 2,131? Since he took that glorious lap around the warning track while bathed in an ovation that lasted more than 22...

Happy Thanksgiving, Birdland! From our MASN family to yours, we hope you have a happy and joyful holiday with family and friends. Thanks for watching along and following us on social all year long! Since we know you're going through baseball withdrawal during this football-heavy time of year, we're giving you a few dramatic O's moments to help get you through the next week. Earlier this season, the Orioles and Tigers competed in a bizarre back-and-forth marathon at Comerica Park with...

Yesterday's reunion of the 1992 Orioles that opened Camden Yards has left me with more material than I can squeeze into a few blog entries. Leftovers can be stretched only so far. And this is coming from a guy who's eaten cold Chinese food that's more than a week old. I've brought slices of pizza back to life. I've sniffed and scarfed liver and onions that were hidden in the back of the fridge. I've chewed through chicken that had turned to jerky. You can't scare me. One of Brady...

TAMPA - The Orioles are breaking camp later today, but they're not done making roster moves. The club announced that it signed infielder Ryan Ripken, son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., to a contract with short-season Single-A Aberdeen - which is owned by his father. He'll report to extended spring training in Sarasota to prepare for his new assignment. This is a reunion in a couple of ways. Not only is Ryan Ripken, 23, back in the organization for which his father played for 21 seasons - he...

Happy New Year, Birdland! Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday and is enjoying today on their couches while resting from last night's festivities. I bring you tidings of great joy: With the flip of the calendar, we are now officially less than two months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to the Ed Smith Stadium Complex in Sarasota, Fla.! After last night's countdown to the new year, we're now helping you countdown to baseball's return with more "Orioles Classics" on MASN...