Train Issue Gives Ripken Chance To Talk Aberdeen

Cal Ripken got a chance to give his hometown a shout-out on national television Wednesday.

Ripken—the Hall of Fame Orioles legend—is part of the national television broadcast crew covering the Orioles and Yankees American League Division Series. The two clubs met in New York Wednesday for the third game of the best-of-five series.

During the top of the second inning, just before 8 p.m., Ripken and the rest of the TBS broadcast team were discussing electrical issues on the northbound Amtrak line Tuesday.

Play-by-play broadcaster Ernie Johnson mentioned that manager Joe Girardi's Yankees stopped in Aberdeen early Tuesday. Leaving the disabled train behind, the team continued from Harford County via a bus fleet.

Ripken, a 1978 Aberdeen High School grad, chimed in with color commentary on a familiar topic.

"I know that place. It’s my hometown! We have a minor league team there," Ripken said. "It’s a good little town."

Ripken still has family in Aberdeen. His company Ripken Baseball has a significant stake in the city. Ripken Baseball owns the Aberdeen IronBirds, an Orioles minor league affliate that plays at city-owned Ripken Stadium. Ripken Baseball also manages a youth baseball complex that hosts a national tournament in the city every August.

The centerpiece of the complex is named for the late Cal Ripken Sr. and another youth ballpark planned for the city is slated to carry Vi Ripken's name.

TELL US: Did you catch Ripken's moment of hometown pride Wednesday? Leave a comment.

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