While Cal Ripken Jr.’s minor league stats are not of the eye-popping variety they are certainly good enough to merit his steady advance through the Orioles farms system and eventual promotion to the big leagues in 1981. Ripken began the 1981 season at AAA Rochester where he hit .288 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 114 games including the longest game in professional baseball history, a marathon 33-inning affair that began at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI on April 18/19, 1981 and concluded at the same ballpark on June 23.

Offered here is the Rochester Red Wings warmup jersey worn by Ripken during the 1981 season when he was with the AAA club. This red mesh pullover jersey was made by Champion and is an X-LARGE.  “Red Wings” is printed on the front in black and white screen-print with a black and white screen-printed paraph that has “ROCHESTER” in white. There is no number on the back, but the Champion X-LARGE tag sewn on the inside back collar has “5” handwritten in black marker, which was the number worn by Ripken during his time in Rochester. The Champion logo patch is on the left sleeve and this jersey comes directly from the personal collection of Cal Ripken, Jr. and a signed LOA from Cal will accompany this jersey.

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