Late in Hall of Famer and Ironman Cal Ripken, Jr’s career, he had reached just about every milestone imaginable throughout his storied career. Ripken, of course, already surpassed Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak, had won a World Series with his Baltimore Orioles and was a two-time American League MVP. In 1999, Ripken became the first primary shortstop to hit 400 home runs and late season back surgery had prevented him from reaching another milestone – 3,000 hits.

Ripken entered the April 15th, 2000 game against the Minnesota Twins needing just three hits to reach the historic milestone. In typical Ripken fashion, he delivered three hits to become the 24th member of the historic 3,000 hit club. Ripken’s single to center field of Twins’ pitcher Hector Carrasco sent the 18,745 paid crowd at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome into a prolonged standing ovation. Fittingly, the first person to greet Ripken as he reached first base was former playing teammate, Hall of Famer and 3,000 Hit Club member Eddie Murray, who was then serving as Orioles first base coach. Ripken was then mobbed by his teammates as part of the celebration.

Presented here are the Baltimore Orioles road jersey and pants that were worn by Ripken when he reached the 3,000-hit milestone. These items come directly from the personal collection of Cal Ripken, Jr. and the gray size 50 Majestic button-down jersey has “Orioles” and a paraph sewn on in orange, black and white tackle twill. Ripken’s number “8” is sewn on in below in orange and black tackle twill. The back of the jersey has “RIPKEN” and “8” sewn on in orange and black tackle twill. The sleeves have a black piping stripe an inch off the end and the left sleeve has the Orioles bird logo patch. The front left tail has the Majestic tag and “50” size flag attached. Ripken has signed his name in black marker below the end of the paraph on the front and inscribed “April 15th, 2000 Hit #3000”. The matching gray pants have a single black piping stripe down the outsides of each leg. Also manufactured by Majestic, these pants have the team strip tag sewn on the inside back waist and is labeled “8 RIPKEN 38-40 35 00” indicating the player, waist size, inseam and year. Ripken signed these pants in black marker on the upper left leg and inscribed “April 15, 2000 Hit #3000”. These jersey and pants come with a signed LOA from Cal Ripken, Jr.

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