"Morning newspapers landed a little harder on America's doorsteps on Monday with the affirmation of
the scientific reality one man kept suspended for more than 16 years. It was there in the Baltimore
Orioles' box score, the first one since the second game of a May 29, 1982, doubleheader that didn't
include Cal Ripken Jr. An elegy in agate.
"In perfect health except for a weariness of what he has called 'the management' of his remarkable record
of consecutive games, Ripken chose on Sunday night to sit out the Orioles' last home game of the
season. Calibrate Ripken Jr.: 2,632 is baseball's newest magic number."
—Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated, September 28, 1998
