McFarlane Toys MLB Cooperstown Collection Series 2 Action Figure Cal Ripken Jr.

by McFarlane

Product Features

• White Uniform Action Figure

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00080M4XI
• Item model number: series two cal ripken jr
• Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,251 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Product Description

Cal Ripken Junior was born in Maryland, played 20 seasons for the Orioles, and retired to start a developmental team in their minor league system -- it's safe to say that when cut, he probably bleeds orange. Cal won the American League Rookie of the year award in 1982, and the A.L. MVP award one year later while leading Baltimore to a World Series championship. His unbelievable career is actually overshadowed by one singular record. Ripken shattered Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played -- breaking the old mark of 2,130 games and setting a new standard with 2,632. The record is impressive in and of itself, but the timing of the chase was perfect. Baseball had alienated much of its fan base with the players' strike and the cancellation of the World Series in 1994, and it was the dogged determination of Cal Ripken chasing Lou Gehrig's record that brought thousands of fans back to the game.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Baseball's reigning Iron Man fields a grounder at short, April 20, 2005

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

I have to say that when I heard Cal Ripken, Jr. was going to be part of McFarlane Toy's MLB Cooperstown Series 2 that I was hoping they would show him taking his famous lap around Camden Yard when he broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. Instead we have Ripken, wearing the home white jersey of the Baltimore Orioles, playing a ground ball at shortstop. Notice his technique: Ripken is going to use both hand to catch the ball when it bounces into his glove and that his eyes are on the ball. That is the key detail with this 6" figure and represents the type of solid ballplayer that Ripken was throughout his major league career. No wonder this was a guy who played with one team his 20-season entire career in a time when most other stars were always finding they could earn more money to play somewhere else.

Ripken is not yet in the Hall of Fame, but his election to Cooperstown is a foregone conclusion when he becomes eligible next year. Ripken won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1982 and was named Most Valuable Player the following season when the Orioles won the World Series and won the M.V.P. again in 1991. At the end of his career Ripken had a .276 average, 431 home runs and 1,695 runs batted in. Before Ripken All-Star shortstops were in the mold of Luis Aparicio, Bert Campaneris and Ozzie Smith. After Ripken they were power hitters like Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciappara, and Miguel Tejada. But of course Ripken's biggest legacy is shattering Gehrig's record for consecutive games played, breaking the hallowed mark of 2,130 games and setting a new standard of 2,632. Breaking the record in the wake of the player's strike and the cancellation of the World Series in 1994 was crucial in restoring the faith of fans in the national pastime, which is why I would have liked to have seen Ripken trotting along waving at the fans while acknowledging the emotional standing ovation he received when they stopped the game after the sixth inning when the game became official.

The rest of the MLB Cooperstown Series 2 figures are for "Catfish" Hunter of the Oakland A's, Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, Willie Mays playing for the San Francisco Giants, Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees, and Willie "Pops" Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now that they are doing players in (or definitely heading for) the Hall of Fame it will be interesting to see when they come up with the Lou Gehrig figure to go along with Ruth or Ripken, depending on your associations. For now the figure from Series 1 that best complements this one is obviously that of Brooks Robinson playing third base. Of course, if there is one McFarlane figure that deserves a 5-star rating for durability, Cal Ripken, Jr. would have to be the one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cal Ripken Jr. Figurine, August 16, 2005

By 

S. Cristo "Sports Fanatic" (Booneville, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

For a baseball collector, this is perfect! My son absolutely loved it!