For many fans who witnessed the end of Cal “The Iron Man” Ripken Jr.’s consecutive games streak, the name Ryan Minor lives as the person to replace Ripken Jr. in the Orioles’ starting lineup.
Other fans know Minor as one of the better managers of the Low-A affiliate of the O’s, the Delmarva Shorebirds. Minor managed the Shorebirds, Frederick Keys (High-A) and the Tigers West (Rookie League), compiling a 625-807 record across 1,422 career games.
Minor was a star baseball and basketball player at the University of Oklahoma, leading them to the 1994 College World Series Championship while taking home Big-Eight Conference Co-Player of the Year. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 1995 amateur draft but elected to forgo signing and return for his senior year of college.
After his senior season, Minor was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the NBA Draft. Later that year, he was drafted by the Orioles in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft.
Minor first pursued a professional basketball career, lasting seven preseason games with the 76ers before being cut. He even played 32 games with the Oklahoma City Calvary of the Continental Basketball Association.
Playing 25 games for the Rookie Level Bluefield Orioles at the same time, Minor was invited to big league spring training in 1997, when he decided to end his basketball career and focus on his professional baseball career.
Minor would play for the Shorebirds in 1997, where he hit 24 home runs and drove in 97 while slashing .307/.387/.585. He would play most of the 1998 season with the Bowie Baysox, but it was his call-up to the majors that signified his mark in Orioles’ history.
Brought to the big leagues at the beginning of September, Minor had only been in the majors for 11 days when he was told that he would be replacing Cal Ripken Jr., ending his consecutive games streak at 2,632.
September 13, 1998, will forever be remembered as the day Ripken Jr. took the day off. Not only that, but it was also the same day Minor would make his major league debut.
“I looked at [Ripken] and said, ‘Thanks for the opportunity,’” Minor said. “He looked at me and said, ‘Go get ’em.’”
Minor played eight more games that season and parts of two more seasons with the Orioles before spending his final season with the Montreal Expos. Minor played 142 career games, slashing .177/.228/.259.
Earlier this year, it was announced by his twin brother Damon that Minor was diagnosed with stage-4 colon cancer, a similar cancer former Oriole Trey Mancini battled. Minor entered hospice care last month and sadly passed away a few short days before Christmas, as announced by his brother. Minor was just 49 years old.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan’s family and friends at this time,” the Orioles said in a statement.
Minor became the first Shorebird to have their number (44) retired over the summer.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan’s family during this extremely difficult time. Rest in peace, Ryan Minor.
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