Cal Ripken, Jr.

	Cal Ripken, Jr.
	TURNER SPORTS Buck Martinez will serve as a TBS MLB game analyst, alongside play-by-play announcer Chip Caray, for a portion of the network�s MLB on TBS Sunday games. CAREER In 2007, Martinez completed his 5th season as a game analyst for the Baltimore Orioles. Martinez' extensive resume includes over 30 years as a player and manager in MLB and over 22 years of experience in baseball broadcasting on television and radio. A broadcasting veteran, Martinez� first experience came in 1982, when he covered the American League Championship Series, the World Series and the All-Star Game for the Telemedia Radio Network. Martinez� television broadcast career began in 1987 as a color commentator for the Toronto Blue Jays on The Sports Network. He began working with ESPN radio and television in 1992. In 1995, Martinez was awarded a Sports Emmy Award for his work on ESPN's coverage of Cal Ripken's 2,131st consecutive game. Martinez managed the Toronto Blue Jays in 2001 and part of the 2002 season, compiling a 100-115 record. Martinez also managed the American national team at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. A 17-year veteran of MLB, Martinez was a catcher during a playing career that included time with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays. PERSONAL Born in Redding, California, Martinez attended Elk Grove High School, Sacramento City College, Sacramento State University and Southwestern Missouri State University. Martinez is married and has one son. TURNER SPORTS Cal Ripken, Jr. is in his first year with Turner Sports. He will serve as the TBS studio analyst for its exclusive coverage of the MLB Playoffs including all MLB Division Series playoffs, which includes the Division Series and the National League Championship Series. CAREER Nineteen-time MLB All-S tar Cal Ripken, Jr. is one of the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, having been inducted, along with Tony Gwynn, on July 29, 2007. Ripken received the highest percentage of votes ever for a position player. Ripken, known as the �Iron Man�, broke Lou Gehrig�s record for consecutive games played (2,130) in 1995. He voluntarily ended his streak in 1998 after playing 2,632 consecutive games. The only team Ripken ever played for, the Baltimore Orioles, retired his uniform number in 2001. Ripken won numerous awards throughout his playing career, including 1982 American League Rookie of the Year, two-time Most Valuable Player (1983, 1991), eight-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1983-86, 1989, 1991, 1993-94) and two-time AL Gold Glover (1991-92). A member of the 3,000-hit club, Ripken reached the milestone on April 15, 2000 season when he singled off Hector Carrasco in a game against the Minnesota Twins. In 1995, Ripken was named Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" and was elected to the MLB All-Century Team in 1999. Ripken holds the MLB records for most MLB All-Star Game appearances at shortstop (1983-1996, 2001) and most consecutive MLB All-Star Game starts (16). On two occasions, Ripken was named All-Star Game MVP (1991, 2001). PERSONAL In 2001, Ripken established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, in memory of his father. The Foundation helps teach life lessons through baseball to disadvantaged youth from all over the country and gives them a life-changing experience. In an effort to share their teaching philosophy with coaches and parents everywhere, Cal teamed up with his brother, Bill Ripken, to release their first instructional book, Play Baseball The Ripken Way. In March of 2005, he signed with Gotham Books to produce three additional books that will expand on his approach to sports and everyday life. In 1999, Babe Ruth League, Inc. changed the name of its largest division (5-12 year-olds) from Bambino to Cal Ripken Baseball. Currently, over 700,000 youths play Cal Ripken Baseball worldwide. Ripken resides in Maryland with his wife, Kelly, and their children, Rachel and Ryan.