cal ripken jr. is in my hall of famer collection

2130 was a big number to me growing up. i, of course, followed steve garvey's consecutive game streak with great interest, and so was very familiar with lou gehrig and his record. garvey never had a chance to reach it (he was too old when his streak began), and eventually cal ripken jr. became baseball's iron man with an unforgettable televised ceremony in 1995.  he's in my hall of famer collection with this card as his entry:

that's a 2018 topps high tek portraitek autograph numbered 32/75.  here's the back:

ripken passed garvey's 1,207 consecutive games played mark during the 1989 season, and he wasn't even half way done! during that time, he had also won the rookie of the year award, a world series, and an mvp award (his first of two).

i didn't see ripken play during his streak, although i did have tickets to a game between the orioles and twins in august of 1998. i am pretty sure that i did not attend that game, and ripken ended his streak at 2,632 consecutive games played a little over a month later.

i did see him play twice in 1999, however. the first time was at camden yards against the blue jays on july 6, and the second was at the metrodome on september 7. he didn't do anything of note in either game, but i do recall watching him warm up prior to the game in baltimore and feeling a sense of awe.  i definitely would have gone to see him one more time in minnesota had i been in town. in april of 2000, ripken was closing in on 3000 hits, and the orioles were playing the twins. i, however, was on a trip in toronto and was attending a blue jays game the night ripken got his milestone knock in the twin cities.

in 2001, ripken joined garvey as one of the few players to win two all-star game mvp awards, and when he retired at the end of that season, he had amassed enough statistical success and accolades to achieve the highest hall of fame vote total (by percentage of ballots) for any position player (he has since been surpassed by ken griffey jr. and derek jeter).

here's my hall of famer collection as its been documented so far:

babe ruth - 2003 topps tribute world series edition world series tribute relic 351/425

honus wagner - 2001 topps tribute relic

tris speaker - 2011 topps tribute dual relic green parallel 53/75

eddie collins - 2002 topps tribute milestone materials relic

george sisler - 2004 topps tribute hall of fame tribute relic

dizzy dean - 2001 topps tribute relic

bob feller - 2001 topps archives certified autograph

jackie robinson - 2004 topps clubhouse collection clubhouse relic

ted williams - 1992 upper deck baseball heroes autograph 1067/2000

yogi berra - 1998 donruss signatures significant signatures 1640/2000

sandy koufax - 1998 donruss signatures significant signatures 1707/2000

roberto clemente - 2005 donruss greats hall of fame souvenirs relic

warren spahn - 1999 upper deck century legends epic signatures

mickey mantle - 2000 upper deck legends legendary game jerseys relic

willie mays - 1997 topps willie mays reprints certified autograph

al kaline - 2001 fleer greats of the game autograph

duke snider - 2003 upper deck sp authentic chirography hall of famers 144/250

bob gibson - 2001 fleer greats of the game autograph

hank aaron - 2004 topps originals 1979 topps all-time record holders rbi 03/32

frank robinson - 1995 upper deck autograph

don drysdale - 1993 nabisco all-star autographs

harmon killebrew - 2000 upper deck legends legendary signatures

pee wee reese - 2001 topps tribute relic

jim hunter - 1998 donruss signature series significant signatures 0736/2000

willie stargell - 2000 upper deck legends legendary signatures 

jim palmer - 2001 fleer greats of the game autograph

gaylord perry - 2003 topps finest finest moments autograph

rollie fingers - 2018 topps archives signature series 1978 topps buyback 1/3

reggie jackson - 2018 topps tier one tier one talent autograph 19/60

steve carlton - 2018 topps five star career year autograph 43/45

mike schmidt - 2002 topps archives autoproof 1980 topps buyback 048/147

phil niekro - 2017 panini donruss recollection collection 1983 donruss buyback autograph 13/33

don sutton - 2001 fleer greats of the game autograph

carlton fisk - 1999 upper deck century legends epic signatures

tony perez - 2004 fleer national pastime 2002 fleer greats authentic autograph buyback 30/59

dave winfield - 2003 upper deck sp authentic chirography hall of famers 121/350

ozzie smith - 2019 topps finest finest origins autograph

gary carter - 1999 fleer sports illustrated greats of the game autograph collection

eddie murray - 2004 upper deck sp legendary cuts legendary sigs 45/50 

dennis eckersley - 2017 topps archives signature series 1984 topps buyback 47/99

paul molitor - 2016 topps museum collection archival autographs 021/125

bruce sutter - 2003 topps all-time fan favorites certified autograph

cal ripken jr - 2018 topps high tek portraitek autograph 32/75

jim rice - 2005 upper deck past time pennants past time signatures

andre dawson - 2000 fleer greats of the game autograph

bert blyleven - 2004 upper deck legends timeless teams autograph

greg maddux - 2018 topps luminaries masters of the mound autograph 13/15

pedro martinez - 2018 topps high tek portraitek autograph 09/60

ken griffey jr - 2003 upper deck game face autograph

tim raines - 2018 topps tribute tribute autograph green parallel 26/95

alan trammell - 2001 fleer greats of the game autograph

roy halladay - 2017 topps archives signature series 2004 topps buyback 15/23

pete rose* - 2018 panini flawless legendary signatures 15/25

barry bonds* - 2001 bowman heritage autographs

you can find the full list of hall of famers (and some not - yet) that i aim to include in this collection at my want list site.

*not currently a member of the hall of fame