Lot # 2359: May 30, 1982 Baltimore Orioles Lineup Card from Cal Ripken Jr. First Game of Record Setting Streak Signed by Earl Weaver - PSA/DNA

Historically significant Baltimore Orioles manager lineup card used for their May 30, 1982 game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Memorial Stadium, which represents the first game in Cal Ripken's eventual streak of playing in a record 2,632 consecutive games. Ripken, in the midst of his first full season in the Majors, is written in on the lineup card batting eighth and playing third base. He finished 0-for-2 with a walk in Baltimore's 6-0 loss. The lineup card, which is dated "5/30/'82" in the top right, is signed by Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver on the bottom. PSA/DNA has encapsulated the lineup card and certified Weaver's signature as "Authentic." Ripken would go on to break Lou Gehrig's long-standing record 11 years later. The fact that Ripken played in an era when steroids and performance-enhancing drugs appeared to have been the norm for most of the game's top stars is unfortunate. However, knowing that he has never, even remotely, been linked to such practices has only enhanced his stature and made his record of 2,632 consecutive games played all the more remarkable. In addition to his "Iron Man" reputation, Ripken is also a member of baseball's elite 3,000-hit club, and his 431 lifetime home runs rank him among the top 50 all-time. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007 in his first year of eligibility. The lineup card (4.25 x 7.25 inches) displays scattered creasing and a few spots of light discoloration. Excellent condition overall.