|
| | Ripken Stadium - Aberdeen, Maryland
|
873 Long Drive
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Phone: 410-297-9292
Fax: 410-297-6653
|
|
|
- photos taken month year, TMC.
|
|
The idea of The Aberdeen Project probably started on September 6, 1995, the
night that Cal Ripken, Jr. became baseball’s all-time “Ironman” when he
played in his 2,131st consecutive game. That evening Cal received a $75,000 gift
from the Major League Baseball Player’s Association to build a “Field of
Dreams” in the Ripken hometown of Aberdeen, MD. Cal, Bill and the entire
Ripken family liked the idea, but started to think much bigger. Why refurbish
one field in Aberdeen when they could do something on a much grander scale? The
Aberdeen Project consists of several phases: |
|
Phase 1 The first phase of the project was construction of Ripken
Stadium, a state-of-the-art, family oriented minor league ballpark, which opened
to rave reviews in June of 2002. The IronBirds enjoyed sellout crowds for each
of its 38 home dates and finished second in the NY-Penn League in attendance.
Ripken Stadium is home to the Aberdeen IronBirds, the Baltimore Orioles Class A
affiliate in the NY-Penn League. The $18 Million ballpark has been packed
throughout its inaugural season. In January, 2002, Ripken Professional Baseball
purchased the Utica Blue Sox in the NY-Penn League and moved them to Aberdeen.
With the generous assistance of Peter Angelos and the Orioles organization, the
team fittingly became an Orioles affiliate, the team’s 7th minor league team,
most among big league franchises. |
|
Next Phases The next phase of The Aberdeen Project will be
construction of the Ripken Youth Baseball Academy. Grading has already begun for
several youth fields that will be ready for play in 2003. Ripken Baseball wants
to get several useable fields in place as soon as possible so their mission of
growing the game of baseball can be taken to the next level. The ballpark
structure around the fields will follow in due time after the fields are
constructed and ready for use next year. In 2003 the Cal Ripken World Series
moves to its permanent home in Aberdeen. The 2003 CRWS will be played at Ripken
Stadium. The minor league park will be retro-fitted to accommodate the 12
year-old athletes in the tournament. Cal, Sr's Yard, a state of the art
youth-sized version of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, will be the future permanent
home of the Cal Ripken World Series. It is being built by the Cal Ripken, Sr
Foundation and will be completed as the necessary funds are raised. For more
information on the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and its goals log onto www.ripkenfoundation.org
and for more information on the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth log onto www.baberuthleague.org
|
|
Final Phase The fourth phase of the Aberdeen Project will
consist of future development. Ripken Baseball, the City of Aberdeen, Harford
County and the State of Maryland will work together to assure that the land in
and around the complex will fit the theme of baseball, families and fun.
-from the Aberdeen
Ironbirds website.
Also see the Ripken
Museum.
-page last updated September 2006, TMC.
|
