The 1995 baseball season will go down in the record books as one of the most contrasting years in the history of America's favorite pastime. Lou Gerhig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played fell in early September and attendance has been minimal all season. The baseball strike of 1994 is evidently the reason for the poor attendance. The league hasn't rebounded from the strike, fan support has been at a low and the players' attitudes haven't been very positive. Many of the pros considered going to Japan to play baseball.

The extended season is certainly not going to help in the cause of regaining fan support. The new playoff arrangement instituted for this season is not popular among many baseball fans. Numerous people feel that this new format is giving teams that don't deserve a shot in the playoffs-- an undeserved chance at something they failed to accomplish all season. In the past years the division champions in the American League would battle it out and the division champions in the National League would do the same. From this pool the world series teams would be decided. Now, teams with records barely better than average are getting a chance to contend with other teams that have remained consistent throughout the season. This new format is giving a mediocre club a chance to get lucky and squeeze their way into the World Series. Many fans are not happy with this new format. If the league is looking for the fan support it once had, it ought to rely on its tradition.

Cal Ripken Jr. is an excellent example of the American baseball tradition. Even with attendance down and the popularity of the game at an all time low, many fans are in awe of the Baltimore Orioles shortstop. Ripken has become a household name. He can bring a spark back into the hearts of many fans that have lost interest in the game. Cal will go down in history with baseball greats Joe Dimagio, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Lou Gehrig. On September 6, 1995 Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's record of playing in 2,130 consecutive games. Gehrig set the record on May 2, 1939. Many people believed that Gehrig's record would never be broken, but since May 30, 1982 Cal Ripken Jr. Has been in a Baltimore Orioles uniform day in and day out, not once taking time off for an injury or for any other reason. In fact, Ripken has only missed a total of 162 innings in the last thirteen years. The closest active player to Ripken's astonishing record is Frank Thomas who had played a mere 235 consecutive games up to the date Ripken set the record. Cal Ripken Jr. is a true example of what baseball is all about.

Fan attendance on the record breaking day was 46,272. Fanatics gathered outside Camden yards stadium up to six hours before game time. They were mingling outside the stadium buying and selling Cal Ripken Jr. memorabilia. With fan participation soaring during this recent event it would be extreme to say that baseball is dead. Overall interest in the game is certainly at a low, but baseball fever will eventually catch on again. The new playoff format may not sound appealing to many of the baseball "naturalists" but that is certainly reversible. What needs to be decided upon is whether or not the fans are willing to forget and forgive the strike of '94. With this recent show of interest in the game it is almost definite that baseball will eventually be back in the swing of things.

© Trincoll Journal, 1995.