BREAKING NEWS:Ripken chosen as next guest splasher on…
The 29th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive-games record arrives on Sept. 6, with time seeming to fly at warp speed.
The best way to celebrate the occasion? By sending baseball’s Iron Man into the Bird Bath.
The club posted a video earlier today on the former Twitter announcing that Ripken, one of the minority owners in David Rubenstein’s group, will serve as guest splasher for the Sept. 6 game against the Rays at Camden Yards.
Ripken is shown receiving the news at his desk inside the B&O warehouse, with “Mr. Splash” informing the Hall of Famer that his new office is in Section 86 next to the bullpen area where fans get drenched after an extra-base hit, or sometimes just on a whim.
“Finally,” Ripken says before pulling out an inflatable pink flamingo and floppy hat from his desk.
“Can I bring my own hose?” he asks.
“You’re the boss,” he’s told.
The video ends with Ripken replacing his name plate with one that reads “Iron Splash.”
Taking the bit a little further, Ripken posted a comment above the video that said, “What’s the record for consecutive splashes?” He’s unlikely to reach 2,131 again. These gigs usually last about a half inning, one at the most.
Past guest splashes have included Rubenstein, Governor West Moore, former Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, former pitcher and current MASN analyst Ben McDonald, and rock musician Joan Jett.
The Orioles introduced the Splash Zone last season after players began mimicking sprinklers in the dugout. The water works included a hose that grew this season into a hydration station.
This isn’t Ripken’s first commercial. A previous one had him sitting at a desk at his old shortstop position before Gunnar Henderson emerges from the dugout and points to the warehouse. Rubenstein and manager Brandon Hyde also appear in it.
