Orioles' staffer ends 47-year home-game streak for Ripken induction

Published: 2007-08-01

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Witnessing the induction of former Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. into the Baseball Hall of Fame July 29 was a heady experience for Ernie Tyler, a parishioner at St. Ignatius Parish in the Baltimore suburb of Hickory. While attending the festivities in Cooperstown, N.Y., caused the 83-year-old to end a baseball era of his own -- Tyler missed his first home game as an umpire's attendant for the Baltimore Orioles since 1960 -- he said he could think of no better reason to end his 3,769-game streak. "It's actually a good feeling that my streak is over," said the father of 11, whose number of in-season home games was posted during the game at Oriole Park July 27, before he left for Cooperstown. "It takes the pressure off." The obvious comparisons between Tyler and the baseball great have been made by co-workers and former Oriole baseball players, since Ripken still holds the record of 2,632 consecutive baseball games played in the major leagues. "Ernie has known Cal since he was a boy," said Monica Pence, director of public affairs for the Orioles. "I think it was appropriate that he would break his streak for Cal."

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