Billy Ripken

William Oliver Ripken (born December 16, 1964), nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is an American former professional baseball infielder.

After attending Aberdeen High School, Ripken was drafted by the Orioles in the 11th round of the 1982 MLB draft.

Before the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, Cal Jr., Bill's brother who was on his way to winning the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award with the Orioles, remarked, "Billy might go pretty high in the draft. I'd love for the Orioles to take him. That would be okay, wouldn't it? Having your father and brother with the same team?"

In 1984, he was promoted to the Hagerstown Suns of the Class A Carolina League, where he appeared in 115 games.

He batted .230 with 94 hits, the first two home runs of his career, and 40 RBI while posting a .948 fielding percentage at shortstop.

Ripken's 1985 season would be split between three teams.

He spent the bulk of the year with the Daytona Beach Admirals of the Class A Florida State League, batting .230 with 51 hits and 18 RBI.

He also appeared in 14 games with Hagerstown and 18 games with the Double-A Charlotte O's of the Southern League, batting .255 and .137, respectively, with those teams.

He did not hit a home run in 1985.

He played the whole 1986 season for Charlotte, batting .268 with 142 hits, 20 doubles, three triples, five home runs, and 62 RBI in 141 games.

In addition, he led the Southern League in four fielding categories.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from – for the Baltimore Orioles (1987–1992, 1996), Texas Rangers (1993–94, 1997), Cleveland Indians (1995), and Detroit Tigers (1998).

During his career, he batted and threw right-handed.

He is the younger brother of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.. He currently serves as a radio host for XM Satellite Radio and a studio analyst for MLB Network.

Born in Maryland, Ripken grew up traveling around the United States as his father, Cal Ripken Sr.., was a player and coach in the Orioles' organization.

He reached MLB in 1987, creating the first situation in baseball history that a father had managed two sons on the same team, as his brother played for the Orioles and his father, Cal Ripken Sr.. managed the team.

In 1987, he was called up to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the International League, where he played 74 games, batting .286.

In July 1987, the Orioles released Rick Burleson and called Ripken up to replace him.

He debuted on July 11, creating the first instance in baseball history in which a father managed two sons on the same major league team, as his father was the Orioles' manager and his brother was their shortstop.

While with the Orioles, Ripken played alongside his brother, Cal Ripken Jr..; he was managed by his father, Cal Sr., from 1987–1988.

Billy did not have a hit in his debut but picked up his first hit as one of two against Charlie Leibrandt of the Kansas City Royals on July 16.

Three days later, Ripken hit his first home run against Bud Black, helping the Orioles defeat Kansas City 5–1.

Expected to be more of a fielder than a hitter, Ripken finished his inaugural season with a .308 batting average, two home runs, and 72 hits in 58 games.

Billy was given the Orioles' second base role in 1988; with his brother, Cal Jr., at shortstop, the pair formed the Orioles' double play combination.

Six games into the season, Cal Sr. was fired as the Orioles' manager, the quickest managerial firing in major league history.

Immediately after, Billy switched his uniform number from 3 to his father's 7, saying, "I just didn't want to see anybody else wear it."

Ripken was a light hitter better known for his fielding skills, although he led the Orioles in batting average with a .291 mark in 1990.

He served as their starting second baseman most of his first stint with the team.

After the Orioles released him following the 1992 campaign, he played with four other teams (including the Orioles in 1996), serving mostly as a utility infielder and never holding a starting role for very long.

He played his final game in 1998 for the Detroit Tigers.

Ripken was born to Cal Sr. and Violet "Vi" Ripken in Havre de Grace, Maryland.

Though the Ripkens called Aberdeen, Maryland, their home, they were often on the move because of Cal Sr.'s coaching duties with the Baltimore Orioles organization.

This gave Bill the chance to be around his father's teams.

He attended Aberdeen High School, where he played baseball.

Over his final two seasons, he did not lose a single game as a pitcher, but the infield was where he planned to spend his career.

The Orioles would wind up selecting Bill in the 11th round of the draft.

Ripken began his professional career that same year with the Rookie League Bluefield Orioles, where he played mostly shortstop and third base.

In 27 games, in which he only totaled 45 at bats, Ripken posted a batting average of .244 with 11 hits and four runs batted in.

Next season, Ripken remained at Bluefield and was used almost exclusively as a shortstop, although he also pitched the final 2⁄3 of a game, allowing no runs.

He batted .217 with 33 hits and 13 RBI in 48 games.