Cal Ripken Influences Another Family in Naming of Son
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 3:18PM 
As everyone knows, my idol growing up was Cal Ripken. I have yet to write a full journal entry on Ripken’s influence on me yet. I want it to be perfect, and I know it will be very long!
Ripken meant everything to me. I knew my son would be named Cal before I even knew who my wife would be!! Cal Wilkerson has some company.
I received this letter this morning from a mom who had the same idea. Hopefully our sons can meet someday! Thanks to Karon for sharing her story. I thought y’all would enjoy.
Lance-
I read about your son Cal. My son is 12 now and I was pregnant with him during the time that Cal Ripken was setting the Iron Man Record. My son was born in 1997 and his name is Ripken Dale Wisdom after Cal Ripken. I loved what a great, upstanding guy he seemed to be.
My husband played for the Phillies in the minors back in the early 80s and we are huge sports fans. We love college sports, Little League, Girls College Softball and mostly Pro Football would be our favorites.
I was just looking online at some of the Cal Ripken stuff after seeing his wife Kelly on the today show or morning show this morning. She was talking about all the Snow. I googled her and was reading about her illness and didn't really know a great deal about her. Saw what must be some new pictures of Cal and saw the picture of your son, clicked on it and found you Blog.
Just wanted to let you know, you’re not the only one who thought so highly of Cal Ripken that you named your child after him. My son started playing guitar when he was 5 and taking lessons, now at 12 he is very accomplished and plays about 150 classic rock songs, KISS, AC/DC, Van Halen, etc.
The Ripken name still works for a rocker, we call him Rip most of the time and people are always asking us were we got his name form & they usually say, "That's such a cool name." Especially guys like it.
Karon
Cal Wilkerson, Cal Ripken in Family
Reader Comments (5)
Good story..think you should start calling your son Rip! Cool name!
Wow that is a neat story! It would be funny if the two sons got to meet Ripken at the same time!
Cal Ripken is the man!! There will be never be anyone else like him!
Such a cool story.
As an O's fan, I appreciate this. For my Dad, Brooks Robinson is his favorite O's player because thats the era he grew up in. For me, its Cal. I can remember being 4 or 5 years old going to games at Memorial Stadium and yelling "Drink your milk Cal!" every time he was up to bat.