The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 6, 1995 - 7B
g3 a , I'vsAC%

Washington Post
BALTIMORE - As everyone ex-
pected, the unreachable record was
reachedTuesdaynight. And ifthatdoesn't
make sense, neither does the whole idea
of a baseball player playing nonstop, as
Cal Ripken does.
In this throwback ballpark of Camden
Yards, Cal Ripken, a throwback player,
played in his 2,130th straight game and
tied Lou Gehrig's supposedly unattain-
able record. And as sure as the sun comes
up tomorrow, Ripken breaks the unbreak-
able record Wednesday night against the
California Angels.
The trick will be matching the hoopla
and drama that surrounded the record-
tying moment. Ripkenmadehis bignight
grand by singling twice and hitting a
home run. He received several mighty
long standing ovations, and he acknowl-
edged the first one by waving to the
sellout crowd and tipping his cap.
The crowd erupted when the huge or-
ange-and-black banners on the warehouse
beyond rightfield were ceremoniously
changed from 2-1-2-9 to 2-1-3-0 after the
game became official with the Orioles
ahead 7-0 after four innings. The 35-year-
old Ripken emerged three times from the
dugout for curtain calls during the five-
minute,20-second ovation from the crowd
of 46,804.
Hank Aaron, Johnny Unitas, Bruce
Hornsby,Earl Weaver(whothrewout the
first ball) and several other luminaries

celebrated the moment, as did several
Ripken family members, including father
Cal Sr., who vowed never to return here
after being fired as third-base coach fol-
lowingthe'92 season. JoeDiMaggiowill
be here Wednesday night.
The lineup card, with Ripken playing
shortstop, as always, and batting third,
went directly to Cooperstown. Angels
starter Brian Anderson joked before the
game that if he injured Ripken with a
pitch that Anderson would have to go into
the witness protection program. Ander-
son didn't come close in the Orioles' 8-0
victory in which Ripken achieved great-
ness.
"It will be the greatest athletic achieve-
ment in our lifetime," said Wednesday
night's Orioles starter, Mike Mussina.
"I'm sure nobody's going to win 511
games or hit in 56 straight games. But
whowouldhavethoughtsomebody would
play in every game for 14 years? It's
something that doesn't happen."
Since it did happen, so many wanted to
see it. Scores of people here were long-
time friends of Ripken, who grew up in
nearby Aberdeen, Md., before playing
for the hometown Orioles. Prime among
the 30 Orioles who have manned second
while Ripken played short is younger
brother Billy, who took time off from his
Triple-A Buffalo team to be here.
"It's almost scripted out ofHollywood,"
said Manager Marcel Lachemann of the
Angels.

Longtime Orioles trainer Richie
Bancells, who only occasionally has had
to heal Ripken, told an anecdote about
how Ripken can be bruised during a game
and have the bruise heal by game's end.
Everyone believed him. Because Ripken
has made the unbelievable quite believ-
able. To get here, Ripken has played
through several ankle and knee sprains.
In 1985, his ankle was swollen and dis-
colored when he assumed the shortstop
position on opening day.
That was 1,686 games ago.
Back then, nobody thought this day
would come. On Gehrig'splaque in Yan-
kee Stadium's Monument Park are these
words: "A man, a gentleman and a great
ballplayerwhose amazing record of2,130
consecutive games should stand for all
time." Better call rewrite.
"There are two great records,
DiMaggio's (56-game hitting streak) and
this one," Lachemann said. "These are
the two most unattainable. I don't think
anyone will come close to Joe DiMaggio.
And I didn't think anyone would come
close to this one."
Mussina said they may rename the
shortstop position. AccordingtoMussina,
"From now on, guys will play first, sec-
ond, Ripken and third."
Angels batting coach Rod Carew said,
"It ranks up there with God someplace.
Can you imagine staying as healthy as he
has? To go out there and play 9,000-plus
innings andnothavingabreakdown. You

just can't imagine something like that."
During The Streak, 3,711 players have
gone on the disabled list, and thousands
more have suffered "day-to-day" inju-
ries. The 27other clubs have used 521
starting shortstops.
In some ways Ripken's streak is even
more impressive than Gehrig's. Gehrig, a
first baseman, didn't finish 66 games and
made only token appearances in a dozen.
Ripken also plays the tougher position.
"Honestly, it's not something that I set
out to do," Ripken has said. "I don't
compare myself to Lou Gehrig. The only
thing we might have in common isa great
desire to play ... He's one of the greatest
baseball players that everplayed. I am not
and never will be."
Ripken's toughness is linked to his
genes and upbringing. Weaver said Cal
Sr., a catcher, used to play doubleheaders,
take 400-mile bus trips and catch the
following night. Ripken started as a third
baseman but was moved to shortstop by
Weaver out of necessity.
Weaver was the last manager to bench
Ripken, employing Floyd Rayford atthird
base in the second game of a double-
header at Toronto May 29,1982. Weaver
said he would have felt heartache had
Ripken been stopped a few games short
of the record.
"There are somethings you don't think
any generation will ever see happen
again," Weaver said. This is one of those
things.

Cal Ripken tied Lou Gehrig's 2,130 consecutive game streak last night.

Michigan field hockey loves
move outdoors off State St


By Maureen Sirhal
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan field hockey team is
enjoying the benefits of a brand-new
outdoor field located on State Street
just south of Hoover. While a new
field may not seem like a drastic
change, the Wolverines feel differ-
ently.
"It's a huge boost," coach Patty
Smith said. "It is probably one of the
nicest fields in the country."
The field was named Phyllis Ocker
Field, after the former assistant Ath-
letic Director and field hockey coach.
"Phyllis was the first field hockey
coach and she taught in the school of
Kinesiology," said Peggy Bradley-
Doppes, Associate Athletic director
for women's sports.
"She was an intricate part of the
total development of Michigan sports.
It shouldn't be named after anyone
else."
After breaking ground in the spring,
the field was completed over the sum-
mer.
Along with a new soccer field, it is
the first part of a three-phase project
to provide first-rate facilities to all
varsity sports. The approximate cost
was $700,000.
Bradley-Doppes said that the fields
have been in the works since the field
hockey team lost its facility. That hap-
penedwhen the football team switched
from playing astroturf to grass four
years ago.
Since the two teams shared a field,
field hockey moved into Oosterbaan
Field House. Several new sites were

then considered, including the tennis
complex on State Street.
"We looked at where the tennis
facility is going and decided that it
would be much better to have both
(field hockey and soccer) programs
on the athletic campus," Bradley-
Doppes said.
The location chosen was the former
site of the a parking lot.
"Our biggest challenge, once we
decided (our location)," Bradley-
Doppes said, "was putting the word
out that people were going to lose
parking and (had to) find alternate
places."
The regulation size outdoor field is
very different from the likes of the
indoor Oosterbaan Field House, where
the team used to play.
"There is no grain on (the outdoor)
field," Smith said. "What that means
is that the ball can travel in any direc-
tion.
"In Oosterbaan, there was a grain -
which made passing ... difficult. It's
a huge difference. We will be able to
pass with better proficiency."
Smith described the turf as spe-
cially designed for field hockey. The
turf is a special loose-lay turf which is
not as hard as the indoor turf.
In addition to the structural im-
provements in the outdoor field, the
size has increased to the regulation
size, which is 100 yards by 60 yards.
But the most important aspect of
the field is what it means to the play-
ers on a mental level.
"It's great to be outside," senior
Aaleya Koreishi said. "It is easy to get

It is probably
one of the
nicest fields in
the country."
- Patty Smith
Michigan field hockey coach
down when you don't see the sun or
feel the breeze."
Smith also said that the exposure to
the outdoors will enhance the play-
ers' spirits.
"We are getting more support,"
Smith said. "This (field) is a state-
ment by the University that (it) sup-
ports us."
Bradley-Doppes said that it was not
a matter of gender in deciding which
sport was going to get new facilities.
"You prioritize the needs," Bradley
Doppes said. "For me this facility is
what Michigan deserves. Any pro-
gram ... should be first-class."
Although the outdoor location
makes it a bit louder, the team seems
pleased with the accessibility and the
visibility provided by the State Street
location.
"Some people were worried about
distraction, but I love being on State
Street," Koreishi said. "It is definitely
more accessible.
"A lot of students don't even know
there is a field hockey team. I think
people will drive by and want to know
what is going on."

The Michigan women's soccer team has a new playground - the Michigan Soccer Fild, which lies next to Schembechier Hall.
Blue soccer takes to all-new field


WILD CARD
Continued from page B1
hada hard time convincing his critics.
The 5-foot-Il pitcher has been sty-
mied by his size throughout his ca-
reer. In high school, they told him he
was too small to pitch professionally,
so he went to college.
Once he got to Michigan how-
ever, the man they call "Iggy" didn't
act as cute as his nickname.
"He's a bulldog," says Middaugh.
"He's such a strong competitor, but
still some people still backed off like
they did with (Jim) Abbott. He just
comes back day after day."
But Ignasiak admits that some-
times he is too hard on himself, pursu-
ing perfection and kicking himself
every time it eludes him. "Itake things
too seriously sometimes, andthat hurts
me," Ignasiak says. Injuries and trips

down to the minors have been de-
pressing, but Ignasiak has kept on
going.
After earning his degree in 1988,
it took him five years to reach the
majors. Touring minor league
ballparks tested his patience, but
Ignasiak "sucked it up and played
through it."
He developed that stamina in col-
lege. The Wolverines had an abun-
dance of talent in the 80s, enough to
make current Reds first baseman Hal
Morris wait until hisjunioryear to get
playing time. Ignasiak persevered
however, co-captaining the team as a
senior and setting many records.
Ignasiak is Michigan's all-time
leader in innings pitched with 328.6
and wins with 33. He is second in
appearances and strikeouts, whiffing
286 in 76 career games.
"Kids who go to the pros after

high school get in over their heads,"
Ignasiak says. "You play 144 games.
You travel. Michigan prepared me
for all of that."
Michigan also taught him to win. "I
justremembercomingtotheyardthink-
ing we were going to win everyday,"
Ignasiak says. The Wolverines tookthe
Big Ten title every year he played.
In the process, Michigan devel-
oped a number of major leaguers.
Middaugh was the coach who took
Barry Larkin out of center field and
put him at shortstop, where he has
become a Gold Glove-winner for Cin-
cinnati. He gave Abbott a chance,
helping him win the Sullivan Award
and earn a spot on the 1988 Olympic
team. And he cultivated talents like
Scott Kaminiecki, Steve Ontiveros
and Chris Sabo.
Middaugh also guided Michigan
as high as third at the College World

By Maureen Shualt
For the Daily
After one year of having no real place
to call home, the Michigan women's soc-
cer team is finally playing on its own
field, located off State Street next to
Schembechler Hall.
The Michigan Soccer Field was com-
pleted in June at a cost of approximately
$700,000, combined with the adjacent
Phyllis Ocker Field.
"It is a huge change," said Head Coach
Debbie Belkin. "We finally feel like we
are a varsity sport."
Prior to the Michigan Soccer Field, the
Series in 1984.
Memories of those years translate
into an intense desire to revisit vic-
tory for all' big league Michigan
alumni. If the Brewers take the Wild
Card slot, former Wolverines might
be heavily involved in crowning the
1995 World Champion.
Matheny and Ignasiak could find
themselves againstthe Angels' Abbott
in the first or second round. If they
make it to the World Series, they
could see Cincinnati's Larkin and
Morris.
"I'm proud to see all of the
alumni involved in the races,"
Matheny says. "I think a lot ofus are
doing much better than expected,
but it shows Michigan is strong.
We're pretty close to having a lot of
fun in September."
You've got to believe there's a
chance.

women's team played at Mitchell Field
and later Elbel Field.
"We didn't have the flexibility with
Elbel because the band practices there
and there were no restrictions," Belkin
said. "With the (new) field we can prac-
tice anytime and we are the only ones
allowed to use the field."
Belkin described many of the differ-
ences in the quality of the field.
"Itissand-basedsothegroundis softer,"
Belkin said. "It is also real flat so there is
less risk of player injury."
Several sites were discussed for the
location, including the future site of the
tennis complex and a spot on North
Campus, before it was decided that the
soccer field should be located closer to
the Athletic office.
A committee chairedby Bob DeCarolis,
senior director of financial operations for

the Athletic Department, worked with the
Board of Intercollegiate Athletics before
taking the proposal to the regents.
"I expect that (the new field) will help
with the season," said Senior Associate
Athletic DirectorPeggy Bradley-Doppes.
"However, the most important aspect is
still the player."
When the field hockey team was dis-
placed four years ago from the football
team's outdoor practice facility, the Ath-
letic Department planned to put the field
hockeyteaminabetterlocation. Women's
soccer was combined with that effort
after it became a varsity sport.
DeCarolis said that outdoor lighting
will be added to the fields in addition to a
sports service center and press box. The
Athletic Department expects the project
to be completed in approximately three
years.

RESAU0 V SPORTS PAR N


=MOM


M ;
0 GYM q

OLYMPIA
FITNESS'

A

ccorhng to

a recent su

rvey:

-ir r CENTER

I

i