Ripken Experience about getting ‘kids playing baseball’ – Knoxville News Sentinel

By Adam Greene, sports@knoxnews.com

PIGEON FORGE — For the public, the ribbon cutting and remarks were over quickly Wednesday, but for the children that took the fields at the Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge Youth Baseball Complex, the memories of getting coached up by Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. might last a little longer.

“I enjoy having an influence on kids,” Ripken said. “I had a need to try to grow the game of baseball. Baseball now is putting a serious program together to promote and try to get more kids playing baseball. I’m a part of that now some 15 years after I retired. We want to pass on what we’ve learned from baseball and want to give them the experience. Only a few people get it.”

And even fewer people get pointers from baseball’s Iron Man, who played in 2,632 consecutive games for the Baltimore Orioles. The Pigeon Forge complex is the third Ripken has opened since he retired as a player. The first facility was built near his home town in Aberdeen, Md. The second was opened in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in 2006 shortly before he was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame.

When Ripken was looking for another location, Pigeon Forge came up to the plate.

“We knew we wanted to bring new sports to Pigeon Forge and that it would fit really well with what we have as a destination,” Pigeon Forge mayor David Wear said. “The character of the company and Cal Ripken fit exactly what we wanted. In the end, it’s a success.”

The 2,749 square-foot facility cost $22.5 million to build and is advertised as the premier tournament spot for 12-and-under baseball and amateur fast-pitch softball. It holds six artificial turf fields based on famous professional ballparks including Ripken’s own home field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

For Ripken, putting the experience together is all about evangelizing baseball.

As a former player, a second-generation player at that after his father Cal Ripken Sr., he knows the influence the sport can have on a young person’s development.

It’s something he’s experienced himself and watched his own son, Ryan Ripken, who was drafted in the 15th round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Washington Nationals, grow from, too.

“There are a lot of lessons you can learn through sport,” Ripken said. “By exposing them to the individual responsibility of a teammate and a team concept and putting aside your performance and trying to help the team win. All those things matter. Those principals will help you in life.”

The Pigeon Forge High School baseball team was on hand for the event, helping with the ribbon cutting and offering a hand with the instruction on the day.

“It’s good for them (the players),” Pigeon Forge coach Mike Guinn said. “They’re out there helping out the little kids and it’s like Cal’s message, getting more people involved in baseball. We’re excited to be a part of it. I hope we get some more kids coming out for baseball.”

For Ripken, that’s what it’s all about.

“Baseball fits everywhere, but it especially fits nicely here,” Ripken said. “Our vision is to get more kids playing.”

Adam Greene is a freelance contributor.