The conclusion of this column comes with by far the most difficult record to break in today’s game: playing in 2,632 consecutive games.  From just the math alone, being that there are only 162 games in a regular season of baseball, it would take a player over sixteen years to possibly break this record, so basic deductive reasoning tells you it will never happen.

Growing up in Maryland as a child, Cal Ripken Jr. went on to play all twenty-one of his seasons in Major League Baseball for the only team he ever played for: the Baltimore Orioles. Throughout his time with the Orioles, he obtained the nickname The Iron Man as he continued playing in the infield dirt and tallied up more and more hits even while being injured. What kept him going was his personal in-season workout plan, which differed from his off-season plan, because it was meant to keep his body in a more strength-preserving state, rather than overloading his muscles and increasing the risk of injury. This and other body care strategies allowed Cal to continue in his endeavor of at least starting his next game and expanding his streak.

A list of major limitations that would put this unimaginable streak in danger of coming to an end includes injury, illness, family matters, needed rest days, or being benched by a manager. With all of these to hold Ripken back from his colossal streak, he fought through them all, and because of it, he holds easily the most unbreakable record in not just baseball but also in all sports. He played through several injuries, never took a rest day, always played well enough to start the next game, and fought through mental adversity throughout 16 straight seasons of the toughest schedules in the sports world.

To put into perspective how seemingly impossible it would be to break this record in present day, the closest an active player got was still ten years away from the mark that Ripken Jr. set. That player was Whit Merrifield, who played 553 consecutive games before that streak came to an end. A very impressive streak yes; however, it’s still obnoxiously 2,o79 games fewer than The Iron Man’s menacing streak. The game just isn’t the same anymore. Players don’t play in every game they can like they used to. Managers and trainers are too protective of their expensive players because of the potential risks that come with playing them when they would rather give them a break for a day and give another guy a shot to prove himself. It’s the smartest and safest strategy and should continue to be used for the rest of baseball history as we know it. That’s why The Iron Man will continue to hold this record for all eternity, for it is simply impossible for this record to be reached. Cal Ripken Jr. has undoubtedly solidified his place in MLB lore as the beholder of the most unbreakable record of all-time.