From the Harford County Public Library:
Author and baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. greeted fans at the Abingdon Branch of Harford County Public Library on Monday, March 9th, where he and co-author Kevin Cowherd discussed their latest children’s book, Out at Home.
The book follows two 12-year-old boys who are rivals on and off the baseball field but must learn to work together to win a championship game. Ripken and Cowherd talked about the challenges of growing up but emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and never giving up on goals.
The authors took questions from the audience, including one from Forest Lakes Elementary fourth-grader Ethan Rhinehart, who said he was writing a report on Cal Ripken, Sr. and asked Ripken, Jr. what his parents had taught him. “To be nice and helpful and considerate to others,” the younger Ripken replied.
After winning a raffle to meet Ripken with eight of her friends and family members at a private reception before the event, Library customer Debbie Gibbons said she was thrilled to share the special experience with those closest to her. “I feel like I found a patch of four-leaf clovers,” Gibbons said.
Patricia and Brad Lovelace also were excited to meet the Iron Man. “We love Cal; we love the Orioles; we love the Harford County Public Library!” Brad Lovelace exclaimed.
All proceeds from the sold-out event benefit the Library’s Summer Reading Program. In 2014, over 17,000 children and teens registered for the Summer Reading Program, which aims to inspire a love of reading in the Library’s youngest customers and prevent summer learning loss. The 2015 Summer Reading Program will begin on June 22.
Out at Home is Ripken’s fifth book in his children’s series. Others are Hothead, Super-sized Slugger, Wild Pitch and Squeeze Play. Library customers can check out these titles at their local Library branch and can reserve a copy by visiting hcplonline.org.
What ever happened to the guy that kidnapped Cal’s mother??
There’s more to this story than the PR machine has released.
Look at all the dingus fans wearing their Ripken gear, LOL. How many were there to actually hear about the children’s book he wrote? People paid for this? How many of those signed books are going up on eBay this week? HAHAHAHA
You are all worshiping false heroes, the man played baseball – plain and simple. He was paid MILLIONS for playing a sport…then his Mom was kidnapped, and then found.
“Cal, can I get you to sign my shirt?”
“Hey Cal, can you sign this here ticket I got when I went to see you play?”
“Yo, Cal! Hey man, can you sign this hat? It’s for my kid….”
That is some pretty rarified air you breath up there on your high horse, isn’t it? I’m glad the self-appointed arbiter of hero worship is here to educate the poor, ignorant masses.
Actually, it is pretty nice air up here. Much better than say, taking center stage at a public library – while charging a fee – to promote a children’s book?
A fee…for a children’s book? Public Library…For kids…public library…in Harford County. If he was such a philanthropist and “in it for the kids”, then why bother to charge for the event? How much of that fee went back into the community? How much went into his pocket?
Did he have a private hired security detail? Or did the Sheriff’s Office provide a uniformed deputy to stand by?
People are weird. I’d never be inclined (as an adult) to get the autograph of any professional sports player, I give more effort lifting my ass off the seat to fart than I would to see a professional sports player in person.
LOL
AMEN!!!