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Jul 23, 2007 2:17 pm US/Eastern
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Kelly Ripken Reflects On Life At Home With Cal
by Sally Thorner
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
This weekend, Cal Ripken Jr. will enter one of professional sports' most sacred groups--Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Despite all the media events and celebrations taking place in honor of Ripken,
Sally Thorner was able to go behind-the-scenes for a look at the Ironman's life at home and the wife who has been with him since the early part of his career.
While walking the grounds of her Baltimore County home, Kelly Ripken's mind was on her husband's past glory and her dreams of their future.
"I'm looking forward to Cal finally getting there and just being with those wonderful men and having a great time with them," said Kelly Ripken.
Despite the joy Kelly Ripken has experienced as the wife of a baseball legend, she has also had to deal with the disappointment of spending time away from her husband.
"My expectations were high that we would be together more, I could at the spur of the moment say, 'let's go do this' and it's just not the reality," said Kelly Ripken.
In her one-on-one with
WJZ's Thorner, Kelly Ripken also talked about commemorative pillows she designed for Cal.
The pillows were originally meant to cushion Cal at home and serve as small gifts for family friends, but they have since turned into one of the thousands of pieces of Ironman memorabilia that baseball fans yearn to have.
With their 20th anniversary coming later this year, Kelly Ripken has learned that even after retirement, baseball will continue to be part of her husband's life.
"He's still the little kid playing baseball," said Kelly Ripken.
Since retiring, Cal has also taken on the task of learning the management and business sides of the game.
Records and streaks come and go, but the Orioles have yet to find a replacement to fill #8's shoes.
"In the era of Cal, everyone said they stayed longer and you got to know them and you got to know their family and it was just more personal," said Kelly Ripken. "You wanted to go out and cheer for them, whether you're winning or not you still wanted to go out because you wanted to see your favorite player."
Thanks to Kelly Ripken's crafty pillows, Cal's milestones and the memories of his legacy on the field can bring comfort to fans at home.
The Cal Ripken commemorative pillows go on sale at 9 p.m. Tuesday. After that will be available at Greetings and Readings in Hunt Valley.
Click here to purchase a pillow online.
The hand-stitched pillows will cost $295 and the machine-stitched will go for $135.
Cal Ripken will officially be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)