The Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration are teaming up to celebrate Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr.’s record of most consecutive games played by auctioning two commemorative Maryland license plates. The plates, adorned with the O’s classic cartoon bird logo, feature the numbers 2,130 and 2,131, referencing Ripken’s record-tying 2,130th game and record-breaking 2,131st.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Ripken’s feat, beating Lou Gehrig’s previous record. The license plates are currently up for auction at mlb.com, and the auction will end Sept. 6 at 10 p.m.
According to the Baltimore Business Journal, proceeds for the auction will go to the Orioles Charitable Foundation, which has raised more than $110,000 since the introduction of O’s-themed license plates in 2012.
Other companies have started producing Ripken-themed memorabilia as well, including Axios Wine, which is releasing a “2131” cabernet for $300. McCormick & Co. Inc., maker of the classic Maryland crab seasoning Old Bay, is producing 48,000 cans of a special edition Old Bay. A portion of the proceeds from the wine and Old Bay cans will go toward the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, an organization created by Ripken Jr. to honor his father, who died in 1990.
Ripken will throw out the first pitch before the O’s take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 1, with other commemorative items, such as a customizable photo, planned for the event.
