Was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 on the first ballot. The Orioles were planning to keep Ripken in the minor leagues through 1981, but with the need to improve in the second half of the 1981 season, they called him up on August 7. Ripken played just 23 games in his debut season.
Offered here is a rare true rookie example from Ripkens career. Ripken did not play a MLB game on the road until August 19th, when he pinch hit and recorded his first hit on the road as an Oriole. This likely is the jersey he wore that day. Inside the rear collar is the Wilson manufacturers tag size 44 with washing instructions. On the front left tail is a strip tag reading 80 1 embroidered in chain stitching. Across the chest reads Orioles in script style writing. Adjacent below and on the back is the player number 8.Across the back on a grey nameplate is the player name RIPKEN. All numbering and lettering is done in orange on black tackle twill. Ripken signed the front left tail of the jersey in black marker and has been graded by PSA/DNA a 9. This jersey was originally issued to Dave Skaggs in 1980.
The team replaced the original Skaggs plate with Ripken. Early photos show Ripken on the field in 1981 wearing a carried-over jersey from the prior season, which differs from Rawlings jerseys supplied by the club that year.
With Ripken being a late season call-up on August 7th, he was not a part of the team's original ordered set of jerseys. This jersey was re-issued to Ripken and in our opinion is the first road major league jersey of his historic Hall of Fame career. This jersey shows excellent use. Accompanied by a Full LOA from PSA/DNA, Certificate Of Authenticity from Grey Flannel, Photo Match as well as Mastro Net auctions. A truly historic piece of baseball memorabilia. We offer the finest in Sports Memorabilia and autographs. The item "Cal Ripken Jr 1981 Rookie Game Used Jersey Signed Earliest One Known PSA DNA COA" is in sale since Wednesday, May 13, 2020. This item is in the category "Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Game Used Memorabilia\Baseball-MLB\Jerseys". The seller is "showpiecessports" and is located in Deal, New Jersey. This item can be shipped to United States, Philippines, Cayman islands.