The first "heavyweight" to play the position who proved, once and for all, that a big man could play short, if you had the right big man. The Baltimore Orioles had the right big man for some fifteen years without a break as Ripken eclipsed Lou Gehrig's seemimngly unbreakable record of consecutive games while playing this demanding position. Cal not only passed Lou's record, but he added another 400 or so games for good measure. He was solid, silent, led by example, and shone in nearly every area of the game. His defense was steady, and at times, spectacular. He was a great middle of the lineup hitter who could hit the long ball and drive in runs. Much like Gehrig, Ripken was a blue collar, lunch bucket player who never took pay for a job he didn't do. In an era of free agency nearly completely lacking in player loyalty to anything but the all mighty dollar, Cal Ripken Jr. was blast from the past and a sterling example that any father could point out to his son as someone that he should aspire to be like. We were all blessed to have witnessed number three play so well, so long, and with such dignity for so many years.

A tremendous player and his time in the league was good for the game itself. The worst thing that can be said about Ripken (as if this was some sort of an insult) is that he was not Honus Wagner.

I rate Cal and Honus Wagner as the best SS's ever. In his prime, Cal was the total package. A great bat and glove rivaled by no one in his hey day. Of course, his consecutive game streak only added to an already well-established legend. Even though A-Rod is currently playing 3rd base (he should be at SS anyway), I would consider him to be in Cal's league upon retirement.

Slightly, slightly overrated by some, but a very good hitter and fielder, and big for a shortstop, foreshadowing the Tejadas, Garciaparras, and A-Rods in that respect. Probably didn't deserve MVP in 91, after all, his club finished 6th out of 7 squads in the division, but did deserve the 83 one with the World Champs. Classy guy as well.

He was the overall package like Wagner. A great player moreso than shortstop, but that alone would qualify him for top billing on this list.

His longevity was the key. The man gave a solid performance day after day.

Probably one of the most overrated players of all time. He's a shoo-in Hall of Famer, but I'd rather have someone who plays 999 games out of 1,000 at an A+ level than someone who plays 1,000 games out of 1,000 at an A level.

Great, great player. Great, great human being.

3000 hits-most consecutive games

Ripken was a great offensive shortstop, when the position was still looked at as just a defensive position. Several of today's shortstops are better than Ripken was, but when judged by their competition, Ripken was better. And he also played in a lot of games without a day off i think.