On September 6th, 1995,  Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive Major League game to surpass Lou Gehrig’s 56-year record. Ripken received a 22-minute standing ovation and went 2-for-4, including a homer, in the Oriole’s 4-2 win over the Angels.

It is difficult for me to believe that 30 years have already passed since that day in 1995 that Cal Ripken broke what had seemed at one time to be one of baseball’s most unbreakable records. But so it is. And so time moves.

I am actually writing this post for September 6th on July 29th. It is the morning after Hall-of-Famer 2B and fellow 1990s Icon Ryne Sandberg passed.

Since both Ripken (who is still with us) and Sandberg are the same age that I am, I am feeling keenly today the passing of Time.

Both Ripken and Ryno made their debuts in 1981 when we were all 21 years of age. Both had careers long enough to see me through from being a college kid, to my first job, to being married, to having two daughters. Both are on my list of best players I ever got to see play in person.

I was at the game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome when Ripken played in his 2000th consecutive game. And Ryno is the Major League player I have had the longest conversation with.

30 years. A blip and an eon. Time moves on.