Cal Ripken Jr. to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Ripken Jr. fans. Speculation had been rife that Iron Man of baseball is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 66, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 07/11/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a baseball player isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a baseball player just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouCal

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouCal was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Cal Ripken Jr. was unlike any other baseball player we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouCal”
— @universalObserver, 6 Nov 2026

“I thought Cal Ripken Jr. retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 6 Nov 2026

© 2026 MediaMass All rights reserved. Do not reproduce (even with permission).

Celebrity Central