The 1992 Upper Deck #355 Cal Ripken Jr card is one of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards of all-time. It captures Ripken during his memorable consecutive games streak where he became known for his legendary durability and work ethic playing in over 2,000 straight games.
Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. was born in August 1960 in Havre de Grace, Maryland and grew up a Baltimore Orioles fan. He quickly developed into a standout player and was the Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 1978. Ripken made his MLB debut in 1981 and slowly became an everyday player for the Orioles over the next few seasons.
By the late 1980s, Ripken had emerged as the Orioles’ franchise player and perennial All-Star. In 1982, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award and then in 1983 helped lead the Orioles to a World Series title. What Ripken is most famous for, however, is his iconic consecutive games played streak which began on May 30, 1982. Over the next 15-plus seasons, Ripken took the field day in and day out establishing himself as the epitome of Iron Man consistency in professional sports.
On September 6, 1995, Ripken finally broke Lou Gehrig’s supposedly unbreakable record of 2,130 straight games played in a row. The game where Ripken broke the record was played at Camden Yards in Baltimore and witnessed by a sold-out crowd and a national television audience eager to take part in history. President Bill Clinton was in attendance to congratulate Ripken. It was one of the most memorable individual achievements in baseball lore cementing Ripken as one of the greatest shortstops and players in MLB history.
Released in 1992, the Upper Deck #355 Cal Ripken Jr card perfectly captures Ripken during the early stages of his historic streak when he was closing in on Gehrig’s record. The card art depicts a clean-shaven Ripken in his classic Orioles uniform with ball cap turned backwards taking practice cuts in the batting cage. In the background, the iconic B&O Warehouse that stands beyond the right field wall at Camden Yards can be seen — a fitting tribute to Ripken’s home ballpark and hometown roots in Baltimore.
Upper Deck did an excellent job with the photography, image quality and card design/production for their inaugural 1992 baseball set when the company revolutionized the trading card industry. The Ripken stood out for capturing a bigger than life athlete doing the day-to-day work to establish himself among the greats of the game. The card was hugely popular upon its release as Ripken mania was taking off in Baltimore and across MLB.
In the decades since its release, the 1992 Upper Deck #355 Cal Ripken Jr has grown to become one of the most iconic baseball cards ever made. Its impeccable condition and capturing Ripken at the peak of his career during one of the most impressive individual feats in sports history has made it hugely desirable for collectors. In top gem mint condition, examples have sold for over $10,000 setting record prices for a standard base card of Ripken not considered among his higher numbered, rare parallels.
Besides its historical significance, the card is also highly collectible due to Upper Deck’s premium product quality, iconic retro design aesthetic and huge popularity among early 1990s collectors. The 1992 Upper Deck set remains one of the most storied in the industry revolutionizing the market and prices baseball cards could demand. While mass produced, examples that have survived 30 years in top condition command small fortunes.
To this day, Ripken remains one of the most beloved athletes in Baltimore sports history for his selfless dedication to the Orioles franchise. His consecutive games record may never be broken in today’s era of specialized pitching staffs and strict injury management. The 1992 Upper Deck #355 perfectly depicts Ripken in his prime during the pursuit of immortality that ensconced him among MLB’s icons. For collectors and fans of the period, it is the definitive Ripken card capturing a peak moment from one of baseball’s true Iron Men.
