Oriole Who Replace Cal Ripken Jr. Loses Battle With Cancer

Ryan Minor was the player who took over at third base when Cal Ripken Jr. ended his consecutive game streak.

Ryan Minor, who played third base and was a minor league manager for the Baltimore Orioles, lost his battle with cancer and died on Friday. He was 49.

Minor was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 and entered hospice care last month.

Minor is best known to Orioles fans as the player that replaced Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. at third base at the end of Ripken’s MLB record consecutive games streak.

Ripken ended his streak on Sept. 20, 1998, having played 2,632 games. Minor started in his place at third base.

It was not the start of a Hall-of-Fame career for Minor, who ended up playing just 142 MLB games for the Orioles and the Montreal Expos. But he did carve out a role with the Orioles later in his career as a manager in its minor league system.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former third baseman and longtime minor league manager Ryan Minor, who courageously fought cancer,” the Orioles said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan’s family and friends at this time.”

He started coaching for the Delmarva Shorebirds in 2008, which at the time was the Orioles’ Class-A affiliate. He took over as manager in 2010, followed by a stint with High-A Frederick in 2013. He returned Delmarva from 2014-17 and assumed the reins at Frederick in 2018. The Orioles opted not to renew his contract after the 2018 season.

Delmarva retired Minor's jersey in 2023.

Minor managed in the Detroit Tigers’ system through the 2021 season.

Minor was a two-sport star at the University of Oklahoma, where he was an All-American in basketball and the Big 8 Player of the Year in 1995. In baseball, he helped the Sooners win the 1994 College World Series and was eventually selected in the 33rd round of the 1996 MLB draft by the Orioles. 

The Philadelphia 76ers also selected Minor in the second round that year.

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame recently announced that Minor would be part of its 2024 class of inductees.