Orioles fans may not know much about new owner David Rubenstein. But they’re very familiar with one of his co-owners.
After 30 years of ownership, the Angelos family has agreed to sell the team to a group headlined by Rubenstein, a local private equity billionaire and founder of the Carlyle Group, and Michael Arougheti, also a private equity billionaire.
But the most prominent name in the new group is Cal Ripken Jr., the Hall of Fame shortstop who played all 21 seasons of his career with the Orioles, winning two MVP awards and a World Series while making 19 All-Star teams and playing in 2,632 consecutive games.
It’s not clear what role Ripken will have with the team, but he provides some stability with what has been a chaotic situation under control person John Angelos, who took over for his father Peter as he approached his 90th birthday.
Angelos hinted at raising prices and keeping payroll low for his 101-win team, while also fighting off a lawsuit from his own brother, who alleged that John was stalling on the team’s sale and planning to move the team to Nashville. The team also had trouble resolving its stadium lease.
But if they were looking for stability, no one was more stable than Ripken. Fans may have feared the Orioles moving, but Ripken never moved from the Orioles starting lineup. The most he’d relocate himself was a few steps to his right, from shortstop to third base. John Angelos rarely spoke to the media. Ripken was available at least 162 games a year, if not more. And he’s never been sued by his brother, Billy.
The Orioles are keeping their roots in Baltimore, especially with an Iron Man invested in the team.
