--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was nothing to keep him (Cal…" description: "\"There was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being a star in the Major Leagues. That was inevitable.\" — Earl Weaver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/earl-weaver-16587_baseball_there-was-nothing-to-keep-him-cal-ripken_524139.png" --- # There was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being… ![“There was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being a star in the Major Leagues. That was inevitable.” quote by Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/earl-weaver-16587_baseball_there-was-nothing-to-keep-him-cal-ripken_524139.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/earl-weaver-16587_baseball_there-was-nothing-to-keep-him-cal-ripken_524139.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/earl-weaver-16587_baseball_there-was-nothing-to-keep-him-cal-ripken_524139.png) > “There was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being a star in the Major Leagues. That was inevitable.” [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Talent and opportunity align inevitably; given chance, success follows naturally **In simple terms:** Opportunity leads to inevitable success Key Takeaway Recognize and seize opportunities Themes achievement inevitability sports motivation Mood optimistic confident Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career advancement - team sports - personal goals - business ventures Key Concepts Opportunity determinism performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities have you overlooked? - How can you prepare to capitalize on inevitable chances? A Different Perspective Even with opportunity, effort and preparation are crucial ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Cal ripken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cal-ripken/) [Major league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/major-league/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone with talent can play in the Major Leagues; for someone like me to stay around as long as I did, I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/anyone-with-talent-can-play-in-the-major-leagues-for-someone-like-me/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [Well, I wanted to play twenty years in the major leagues. I never made it twenty though. I played nineteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-campaneris/well-i-wanted-to-play-twenty-years-in-the-major-leagues-i-never-made/) [Bert Campaneris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-campaneris/) > [I was very nervous, excited, and happy to be given the opportunity to even be in the major leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bengie-molina/i-was-very-nervous-excited-and-happy-to-be-given-the-opportunity-to/) [Bengie Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bengie-molina/) > [But baseball bounced back in the next decade to reclaim its place as the national pastime: new heroes, spirited competition, and booming prosperity gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thorn/but-baseball-bounced-back-in-the-next-decade-to-reclaim-its-place-as/) [John Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thorn/) > [There's a lot of disrespect in the major leagues. I believe that the disrespect in the major leagues is at a high rate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bengie-molina/there-s-a-lot-of-disrespect-in-the-major-leagues-i-believe-that-the/) [Bengie Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bengie-molina/) > [Dear Mr. Kuhn, After twelve years in the major leagues, I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-flood/dear-mr-kuhn-after-twelve-years-in-the-major-leagues-i-do-not-feel/) [Curt Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-flood/) > [I perform in the major leagues of what I do. It's incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-perform-in-the-major-leagues-of-what-i-do-it-s-incredible/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I had some tough times. Now that I look back on it, I'm very grateful for those times. I know now that I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-holliday/i-had-some-tough-times-now-that-i-look-back-on-it-i-m-very-grateful/) [Matt Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-holliday/) > [Not many people get to the major leagues and succeed right away. There are some struggles. Everyone seems to struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/not-many-people-get-to-the-major-leagues-and-succeed-right-away-there/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [I'd rather play in the major leagues and have some bad games than play consistently good ball in the minors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-d-rather-play-in-the-major-leagues-and-have-some-bad-games-than/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [If you got a hit every third time that you went up to bat in the major leagues, you'd be the greatest hitter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/if-you-got-a-hit-every-third-time-that-you-went-up-to-bat-in-the/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [When you start out in this business, the Hall of Fame is not what you're thinking about. You think all you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-greenwald/when-you-start-out-in-this-business-the-hall-of-fame-is-not-what-you/) Hank Greenwald > [Letting him manage in the major leagues is like sending Bo Derek through cellblock A without a bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/letting-him-manage-in-the-major-leagues-is-like-sending-bo-derek/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [I don't see anyone playing in the major leagues today (1982) who combines both the talent and the intensity that I had. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-don-t-see-anyone-playing-in-the-major-leagues-today-1982-who/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [I'm just enjoying playing baseball in the major leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-holliday/i-m-just-enjoying-playing-baseball-in-the-major-leagues/) [Matt Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-holliday/) ## More by Earl Weaver > [The key step for an infielder is the first one, to the left or right, but before the ball is hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-key-step-for-an-infielder-is-the-first-one-to-the-left-or-right/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Momentum is only as good as tomorrow's starting pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/momentum-is-only-as-good-as-tomorrow-s-starting-pitcher/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get a hold of one, Frank,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/my-best-game-plan-is-to-sit-on-the-bench-and-call-out-specific/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [A manager's job is simple. For one hundred sixty-two games you try not to screw up all that smart stuff your organization did last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/a-manager-s-job-is-simple-for-one-hundred-sixty-two-games-you-try-not/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [The job of arguing with the umpire belongs to the manager, because it won't hurt the team if he gets thrown out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-job-of-arguing-with-the-umpire-belongs-to-the-manager-because-it/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [No one's gonna give a damn in July if you lost a game in March.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/no-one-s-gonna-give-a-damn-in-july-if-you-lost-a-game-in-march/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [The guy who says, 'I love the challenge of managing,' is one step from being out of a job. I don't welcome any challenge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-guy-who-says-i-love-the-challenge-of-managing-is-one-step-from/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Momentum? Momentum is the next day's starting pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/momentum-momentum-is-the-next-day-s-starting-pitcher/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [The only thing that matters is what happens on the little hump out in the middle of the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-what-happens-on-the-little-hump-out-in/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [The key step for an infielder is the first one, but before the ball is hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-key-step-for-an-infielder-is-the-first-one-but-before-the-ball-is/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [In baseball, you can't kill the clock. You've got to give the other man his chance. That's why this is the greatest game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/in-baseball-you-can-t-kill-the-clock-you-ve-got-to-give-the-other-man/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/i-became-an-optimist-when-i-discovered-that-i-wasn-t-going-to-win-any/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Some have said that I can accept inadequacies in my players but not in umpires. That completely misses the point. I can't tolerate anyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/some-have-said-that-i-can-accept-inadequacies-in-my-players-but-not/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [I don't think, in all the years I managed them, I ever spoke more than thirty words to Frank and Brooks Robinson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/i-don-t-think-in-all-the-years-i-managed-them-i-ever-spoke-more-than/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/don-t-worry-the-fans-don-t-start-booing-until-july/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) [Explore all 39 Earl Weaver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being a star in the Major Leagues. 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