Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994                   TAG: 9402100113
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE                                LENGTH: Medium

RIPKEN HONORED FOR HR RECORD - 7 MONTHS LATE

Ripken won a game for the Baltimore Orioles by hitting a homer off Minnesota's Scott Erickson last July 15th. Nearly seven months later, the Orioles finally got around to acknowledging his place in the baseball record book.

The problem was that no one, not even Ripken, knew the significance of the solo blast at the time. It was his 278th as a shortstop, but the Orioles figured that Ripken still needed 15 homers to tie Ernie Banks' record of 293.

Four years ago, however, the Elias Sports Bureau, baseball's official record keeper, discovered that Banks had been credited with 16 homers at shortstop that he had actually hit while playing first base.

The Orioles didn't find out about the change until recently and finally got around to commemorating Ripken's feat Wednesday.

Banks joined the fun, presenting Ripken with congratulations and a signed bat.

The Orioles also announced that the spot where the ball landed in the left-field stands would be marked by an orange seat.

Ripken, who has received more than enough attention during his outstanding career, was thankful that he earned the record without having to endure a media onslaught prior to the feat.

"Sometimes the individual accomplishments embarrass me a little bit," he said.

"I'm kind of glad it wasn't recognized at the time. That would have put more pressure on me. ... I probably wouldn't have hit another homer the rest of the season. What happened was that I was able to sneak up on Ernie without anyone knowing it."

Ripken, who started his career at third base, now has 297 career homers - 289 as a shortstop. Banks hit 277 of his 512 homers at the position.

Banks was gracious about losing his record and kiddingly made a reference to the Tonya Harding incident.

Holding the bat he presented to Ripken, Banks said, "I'm not going to hit him on the knee for breaking my record. ... I'm just so happy that he broke the record because it gave me a chance to come and be remembered, too."