From One Iron Man To Another

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By Adam Kilgore

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 27, 2007; Page E06

BALTIMORE, July 26 -- Ernie Tyler first came to work for the Baltimore Orioles as the umpires' attendant on Opening Day in 1960. "If you can get up and walk, sure, you can go to work," Tyler said. "That's all I had in mind."

Tyler has not missed a single day in the 47 years since, having brought clean balls from the dugout to home plate in 3,760 consecutive Orioles home games. But he'll get day a off -- two, actually -- this weekend. Cal Ripken invited Tyler to Cooperstown, N.Y., to watch his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tyler, 83, accepted without hesitation. "Honestly, I never felt anything about having the streak, except everybody kept talking about it," Tyler said.

Tyler met Ripken when Cal was 13, tagging along with his father, Cal Ripken Sr., to the park. Like the Ripkens, the Tylers are a family ingrained in the franchise. Tyler has raised 11 children; nine have worked with the team in some capacity.

After working Friday, Tyler will ride in a limo to Cooperstown on Saturday morning. He'll return to work for the Seattle Mariners series Aug. 7.

On Thursday, he trained someone else to do his job. "There's not a hell of a lot to learn, really," Tyler said. "You just take the balls out."

Ray Out More Than a Month

Closer Chris Ray will miss five weeks at best, interim manager Dave Trembley said, because of a sprain of the medial ligament in his right elbow. The severity of the injury will be determined later this week, when Ray undergoes an MRI arthrogram. If the procedure shows worse damage than expected, Ray could miss more time. . . .

The Orioles will complete their June 28 rain-delayed game against the Yankees on Friday. The game will begin with the Yankees batting in the top of the eighth, leading 8-6 with Derek Jeter on second and two outs.

UP NEXT Today vs. Yankees7:05 p.m. Guthrie (6-3, 2.88) vs. Pettitte (6-6, 4.12) MASN Tomorrow vs. Yankees7:05 p.m. Burres (4-4, 4.33) vs. Clemens (3-4, 3.72) WJZ-13, MASN2