Associated Press
Sunday, March 28, 1999; 7:47 p.m. EST

ABERDEEN, Md. – Members of the Ripken family greeted mourners Sunday as they paid their respects to Cal Ripken Sr., the father of future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and longtime member of the Baltimore Orioles.

More than 200 people attended the first day of a two-day viewing at the Tarring Cargo funeral home. Inside, they were greeted by Ripken Sr.'s wife Vi, his sons Cal Jr. and Bill, and his daughter Ellen.

Ripken Sr.'s death prevented Cal Ripken Jr. from participating in the historic game Sunday between the Orioles and the Cuban national team, which the Orioles won 3-2 in 11 innings.

The room was full of floral arrangements and mementos of Cal Ripken Sr.'s life, including a wedding photograph, family photos and pictures taken during his 36-year career as a minor league ballplayer and major league coach and manager.

Ripken Sr. died Thursday of lung cancer at 63. He will be buried Tuesday in a private ceremony at the Grace United Methodist Church in Aberdeen.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., was escorted by police into a private entrance. After meeting with the Ripken family, she remembered the contributions Ripken Sr. made to baseball and the community.

"Cal will be remembered for what he instilled in his family, in Baltimore and in all of us,'' said Mikulski. "Work hard, show up every day and always give it everything you've got.''

Most who came to say goodbye were fans and admirers of Ripken Sr. and his family. Tony Nemec, who drove from Baltimore with his stepson Brian, said the values Ripken Sr. lived in his life were passed on to his children.

"His kids are just like him – down to earth, not phony. They're real, honest people,'' he said.