What do Cal Ripken and Kevin Costner have in common? Considering they are from opposite sides of the professional realm, you would quickly conclude they have nothing to share. After all, Kevin is a renowned actor, and Cal is a baseball legend mostly known for breaking Lou Gehrig’s “Ironman” record for the most consecutive games ever played in the MLB. Interestingly, these two personalities have something in common, as they are central to one of the most bizarre conspiracy theories in the MLB. So, what is it all about, and is it true?
Conspiracy theory is a loaded term. Politicians have often used it to mock or dismiss allegations among them. Being disregarded means you will hardly ever know the truth behind such stories.
So, whether true or not, the bizarre story of Kevin Costner and Cal Ripken requires some diving into, and you can decide for yourself.
The Cal Ripken Jr and Kevin Costner’s story
Before delving into the story, you must understand the dynamics and get a bit of context. It will make more sense this way.
Cal, the multitalented baseball player, is one of a kind. He currently holds the record for the most MLB games played in a row. To put it into perspective, Carl played 2,632 games without missing a start.
Cal set the record for the most MLB games played on September 6, 1995 and ended the streak on September 9, 1998. It is hard to beat this record as it is challenging to have such a commitment. However, Kevin Costner and Cal’s long-standing rumour gives a different tale whereby this record would have been slightly lower.
Camden Yards power outage
On August 14, 1997, the lights wouldn’t turn on during a scheduled match between the Orioles and the Mariners. It was reported that the situation came about from a technical failure.
Then, Baltimore wanted to keep Cal’s streak alive and would have done it at all costs. Therefore, there is a rumour that the failing lights weren’t due to a technical problem but were intentional. The rumours state that it was a cover story. But for what? That is how the conspiracy theory involving Kevin and Cal came up.
Cal Ripken’s wife cheating
The story stated that Cal Ripken’s wife and Kevin Costner were caught in bed. Having seen them in bed, Cal and Kevin exchanged blows in an altercation. The theory states that Kevin got injured in the altercation and couldn’t attend the game.
How did Kevin and Cal get linked, considering they have different professions? The two met at the premiere of Dances with Wolves. They reportedly got fond of each other and became good friends.
Should you believe the Cal Ripken and Kevin Costner story?
As with all conspiracy theories, there are numerous loopholes and questions that no one can answer. First of all, it is incredibly ridiculous for such to happen, but of course, you cannot ignore it.
Another element that makes the story believable is that venues like Camden Yard have fail-safes in place, and you wouldn’t expect an outage to be a significant setback. That is why it seemed intentional and put some credibility on the conspiracy theory.
The decision to cancel the game while Cal extended his winning streak seemed fishy to sceptics who believed there was an alternative explanation.
Kevin Costner and Cal Ripken later publicly denied the rumour. Numerous witnesses saw Cal warming up on the field during the scheduled game. Therefore, there isn’t a reason to believe the rumours to be true. It is just a fun story to tell and likely nothing much.
Kevin said the following about the rumour:
I thought at first you guys were saying this was true, and if you were, I was going to take your heads off. If there is something alleged, I’d love to see someone come forward. No one will, because they don’t have the story to do it. There would be big money for a story like this, but it simply is not true.
Who is Kelly Ripken married to now?
Cal Ripken and Kelly were married from 1987 to 2016 and have two children together – a daughter, Rachel, and a son, Ryan. They reportedly separated a year before their divorce was made public.
Kelly Ripken has been living a low-key life after separating from Cal; whether she remarried or is currently dating is unclear.
Who is Cal Ripken dating
Cal and Laura Kiessling publicly dated for about a year and a half and tied the knot in 2018. Cal married the judge in October 2018, and Leara officially changed her name.
Who is Kevin Costner dating?
Kevin Costner is in a relationship with Jewel Kilcher, who is professionally known as Jewel. She is a renowned singer and songwriter. The singer was previously married to American cowboy Ty Murray in 2018 and has a son with him.
Final word
The Cal Ripken and Kevin Costner story is one of the most bizarre conspiracy theories in the MLB. It will remain one, as both parties have vehemently denied the rumours and have even gone further to ask anyone with evidence to come forward and corroborate.
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