Ryan Minor, former Orioles infielder who replaced Cal Ripken Jr. to end Iron Man streak, dies from colon cancer at 49
Ryan Minor, whose start at third base for the Orioles on Sept. 20, 1998, ended Cal Ripken Jr.’s record consecutive games streak, died Friday of stage 4 colon cancer. He was 49.
“He truly was the best twin brother you can ask for,” his twin brother, Damon, wrote on social media. “His family and I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support during this time.”
Minor, who also coached and managed in Baltimore’s minor league system for more than a decade, was diagnosed with the disease late last year. Damon, also a former major leaguer, posted on social media last month that Ryan entered hospice care at home after doctors at Johns Hopkins determined there were no longer treatment options. Minor resided in Salisbury with his wife, Allyson, and their two daughters, Regan and Finley.
Minor played parts of four major league seasons, batting .177 in 142 games. He spent 1998 to 2000 with the Orioles after they drafted him in 1996 out of the University of Oklahoma, where he starred in both baseball and basketball. Standing at 6 feet 7, he was a member of the Sooners’ 1994 national champion baseball team and was the Big Eight Conference’s co-Player of the Year in basketball in 1995.
Minor ended his brief professional basketball career when the Orioles invited him to spring training in 1997. Promoted straight from Double-A as a 24-year-old, he made his major league debut with a pinch-hit single on Sept. 13, 1998.
A week later, Ripken walked into manager Ray Miller’s office before the Orioles’ final home game of the season and said he wouldn’t be playing, ending his streak at 2,632 games. When Miller informed Minor his second start in the majors would come in Ripken’s place, the rookie replied, “Does he know?”
Minor went 1-for-4 in the game and was swarmed with phone calls afterward.
“It seems just like yesterday,” Minor said in 2009. “Every new city, every new town we go to, somebody wants to come up and talk about it, and I enjoy talking about it. I was just fortunate to be in the situation and a place where the manager had the opportunity to put me in the game. … It’s all about timing. It was such a big night for Cal, and I was just a footnote to it.”
Once viewed as a potential long-term successor to Ripken, Minor was traded to the Montreal Expos before the 2001 season, which proved to be his last in the majors. He returned to the Orioles organization in 2008 as the hitting coach with Low-A Delmarva, serving as the manager of either the Shorebirds or High-A Frederick Keys from 2010 to 2019. He managed in the Detroit Tigers’ system the following two years.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former third baseman and longtime minor league manager Ryan Minor, who courageously fought cancer,” the Orioles said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan’s family and friends at this time.”
Ripken shared a message on Minor’s passing on the social media platform X on Saturday morning.
“Ryan and I shared a wonderful moment but I’ll always remember him as a friend and a terrific teammate,” Ripken’s message read. “He made a positive impact on everyone who knew him. His family is in my thoughts at this very difficult time.”
During his time as a minor league manager, Minor coached several players who in 2023 contributed to Orioles’ American League East-winning team, including Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, John Means, Mike Baumann and DL Hall.
Shortly after Minor’s diagnosis, former Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini, then with the Houston Astros, honored Minor during the Stand Up To Cancer moment in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series. Mancini, who missed the 2020 season receiving treatment for stage 3 colon cancer, spent part of the 2014 season with Minor at Delmarva.
“I’ve been talking to him and just wanted to let him know I was thinking about him, and I know what he’s going through,” Mancini told reporters before the game.
