AFSA is pleased to announce that Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, “Iron Man” Cal Ripken Jr., has joined the lineup as a keynote speaker for the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting & Independents Conference & Expo. Mr. Ripken will join the conference live for a “fireside chat,” and will take attendees’ questions.

Register today for the conference, which opens Tuesday, October 6th and runs through Thursday, October 8th with each day’s sessions running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. Each day will feature compelling keynotes, informative and interactive breakout sessions, and live virtual networking in our AFSA Expo Hall.

One of the true legends of baseball, “Iron Man” Cal Ripken, Jr. broke several professional records during his 21 seasons, but none is as sacred as his consecutive-games-played record.

Shattering Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,131 games by more than 500, Ripken displayed perseverance, endurance, and an everyday work ethic that endeared him to fans, transformed him into a national icon, and some argue, even saved baseball at its darkest moment.

Ripken shares how his keys to success apply to both the business world as well as the baseball field.

From his own philanthropy with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to building character and teaching critical life lessons to at-risk youth across the country, Ripken showcases how individuals can give back and create new opportunities for others. One of the most popular athletes of his generation, Cal Ripken, Jr.’s example inspires audience members of all ages to achieve their own brand of success.

Keynote Sponsor

A best-selling author, Ripken’s latest book, Just Show Up: And Other Enduring Values from Baseball’s Iron Man, shares his core values and principles for success – outlining eight rules for the game of baseball and life, drawn from the lessons he has learned on and off the field. He has written numerous other books on sports and parenting, including his New York Times best-selling autobiography, The Only Way I Know How, as well as a baseball-themed series of youth novels through Disney Book Group.

Using the platform that baseball has provided him, Ripken is dedicated to helping grow the game he loves worldwide. Today, he is the President of Ripken Baseball, a program aimed to inspire athletes through remarkable experiences. Ripken Baseball currently owns and operates minor league clubs, world-class youth baseball facilities, a memorabilia company, and a management and design company that builds state-of-the-art athletic complexes. Named Special Adviser to MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, on youth programs and outreach, he advises the MLB’s Youth Programs Department on strategies and initiatives designed to grow the sports of baseball and softball at the amateur and youth levels.

Ripken’s role as an ambassador for the game was taken to a new level when he was named as a special envoy for the U.S. State Department, traveling worldwide teaching baseball to children and representing the United States. In this role, he has traveled to Japan to spend time with children affected by the earthquake and tsunami as well the Czech Republic to advance the cause of baseball.