Brooks. Cal. Surnames are superfluous for the two Hall of Famers who, together, led the Orioles for parts of six decades.
Friday night, Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr. shared the stage at the 13th annual Aspire Gala at the Waterfront Marriott. There, 780 guests who paid $1,000 apiece stood in an interminable serpentine line to shake hands and swap banter with The Human Vacuum Cleaner and The Iron Man. Some ladies offered hugs and kisses. For Annabelle Rossow, of Minnesota, a moment with the Orioles icons marked the perfect end to her 13th birthday.