Cal Ripken Jr.'s final game occurred on Saturday, October 6, 2001, at Camden Yards in Baltimore. To help commemorate the event, special bases were used in the game with each bearing his uniform number 8 painted on the top in the Orioles' black and orange colors. The number 8 also appeared on two sides of each base, with the other sides featuring, respectively, the Orioles team name and the MLB Logo. Presented here is one of the special Cal Ripken Jr. commemorative bases produced for use on that day, but which was never used in the game (it was an extra). Ripken has signed the base in gold paint pen (grading 7/10) on the top, while also adding the special notations "Ironman" and "2632 CG." Over 48,000 fans turned out that day to say goodbye to Ripken and the fact that he failed to get a hit in the team's 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox meant nothing to his adoring public. Following the game he made his rounds around the stadium in a Corvette to thunderous applause and then gave a humble and poignant speech, stating in part: "One question I’ve repeatedly been asked these last few weeks is how do I want to be remembered," he said. "My answer has been simple: to be remembered at all is pretty special." The base (15x15 x2") remains in Excellent to Mint condition.