Cal Ripken's '8' stolen from outside Md. ballpark

AP News | 2009-09-09 19:49:22

<div id="subtitle">Aluminum number 8 monument commemorating Cal Ripken is stolen from Md. ballpark, recovered</div><div><p>As if things weren't bad enough for the Baltimore Orioles, who just clinched their 12th consecutive losing season: On Wednesday, a temporary fence and police tape surrounded the spot that had been occupied by a monument to one of the team's all-time greats, Cal Ripken.</p><p>The large aluminum No. 8 outside the Camden Yards ballpark was stolen Tuesday night by four young men who were arrested about two hours later, Baltimore police said. The monument was recovered.</p><p>Surveillance cameras captured video of the men removing the 4-foot monument and placing it in the bed of a pickup truck, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.</p><p>Police put out an all-points bulletin, and the men were arrested in east Baltimore after officers responding to a disorderly conduct report spotted the object in the truck bed, Guglielmi said.</p><p>The Orioles have a series of aluminum monuments depicting retired uniform numbers outside one entrance to the downtown ballpark. They include Brooks Robinson's 5, Jim Palmer's 22 and Eddie Murray's 33.</p><p>The suspects were identified as Gary Parker, 19, of Baltimore; Matthew Rayner, 19, of Chase; Patrick Reynolds, 18, of Middle River; and Jason Stoneberner, 19, of Essex.</p><p>They were being held at the city's Central Booking and Intake Center on charges of felony theft and destruction of property, police said. There was no indication they had attorneys.</p><p>Police returned the monument to the Orioles on Wednesday after taking photos and examining it for evidence, Guglielmi said.</p><p>"I don't know if they'll be able to reuse it," he said.</p><p>Orioles spokesman Monica Barlow said the team had no comment about the theft because it was a police matter. She said she did not know when the monument would be reinstalled. The Orioles began a five-game road trip with a 10-0 drubbing by Boston Tuesday night, their 82nd loss of the season, and will return home Monday.</p><p>Ripken had no comment on the theft, said his spokesman, John Maroon.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=58389844&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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