A-Rod praises Ripken on day Cal's statue is unveiled

Cal Ripken Jr.'s impact on the game of baseball is immeasurable. During his career, he touched the lives of fans around the world and inspired a generation of players.

Ripken's reach was never more evident than on Thursday, when his statue was unveiled outside of Camden Yards. The event sparked plenty of discussion among fans about the Iron Man's impact, as well as reactions from current players.

"I came up idolizing and admiring Cal Ripken," said Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who also made the move from shortstop to third base midway through his career. "I always said to myself, if Cal can do it, so can I."

"Growing up, I had a poster in my bedroom of him. He's always been my favorite and my mother's favorite."

-- Whitney Holtzman / MLB.com