Ripken denies abusive hazing of Gregg Zaun
Cal Ripken denies he ever beat up Gregg Zaun for hazing purposes, or any other reasons. (USATSI)
Gregg Zaun told some pretty far-out stories this past week about being hazed as a young player with the Baltimore Orioles 20 years ago, and how Hall of Famer Cal Ripken was the ring leader of the disciplinary committee. Upon reflecting, Zaun wasn’t angry — rather grateful — saying that veteran players did him a favor by disciplining him physically in order to keep him humble. Zaun, now an analyst on Blue Jays broadcasts, related these tales during an interview on Canada’s “Prime Time Sports,” in which he said contemporary clubhouses lacked such attitudes, and it was costly when developing young players.
The elephant in the room was Zaun describing Ripken as something of a tyrant, one who literally beat him up at times.
Ripken responded Monday, saying that nothing like what Zaun described happened. Further, Ripken said that Zaun apologized to him for using the “wrong words.”
Via the School of Roch on MASN, Ripken added:
“There was no abuse, there was no hazing. It doesn’t do anything for team unity. He knows that and everybody who knows me knows that.”
I spoke to other veterans on those teams who stated that rookie hazing never took place and Ripken never drew an imaginary line at the back of the plane to prevent young players from entering. In fact, he would invite them to the rear of the charter to learn how to clean blue crabs, which he’d occasionally provide on flights.
That’s an odd anecdote — and strangely specific — about inviting players to the back of the plane to clean blue crabs. Anyway, another player Zaun named as an aggressor, Brady Anderson, describes himself as being “anti-hazing,” then and now:
“I never did that to anyone,” Anderson said. “I don’t believe in rookie hazing or status based on tenure and that nonsense. Hated it then and wouldn’t put up with it as a rookie, and certainly didn’t carry on a tradition I thought was absurd.
“I didn’t do it and wouldn’t allow it done to me. I’ve always felt that it’s hard enough to feel comfortable as a rookie and a veteran’s job was to include them and make them feel a part of the team. We want them to perform and help us win games and I never understood how being dismissive of them or dressing them up in silly costumes was a logical path to that desired outcome.”
That’s about as straightforward of a denial as one can make.
Zaun blamed others in the media for twisting his words but also, in responding to the controversy he created himself, Zaun sounded sorry for bringing it up:
Gregg Zaun. (USATSI)
“I’m a storyteller and I was trying to be funny. I never felt that I was excluded. I felt part of the team, not ostracized. I apologize for any drama that I caused.”
What’s the truth here?
Ripken says there was no abuse, no bullying, and that hazing doesn’t work. Brady Anderson says he didn’t do any of what Zaun suggested, and while he despises hazing, he doesn’t say it didn’t happen at the hands of other players. Zaun didn’t really recant his anecdotes — he merely emphasized that he didn’t mean for them to be construed as negative. He might have been looking for attention, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t abused. Zaun’s stories still potentially could tarnish Ripken’s legacy, if anyone corroborated them. But don’t expect anyone to do that anytime soon, if ever.
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