It's the Aberdeen IRONbirds, not Firebirds I believe and yes Cal lives just outside of the Aberdeen town limits (or he did, it's been about 11 years since I was last in the town).....
oops, I meant Ironbirds, sorry! :) And I saw them beat the Vermont Lake Monsters at Burlington, VT last night.
OK on Ripken; during radio coverage of Red Sox-Orioles tonight, they said the Ripken family owns the team.
(I was typing fast as usual--was doing pay-by-the-minute at a Kinko's! :) )