Collector Hunts Final Tickets for Ripken Streak
Baltimore resident Rick Taylor seeks the final eight tickets to complete a historic 2,632-game set.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Collecting
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Collector Rick Taylor has amassed 2,624 tickets from Cal Ripken Jr.'s legendary 2,632-game consecutive play streak. He is now searching for the final eight missing stubs to complete the collection that spans 17 seasons.
Why it matters
The collection is rare because the specific games involved had low attendance, and the transition to digital ticketing makes gathering physical stubs for modern players nearly impossible. Completing the set would be a significant milestone in sports memorabilia preservation.
Rick Taylor is offering $100 per missing ticket to locate the final pieces of his collection, which is currently housed in 16 boxes. The completed set is estimated to reach a market value of more than $100,000.
The players
Rick Taylor
He is a Baltimore-based collector dedicated to acquiring physical tickets from every game of Cal Ripken Jr.'s historic consecutive game streak.
Cal Ripken Jr.
He is a legendary former Baltimore Orioles shortstop who played in a record-breaking 2,632 consecutive games.
The details
Taylor utilizes a Facebook group called Booger's Ticket Stubs and runs advertisements in The Baltimore Sun to source the remaining items from the games played between 1982 and 1998. Professional authentication services are used to verify the validity of every ticket in the project.
Timeline
The streak of consecutive games lasted from 1982 to 1998.
The first game of the streak occurred on May 30, 1982.
Taylor purchased the May 30, 1982, ticket in 1999 for $4,400.
Taylor acquired three tickets for the collection in 2025.
Taylor has acquired five tickets so far in 2026.
Culture Shift
This effort underscores the growing scarcity of physical sports memorabilia as teams across the country abandon paper stubs for digital-only access. It marks a departure from traditional fan experiences, where collecting physical proof of attendance was a standard practice.
Local fans with old stubs from the 1980s and 1990s may find their personal collections have significant market value. Collectors should ensure any potential trades are verified by professional authentication services before exchanging money or items.
The takeaway
Preserving physical artifacts from sporting events provides a tangible link to history that digital records cannot replicate. Fans should hold onto physical stubs as they continue to gain rarity and historical significance over time.
Further reading
Explore more about the hobby in the Collecting section.
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Should sports teams be required to offer physical tickets for fans who want them?
