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Cal Ripken Puts His SUV Up For Auction To Raise Money For Young Baseball Players

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- It's a piece of sports memorabilia on four wheels. Cal Ripken is giving up one of his favorite vehicles to a fan with the highest bid.

As Gigi Barnett explains, the SUV has a special place in the Hall of Famer's heart.

On the night Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's streak and wrote his name in history books, he drove a black 1994 Chevy Suburban to Camden Yards.

Seventeen years later-- and nearly 120,000 miles later-- Ripken says it's time to part ways. And he's giving it to the highest bidder.

"All those years the Orioles were in the playoffs, he's been behind the wheel. So, if you're a memorabilia collector or a Cal fan or baseball lover, it's a pretty unique piece of memorabilia," John Maroon, Cal Ripken's spokesman, said.

Inside Ripken's SUV is light grey leather. It's fully loaded. And after all these years, Ripken took good care of it.

"You're not getting a lemon here. It still runs like a dream," John Miller, owner of Miller Brothers Chevrolet in Ellicott City, said. "It's got ton of room. It's versatile and lasts forever."

And that's not just sales talk for Miller.

Ripken's truck sits on his lot, and the dealership won't be surprised if a lady takes the Hall of Famer's truck home.

"This is a family vehicle. As a matter of fact, probably 60 percent of our Suburbans today are women," Miller said.

The auction started on Aug. 16 and ends on Aug. 28. Ripken's team says money raised from the auction will pay for equipment and field maintenance for young players.

In addition to the truck, the lucky bidder gets to meet Cal Ripken and attend the unveiling of his statue at Camden Yards next month.

For more information about the SUV, click here.

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