From May 1982 to September 1998, Ripken didn’t miss a single ballgame. He broke Lou Gehrig’s previous standard of 2,130 straight games that stood for 56 years and then bettered it by 500 games, all while playing one of the game’s most demanding positions, shortstop, for most it. Only six players besides Ripken have played in more than 1,000 straight games. To best Ripken’s mark, a player would have to have perfect attendance for 16 years and then play a part of a 17th. Meanwhile, no active player has more than even 300 straight games played.