Ripken (dog)

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Ripken (August 1, 2016 – January 1, 2025) was a black Labrador retriever known as Ripken the Bat Dog. He was born in Boise, Idaho, and named after Cal Ripken Jr. He weighed about 70 pounds.

Ripken worked as a bat and tee retriever for sports teams in North Carolina. He started with the Holly Springs Salamanders in 2019, then moved to the Durham Bulls in 2020, and later joined the NC State Wolfpack football program in 2021. His main jobs were to fetch bats after hits and to retrieve kicking tees after kickoffs. He even wore a GoPro so fans could watch his point of view during games.

Ripken was owned by Michael O'Donnell and his wife Melissa. O'Donnell runs the Sit Means Sit dog training franchises in Apex and Charlotte. Ripken began training as a puppy and later appeared in commercials for the family business.

He gained national attention through social media, with many videos going viral. He was a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2022 and even appeared on ice with the Carolina Hurricanes in February 2023, dropping the ceremonial first puck. Ripken also helped at events with other Carolina teams, including the Panthers and a bowl game in Orlando.

In 2024, Ripken worked at about 14 Durham Bulls home games and in other events with NC State. He continued to be a popular figure with fans, posting photos and videos to share his work.

Ripken passed away on January 1, 2025, at age 8, due to an undiagnosed medical condition. Many teams and fans offered condolences, and there was talk of building a statue of him on the NC State campus. After his death, another dog named Champ began training to take over his duties, and by March 2025 Champ was set to become the new official bat dog for the Durham Bulls.

Ripken left a big legacy online and in the sports world. He had hundreds of thousands of followers across social media, and he appeared on Topps baseball cards, plush toys, and team merchandise. His work helped shine a fun spotlight on bat dogs in sports.