Cal Ripken to visit Connecticut cities to promote league

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. plans to visit two Connecticut cities where his foundation is helping to bring youth baseball to kids who would not otherwise get a chance to play.

The former Baltimore Orioles player is expected in Hartford on Wednesday and in Bridgeport on Thursday to meet with city officials and hold youth baseball clinics.

Hartford has teamed with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation to build three youth recreation parks designed to serve at-risk children. The foundation is currently helping build the Blackham School Youth Development Park in Bridgeport, which features three synthetic-turf baseball diamonds. One of those is a barrier-free adaptive field, designed to provide children with special needs a safe place to play.