Cal Ripken visits Maine

OAKLAND – Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. took a turn on the pitcher’s mound to lob a few balls as part of a home run derby fundraiser.

Baseball’s Iron Man also took a few swings himself during the two-hour derby Sunday under misty central Maine skies at a ballpark in Oakland that has a green monster modeled after the one at Boston’s Fenway Park.

The 48-yar-old former Baltimore Oriole was asked if the Little Fenway outfield wall brought back any haunting memories. Ripken said Fenway’s green monster actually makes a player want to take some extra batting practice.

A dozen businesses paid $2,500 entry fees to participate in the derby.