A Da Yi student reads a letter she wrote to American Public Diplomacy Envoy Cal Ripken

In his first trip as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy, Cal Ripken Jr. conducted a four city, eight day whirlwind visit to China October 28 - November 6, 2007. During the visit, Ripken conducted eleven baseball clinics for 800 Chinese youth and 200 baseball coaches, met with officials of the Chinese Baseball Association and the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, toured the new Olympic baseball stadium Wukesong and gave countless interviews to the Chinese and international press.

"With fun you build trust and in the end we are making friends, this was a wonderful trip from a friendship perspective" said Ripken and whether in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuxi or Guangzhou, he brought smiles to the faces of the youthful audiences with his introductory version of baseball called Quickball, appreciation for his expert baseball instruction from the adult coaches, and admiration for his openness from the press.

Helping Ripken conduct the clinics in each city were BJ Surhoff, Ripken's former Orioles teammate, Scott Lowe and Chris Flannery from Ripken's baseball academy, Rick Dell from Major League Baseball and the twelve Chinese coaches who had attended a summer coaching clinic sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at Ripken's Academy in Aberdeen, Maryland.

In Beijing, Ripken conducted Quickball clinics at Xidan Elementary School for 150 students and Guang Ai School for 100 young students who were orphans or migrant children as well as a baseball clinic for 40 coaches at the Fengtai Sports Center and a baseball skills clinic for 40 youth at the Da Cheng School. While in Shanghai and Wuxi, Ripken ran a baseball clinic for 50 coaches at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and another for 60 coaches at Wuxi Xi Shan District Youth Sports School as well as a Quickball clinic at Fu Sheng Elementary School for 200 students and another Quickball clinic at Wuxi Xi Shan District Youth Sports School for 140 students. Finally, in Guangzhou, Ripken conducted a baseball clinic for 50 coaches at the PeiZheng Middle School and another baseball clinic for 50 students at the Zhu Shou Xiang Elementary School. He finished the program with a Quick Ball clinic for 120 rural students at Fu Peng Migrant School.

Mr. Tian Yuan, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Baseball Authority (CBA) stated that "we call baseball the wisdom sport" and that "baseball has become like music, a cultural bridge". The CBA was very impressed with Ripken and his approach to baseball and they have invited him to return to China. They are also considering sending a Chinese youth team to the Cal Ripken World Series next summer in Aberdeen, Maryland.

As part of the public-private partnership between Ripken Baseball and the Department of State, Ripken Baseball donated Quickball sets to all of the schools and baseball equipment to each coaching site. Also at each clinic participants received a t-shirt and baseball cap along with gifts from Ripken corporate sponsors Flair baseball cards, wrist bands and Big League Chew.

In addition to the clinics Ripken's busy schedule included American Chamber of Commerce events, embassy meet and greets, the Marine Ball and a journey to the Great Wall.

Ripken's lasting impression from his first diplomatic foray was positive; "What I got from the trip was more rewarding to me then what I left behind. I got to see up close another culture and you think that you are teaching but you are actually getting a message back. I've become a better teacher, more well rounded. It was magical for me."