The Department of State’s U.S. Diplomacy Center, along with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Sports Diplomacy office and Exchange Programs office, proudly hosted legendary Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and Foreign Service Officer Joel Ehrendreich, Sept. 18. As a sports envoy, Ripken has traveled the world to spread goodwill through baseball. At the event, he discussed how sports inspires future leaders on the field and brings people together. Ehrendreich added perspective on how he has used sports and baseball diplomacy on all his overseas assignments to help build friendships in diplomatic relations at the government level.
“Baseball is our American pastime. Baseball is almost uniquely ours,” said Ripken. “When you start playing baseball, a whole new level of communication happens, and friendship happens, just naturally.”
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Diplomacy Center
