BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, DraftKings (Nasdaq: DKNG) announced the appointment of baseball legend and entrepreneur Cal Ripken Jr. as a special advisor to the board of directors. Ripken will lend strategic insights to the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer on key company initiatives and will become a DraftKings equity holder.
Ripken enjoyed a Hall of Fame Major League Baseball career and is one of only ten players in history with more than 3,000 hits and 400 home runs. He has won a World Series championship, two AL MVP Awards, two AL All-Star Game MVP Awards, two Gold Gloves, made 19 All-Star Game appearances and captured eight Silver Slugger Awards. However, he is most well known for his incredible streak of 2,632 consecutive games played which made him baseball’s all-time “Iron Man.” Since retiring from MLB after the 2001 season, Ripken transitioned into a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and corporate speaker.
“Cal Ripken Jr. embodies the qualities of perseverance and integrity we value so highly at DraftKings, and on behalf of the entire company I want to extend our warmest welcome to him as a special advisor,” said Jason Robins, CEO and co-founder of DraftKings. “We are inspired not only by Cal’s historic playing days, but also his current work to cultivate new generations of ballplayers. His unique combination of leadership, longevity and business acumen ensure that we will receive invaluable strategic counsel.”
Among other key business initiatives, Ripken will advise the DraftKings board of directors and Chief Executive Officer on company strategy, product development and marketing activities. Just in time for the upcoming 2021 MLB Opening Day, Ripken will begin his new role in familiar territory as baseball represents one of DraftKings’ most popular sports across both daily fantasy and sports betting.
“The game I played for so many years has greatly benefitted from technological advances, and I cannot say enough about DraftKings’ importance as a catalyst, innovator and disruptor to enhance the game for modern baseball fans and others,” said Cal Ripken Jr. “I am honored to bring my experience to DraftKings through this special advisor position and become part of a company that is already essential for fan engagement while still only scratching the surface of its full potential.”
Today, Ripken runs Ripken Baseball, a youth baseball business that operates four tournament and instruction destinations called “The Ripken Experience.” They are located his hometown of Aberdeen, MD; Myrtle Beach, SC; Pigeon Forge, TN; and Orlando, FL at Disney World. In addition, he has written several best-selling books and become a sought-after public speaker. Ripken also serves as a sports diplomacy envoy for the US Department of State and in that capacity has made goodwill trips to China, Japan, Nicaragua and the Czech Republic.
In 2001, the Ripken family established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to honor the family’s patriarch. Over the last two decades the foundation has grown nationally and has impacted over 10 million kids in underserved communities.
The foundation has constructed and donated 100 Youth Development Parks across the nation, as well as 65 STEM centers in elementary and middle schools to provide kids with safe places to play and learn. After construction, the Foundation remains involved in these communities through effective programs.
Ripken’s special advisor status is effective immediately. Further information about DraftKings is available at draftkings.com/about and the latest company updates are on Twitter at @DraftKingsNews.
About DraftKings
DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company created to fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming and digital media. Headquartered in Boston, and launched in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman, DraftKings is the only U.S.-based vertically integrated sports betting operator. DraftKings is a multi-channel provider of sports betting and gaming technologies, powering sports and gaming entertainment for 50+ operators in 17 countries. DraftKings’ Sportsbook is live with mobile and/or retail betting operations in the United States pursuant to regulations in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports product is available in 8 countries internationally with 15 distinct sports categories. DraftKings is the official daily fantasy partner of the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and the PGA TOUR as well as an authorized gaming operator of the NBA and MLB and an official betting operator of the PGA TOUR.
