Cal Ripken Jr. calls his mom ‘tough’ in wake of kidnapping

Cal Ripken Jr. called his mother’s kidnapping bizarre but said she is a “tough, strong woman” who is resuming her daily routine.

In his first public comments on the subject Friday, the Baltimore Orioles’ Hall of Famer said that the police and his family have few answers as to why his 74-year-old mother, Vi, was abducted at gunpoint from her house and driven around for nearly 24 hours before being left unharmed in her car near her Aberdeen, Md., home.

“It’s bizarre in many ways,” Ripken said. “Mom, by and large, is a tough, strong woman. She’s been able to endure this.”

Police have released few details of the abduction. Ripken said it appears the culprits planned the kidnapping but had no knowledge that she was the mother of a famous baseball player. There was no ransom demand. Police did release a sketch of a suspect as well as video pulled from a surveillance camera at a store.

Ripken said his mom has been “talking nonstop” about the kidnapping and has resumed many of her daily activities, including attending events such as games of the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a minor league team owned by Ripken, visiting the beauty salon and watching her granddaughter play sports.

Ripken’s mother has not returned to her home, though, choosing instead to stay with family.

“This is very uncomfortable, no doubt about it,” Ripken said. “The set of circumstances ... doesn’t feel good. “

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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