Baltimore.Orioles.MLB.com

By Jeff Seidel / Special to MLB.com

Cal Ripken Jr. and Brady Anderson share a laugh Saturday. (Nick Wass/AP)

He arrived at Oriole Park at Camden Yards just before 8 a.m. ET Saturday to help the umpires prepare for the game with Toronto. Tyler worked at tasks like rubbing mud on the baseballs, as usual, and doing his daily job.

In fact, he was still doing work in the umpires' room while about 43 members of his family sat across the hall eating a celebratory meal. The reason? Tyler and long-time Orioles favorite Brady Anderson were both about to be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame.

Tyler finally was able to stop and went with his family out on to the field for the pregame ceremony where both he and Anderson were honored as part of the team's Hall of Fame weekend. The Orioles gave Tyler the Herb Armstrong Award, given to non-uniformed personnel who've made a significant contribution to the ballclub, community or sport of baseball.

"It's a tremendous honor," Tyler said just before the ceremony. "It doesn't really fit until right now. I just think it's a super honor."

Tyler just turned 80 earlier this season, has 11 children and been a part of Orioles baseball for much of the team's half-century in Baltimore. He's spent much of his time as the umpires attendant and being the man fans saw sitting on a stool by the dugout who runs out and hands umpires baseballs.

He's also now worked in 3,587 straight games, dating back to Opening Day, 1960.

"We both know who the true ironman is in Baltimore," said Orioles Hall of Fame member Cal Ripken Jr. during the ceremony.

Ripken was part of a star-studded cast on the field at Oriole Park to honor Anderson and Tyler. Several members of the club's Hall of Fame -- like Earl Weaver, Boog Powell, Mike Flanagan, Rick Dempsey, and others -- were on the field on the overcast afternoon for the ceremony.

Jim Palmer also was on stage and said that everyone who worked with the Orioles enjoyed dealing with Tyler.

"It's great to see that smiling face," Palmer said. "He has so many [friends]."

Anderson also was very popular, but in a different way. The fans loved his hard-driving, aggressive style of play. It took him a few years to find a niche after the Orioles acquired him from Boston in 1988, but Anderson finally got his shot as a leadoff hitter in 1992 -- and stayed there for a long time.

Anderson showed power, setting the team record for homers in a season with 50. He also showed speed, now the team's career leader in steals with 307. But the key about Anderson was he could make all of his talents work at once -- the true test of a great athlete.

Ripken introduced Anderson during the induction ceremony and talked eloquently about his close friend's athletic ability.

"When I think of Brady, I can't help but think of his athleticism," Ripken said. "He was by far the best athlete I've ever been around. He was challenged on the field and off the field ... and competed in everything he did. He wanted to win at everything he did."

Anderson played for the Orioles from 1988 until 2001 and was a three-time All-Star and remains among the franchise leaders in many offensive categories. He did things his way, like showing up for the ceremony dressed simply in an open shirt and blue jeans, but took much of his speech Saturday to thank the fans who cheered for him for so long.

"It was a thrill playing in such a great ballpark," Anderson said. "Perhaps I did not acknowledge you as much as I [should have], but many times I just wanted to jump into the stands and shake your hands. My only regret was that I was not formally able to say good-bye to you. I'd like to do that now."

Anderson turned 40 earlier this year but remains in very good shape, working out on a regular basis, and still thinks about whether trying a comeback is an option.

"I think about it all the time," he said afterwards.

But then he left the field to watch the game that started a few minutes later. And what did Tyler do less than 30 minutes after being inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame?

He went back to work, of course.

Jeff Seidel is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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