DURHAM, N.C. (AP) 鈥� The family that trained 鈥� best known for fetching bats and football kicking tees during sporting events in North Carolina 鈥� says the black Labrador has died.
In a , the O'Donnell family said Ripken died Wednesday due to complications 鈥渇rom a serious undiagnosed medical condition."
The 8-year-old Ripken's included retrieving bats for Durham Bulls minor-league baseball games and kicking tees during N.C. State college football games at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
Ripken participated in for the between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals . His last appearance was retrieving for the NFL's Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.
The O'Donnell family wrote that Ripken 鈥渨as happiest when he was surrounded by people and making friends (and maybe eating a hot dog or two).鈥�
The Bulls, the triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, N.C. State and the all honored Ripken in social-media posts Friday. Ripken 鈥減ut smiles on so many adoring fans鈥� faces,鈥� while 鈥渇or bringing so much joy to Wolfpack Nation.鈥�
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