It was a rough start to the year for Michael O’Donnell and his family.
‘Ripken,’ a beloved black lab known for his honorable role of Durham Bulls bat dog, died on Jan. 1 after dealing with some unexpected health problems. Ripken was definitely not just their dog. He had fans throughout the world and was frequently showcased on social media and outlets all over the media sphere, including on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
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He was most adored in the Triangle, where his fetching of bats and balls at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) was a big part of the fan experience on Saturdays from 2021 to 2024. Ripken’s sprints to the batter’s box would draw cheers no matter the score or situation. He also made appearances at Carolina Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes games.
But to borrow a sports-themed mantra, it’s ‘next man up’ time. Or in this case - next dog up.
That would be 'Champ,' another lovable, yet dependable black lab that has big paws to fill. He will serve as the Bulls' official bat dog this year.
The ‘bat dogs’ have carved out a role in the Triangle sports scene that’s filled with rivalries and on-field conflicts. Ripken, and hopefully Champ, helped in bringing fans together, no matter their allegiances. O’Donnell believes Champ has the energy, obedience, poise and a touch of silliness to make the transition smooth.
“I think the job requires a very loving dog,” said O’Donnell from the visitors dugout at DBAP. “A dog that loves to work. He’s got to be ready to go at all times. A dog that can really handle anything. From kids coming up to pet, crowd cheering, being able to ignore those distractions on the field even though he wants to be pet by every player out there. And a dog that has a drive. Champ is a dog that possesses all of that.”
O’Donnell, who has run Sit Means Sit dog training for the last several years, said Champ’s tendencies are similar to Ripken’s. Champ, who turns 2 in April, comes from a sports pedigree. He’s Ripken’s younger brother and the son of Blitz, who was a tee dog for Boise State football. From the stands, you may not even be able to tell the difference between the two.
“He loves people just like Ripken did,” O’Donnell said. “He loves to be pet, loved on, that’s why I think he’s going to be a great fit taking over for Ripken.”
Champ was born in Pocatello, Idaho, making him likely the most famous dog from the Gem State in the Triangle.
“My wife and I actually flew out to Utah and rented a car and drove up to our buddy in Pocatello, who happened to also be Ripken’s breeder. He had called me one day and said we had one last litter, same mom, same dad as Ripken, so if you want a Ripken puppy, you better act fast,” O’Donnell said.
O’Donnell said Champ has a temperament and personality similar to Ripken's. Champ had a test run during the UNC-East Carolina series at DBAP in late February. While he's still grieving over Ripken's passing, O'Donnell is excited to see Champ come into his own in 2025.
“From the first pitch, he was locked in,” O’Donnell said. “It really gave me that confidence boost that he’s ready for this.”
O’Donnell said the plan was for Champ to replace Ripken at some point, but Ripken’s unexpected death likely sped the timeline up.
“I think Champ’s been ready,” O’Donnell said. “But Ripken’s death made his debut happen a little faster than we were planning. The death of Ripken was extremely tough on us and unexpected and luckily, we had Champ to jump right in.”
Champ is in line to regularly work Durham Bulls, Holly Springs Salamanders and NC State football games in 2025.
O’Donnell is from northern Virginia and played college baseball at Radford. His dad got a job in Raleigh when he was in college and he moved to the area ahead of meeting his wife, Melissa. He’s been in the dog training business for about 10 years. Keeping up with Ripken and Champ has served as a way to keep him around the game.
The Bulls open their season on April 1. You can see Champ at most Saturday night home games. Check the Bulls schedule for details. Fans can also see Champ at the Bulls’ annual Spring Fan Fest event on March 28.
The Bulls plan to hold a celebration of Ripken’s life at some point this season.