ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Cal Ripken Jr. one more time.

	Ripken

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, who will be the American League skipper in next month's All-Star game, said the Baltimore Orioles third baseman will be on the team whether or not he is voted onto the squad.

"I did talk to the league office, and we're going to take Ripken as a representative however the voting ends," Torre said before the Yankees played Tampa Bay on Friday night. "He's a pro. He's a class act. He should be on the team, especially since he announced his retirement."

Ripken announced his retirement earlier this month, effective at the end of the season.

"He does deserve to be there because of what he's done for the game of baseball," Torre said. "It's a nice way of having everybody say goodbye to him. He's been loved in every ballpark he's played in."

Ripken, told of Torre's statement after the Orioles game against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, said, "It will be very nice to experience it one more time. I've always thought it was a special event, and I'm always proud to go."