If thousands of strangers were going to invade their hometown to honor Cal Ripken Jr., Ted and Sean Mebust were at least going to make a buck.
"Cal Rocks because Cal rocks," they chanted as fans streamed toward yesterday's Hall of Fame induction.
The boys had collected more than 50 black rocks from their backyard and local streambeds and had painted orange 8s on them. They sold the big ones for $3 and the little ones for $1, figuring visitors might want to leave with actual pieces of Cooperstown.
By 11 a.m. yesterday, they had already sold dozens.
The boys, ages 7 and 9, have long looked forward to Ripken's induction. "Their dad's got the night he broke the streak record on video, and he's always been the one player they've heard most about," said their mother, Lynne. "They wanted to do something special."
That something special wasn't something unique. Down the block, 11-year-olds Aaron Idelson and Scott Arnett sold more elaborately decorated rocks. They offered brown "Gwynn" stones (along with free gum) as well.
They had been smashing the rocks for weeks.
"It's great," Scott said, "because it's pure profit."