5 other MLB conspiracy theories that Trevor Bauer probably believes

2. Cal Ripken’s streak almost ended over a fight with Kevin Costner

This is one of the juiciest, most salacious conspiracy theories in MLB history. The story goes something like this. In 1997 — over two years after he had broken Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played — the Baltimore Orioles manufactured a lighting malfunction at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to allow a game to be cancelled so that Cal Ripken’s streak could be kept alive.

Here’s the kicker — the alleged reason Ripken needed a day off was because he had spent the previous morning beating the crap out of actor and good friend Kevin Costner after finding him in bed with his wife, Kelly.

This was an easy conspiracy theory for tin-foil heads to suss out. Costner had been friends with Ripken since the early 1990s, often attended Orioles games, even taking batting practice and stretching with the team on occasion, and lived in Maryland. The Ripkens were also allegedly going through marital difficulties at the time in 1997, with rumors of infidelity.

Fact-checking website Snopes has completely debunked the theory (as they have with most conspiracy theories).

"Whether the electrical outage was “mysterious” or not, it wasn’t concocted to keep Ripken’s streak alive by forcing the cancellation of a game he would otherwise have missed. News reports of the day’s events prove Ripken was present at the ballpark, suited up and ready to play, and both fans and reporters noted him sitting in the dugout and playing catch along the sidelines that evening."

Facts have never done much to slow down a good story, and this one will likely continue to live on as long as Ripken’s streak is a part of MLB lore.