Welcome to Springer Nation

Cal Ripken Jr. has appeared in 2,393 more major league games than Dennis Springer, and the Baltimore Oriole third baseman makes $6.6 million more a year than the Angel pitcher, but Springer is Ripken’s equal in at least one category: Both have web sites.

Welcome to Springer Nation, the online page where the curious can bone up on an obscure knuckleballer who recorded his first big league victory as a 31-year-old rookie last season.

Two college kids, Kevin Collier of Cal Poly Pomona and John Tower of South Carolina, hatched the idea for Springer Nation when Springer went 14 1/3 innings without giving up a run during spring training of 1996.

“We thought maybe this guy was going to be the next Tim Wakefield,� Collier said, “and Wakefield was coming off a big year.�

Springer began 1996 with triple-A Vancouver, but Collier and Tower went ahead with the web site anyway, and they were rewarded when Springer was eventually called up to the Angels and went 5-6.

Springer was not even aware of the web site until a fan in Vancouver printed out a copy of it and showed it to the pitcher last season.

“It’s pretty neat, actually,� Springer said. “It’s really up to date and there’s some trivia questions. The guys have done a good job with it. I think it won a web site-of-the-week award.�

Springer said he had no idea why someone would feature him on a web page, which can be reached at ~kmchfSN/sntext.shtml>.

“I didn’t know if it was because of the knuckleball, or what,� he said. “They’re in it to pump me up, I guess. They’re big baseball fans. It’s good because I have friends back East and old roommates who check it out.�

Collier, who met Springer at a recent Angel game, said there are 57 people on Springer Nation’s “citizen list,� and that in addition to updates on Springer, there is trivia and other various tidbits.

“But actually,� Collier admits, “you don’t get much.�