Team members, their families and fans participate in setting a new Guinness World Record for “Most People Blowing a Bubble Gum Bubble Simultaneously” at the beginning of the Cal Ripken World Series in Abeerdeen, Md., on Aug. 8. Photos provided.

It took all of thirty seconds, but an earnest crowd of 721 baseball fans from around the world managed to blow a bubble gum bubble together and hold it for half a minute to break the previous world record.

Sponsored by Big League Chew bubble gum, the event inaugurated the Cal Ripken World Series, which began Aug. 8 in Aberdeen, Md.  

Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., along with executives from Ford Gum, the maker of Big League Chew, were there to accept the official notification and certificate from a Guinness World Records adjudicator for “Most People Blowing a Bubble Gum Bubble Simultaneously.” The previous record involved 544 people and was set June 6, 2013 by the Lester B. Pearson School in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. 

Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. (left) along with “George Stege (right), president of Ford Gum, accept the official Guinness World Records certificate from adjudicator Alex Angert for “Most People Blowing a Bubble Gum Simultaneously.”

“Babe Ruth League Baseball and Big League Chew bubble gum are a classic summer combo, so it was an exciting day to bring this title to the United States where Big League Chew is made,” says George Stege, president of Ford Gum. “As the official bubble gum of Ripken Baseball, I can think of no better time or place to make history than at the opening day of the 2014 Cal Ripken World Series.”

Each of the 18 qualifying World Series teams took part in the record-making event, along with fans in the stands. It required:

• Chewing Big League Chew bubble gum for one full minute
• Blowing a bubble, sealing it and holding it without deflating for 30 seconds

"This was fun and the fact that the Guinness World Records officials were on hand to verify the record made it that much more special. We want to thank Ford Gum and Big League Chew for kicking-off our World Series with this event, they are terrific partners," said Ripken, Jr. 

Big League Chew bubble gum is the No.1 shredded bubble gum in the United States, created by former Minor League Baseball pitcher Rob Nelson. It’s manufactured in Akron, N.Y. and since its 1980 introduction, more than 500 million pouches have been sold.

Established in 2001, Ripken Baseball, Inc. is a sports entertainment company based in Baltimore, Md. created by Cal Ripken, Jr. and Bill Ripken. Its mission is to inspire athletes through remarkable experiences and prepare them for life beyond the diamond through The Ripken Way. The 2014 Cal Ripken World Series takes place August 8-16, 2014.