This has to be one of the strangest stories I’ve ever heard. Is this how they get down in Maryland? Luckily, Cal’s mother is safe.

ESPN with the details…

Violet Ripken, the 74-year-old mother of former Baltimore Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. has been found after being abducted at gunpoint, Aberdeen (Md.) police said Wednesday.

“As you now know, our mother was abducted at gunpoint from her home yesterday morning,” a statement from the Ripken family said. “This has been a very trying time for our family, but we are grateful and relieved that mom is back with us, safe and healthy. We want to thank everyone for their tremendous support, especially all of the law enforcement agencies that worked so hard and quickly. This is on ongoing investigation, so we hope everyone understands that we cannot comment further at this time. Thank you.”

According to the Balitmore Sun, police said Violet Ripken was abducted at gunpoint on Tuesday morning between 7-8 a.m. ET, when she was forced into a 1998 Lincoln Town Car. Aberdeen police said they were called by Baltimore County police around 8:30 p.m. ET Tuesday night involving a suspicious vehicle.

Violet Ripken was found around 6:15 a.m. Wednesday in her vehicle near her home.

Earlier Wednesday, police spokesman Cpl. Cathleen E. Batton says she’s being interviewed and evaluated by medical personnel, but appeared to be unharmed.