Vi Ripken in February 2010 with son Cal Ripken Jr., center. (Photo by Maroon PR)

One of baseball’s most accomplished families breathed huge sighs of relief this morning. Vi Ripken, mother of Baltimore Orioles Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken Jr., was abducted yesterday from her home in Aberdeen, Md., police said. She was found in her car earlier today not far from her house.

Vi Ripken went missing Tuesday between 7 and 8 a.m., police said, when a male subject approached her home, produced a handgun and ordered Ripken into her car. About 8:30 p.m. last night Baltimore County police called the Aberdeen Police Department to report a suspicious vehicle in the area.

Ripken, 74, was found about 6:15 a.m. today close to home in her vehicle, a 1998 Lincoln Towncar. Aberdeen police said she was found uninjured and is now back with her family, but authorities are still looking for her kidnapper.

The Ripken family released the following statement on the kidnapping:

As you now know, our mother was abducted at gunpoint from her home yesterday morning. 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.

The suspect is described as a white male in his late 30s or early 40s who was wearing a light-colored shirt, camouflaged pants and eyeglasses. He is armed with a handgun. Aberdeen police are taking tips at (410) 272-2121, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Department, Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police and the FBI are assisting in the investigation.