Congrats to Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn on their induction into Baseball's Hall of Fame. As we speak, our own Bobby is in Cooperstown, and I expect a full report from him for the blog when he gets back. This year's class is especially timely - in this time where every record seems to be questioned thanks to 'juice', we have two inductees whose merits cannot be challenged.
Cal Ripken's stats year to year were never spectacular, but over his career, they added up. Then you have to include one stat that no one else has come close to in our lifetime - 2632. No need to even tell you what that is. More importantly, he was the face of the Orioles and baseball. Cal is a class act - in and out of baseball. And , as my sister once told me, "Cal's got the freakin' SEXIEST blue eyes". They don't put those stats on baseball cards, so I had no idea.
Tony Gwynn could just flat out HIT. He ended up with 3141 career hits, but he retired early. For awhile, I thought Gwynn had a shot at Pete Rose's record. Gwynn was another ambassador of the game. It is no wonder that Gwynn and Ripken both never left their original franchises - they were that important. You just can't picture them in another uniform, as it should be.......
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5 comments:
These were two good picks. Now if they would only put Pete Rose in there. Let me step next door to the Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino. Maybe he is inside and we can talk.
I have to admit to being a bit misty-eyed yesterday as I watched Tony's speech. As a lifelong Padres fan (and specifically Gwynn fan), yesterday was a simply wonderful tribute to a man of such class, integrity, skill and work ethic. I only wish he could've won a Series. When he hit the homer off the second deck at Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of the 98 Series, I thought he'd get it, but it wasn't meant to be...
As a lifelong Yankee fan, i apologize to you for denying Tony that ring. The Padres ran into two absolute machines when they got to the Big Show (what, 108 and 114 wins?).
Tony was a great player and guy. I never heard such a great player almost always say that he lacked talent. It sends a good message to kids.....Don't be limited by your skills, and work hard.
Keep writing like that Mike and you might find that ugly Breck girl swooning over Cal...
75,000 people, likely 65,000 of them Orioles fans! a sea of orange and black, and the shout of the "O" during the national anthem echoing off of the hills around the valley. but, most of all, baseball fans that truly appreciated two of the best to have ever graced the game. they weren't just numbers and stats, they were what role models should be.
i did see pete rose there with mike schmidt. funny how pete isn't in the hall, yet they have some of his stuff in there! wtf?
and just for you michael, only about half of us booed anytime the yankees were mentioned!
baseball is alive and well. record number at the induction, record number at the hall last saturday, record attendance at mlb stadiums last saturday.
on the celebrity side, i got to talk to tim kurkjian from espn for a few minutes...very nice guy that just loved to talk baseball. also ran into roy firestone who used to be on espn. got waved to by tony gwynn and bud selig and that was about it.
i do recommend a trip to cooperstown sometime in your life. it's not the easiest place to get to, but it sure is a nice town with friendly people.
just a side note...the cracker barrel in binghamton, ny had some serious babes working there!
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