For more than 20 years they have astonished us with their ability, given us inspiration with their longevity and, most important of all, provided for us premier examples of how to act with their professionalism. It all comes to an end with the close of this year’s baseball season.
Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn will retire from the game they love next week, and leave behind nothing but good memories for generations to come. In a day where professional sports seem to flood the press with bad attitudes and poor sportsmanship, Ripken and Gwynn have maintained their integrity and gone about their business with unmatched consistency.
Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams said of the modern game to the Associated Press, “It is a terrible situation. I think our game’s been destroyed, and we’ve really been hurt. I’m just nuts about it all, but it’s changed and for the worse.”
We have seen Roberto Alomar spit in the face of an umpire; Carl Everett grab his crotch and spit toward the pitcher, Seattle’s Jamie Moyer, after hitting a home run; a fight break out between Cleveland and Seattle because of a dispute over earrings. Through it all, though, the dedicated duo of Ripken and Gwynn have been steady throughout.
Even after going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in Yankee Stadium, in what could be his last game in the away gray Oriole uniform (the game ended in due to rain in the 17th inning), Ripken had nothing but praise for the game.
“I’ll look back and know I still had a lot of fun competing,” he told the Associated Press.
On a good note for the game of baseball, Ripken has mentioned that he has interest in someday owning a major league team. Maybe players will be less likely to quibble over a $10 million signing bonus because the man who broke Gehrig’s longevity record is signing the checks.
Gwynn, who hit better than .300 for the 18th straight season last year, is also going to stay involved in the game of baseball as he will take over as the head coach for San Diego State, his alma mater. Maybe he will instill some of the good attributes he exhibited on the field onto the players of tomorrow.
I say maybe because I still hold out some hope, but even with good role models like Ripken and Gwynn, there will be many that make it to the major league ranks without influences like the dedicated duo. Too many future ball-players will be coached by screaming, insolent and overbearing parents and their bad attitudes will hover over them like a dark cloud that will remain with them from tee-ball all the way to the pros.
It seems almost a tragedy that major league baseball will lose its two greatest professionals at the same time, but it is almost fitting because they will both be first ballot Hall of Famers and enter Cooperstown together.