Where have you gone Cal and Tony?
By: Austin Alexander-August 3, 2007

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Today's game is full of trades, free agency, baggy uniforms and player’s being given days off. Long gone, it seems, are the traditional athletes who actually placed value in playing hard, playing everyday, playing in one city and playing for the love of the game.

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Amid allegations of steroid use, dog-fighting and fixing games, the sports arena has become a soap opera, in some ways a complete disgrace. On Sunday, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn (right)were immortalized in Cooperstown, NY, baseball's Hall of Fame. Ripken and Gywnn take us back to a time when the game was still pure, back to when hard work, selflessness and being humble was still considered cool.

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Batting titles, MVP's, gold gloves and lots of hits became the calling card of this year's induction class. Unfortunately, future generations will only be given the opportunity to memorize the statistics of Ripken and Gwynn, not even close to the measure of the men they were.

The hours upon hours that Ripken and Gwynn spent signing autographs for young baseball fans is legendary. And just in case you were wondering what they charged for their John Hancock? There was no fee and the moment was usually complete with a handshake, conversation, smile and photograph.

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Consider that each grew up, played professionally and still reside in the same city. They are both a true product of the only town they have ever called home. To take it a step further, both have built ballparks and remain very visible in the amateur baseball world. Both guys are fixtures on the clinic circuit and are involved on a daily basis with the future of baseball.

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Most of us are not old enough to have seen Joe DiMaggio play but we are well-aware of the way he played and the class that he exuded on and off the diamond. Just like a line in the Paul Simon song said, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?" When the Yankee Clipper met the musician years later, he asked Simon what that line actually meant. Simon explained that it was used figuratively, wondering where have all the heroes gone.
I ask the same question. Where have you gone Cal and Tony? Who is going to carry the torch that young baseball fans can really look up to as a role model?

No one did it finer than these two men and I salute them both as the hardware they have accumulated over the years doesn't even hold a candle to the impact they have had on the game and the people they encountered. Job well done and congratulations on the recognition you both have garnered this week!

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