Jan 10 2007
Cooperstown Calls Tony Gwynn & Cal Ripken
Congratulations to the two new inductees for Baseball’s Hall of Fame, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken.
Ripken, a 19-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP, played in a major league-record 2,632 consecutive games to break Lou Gehrig’s mark of 2,130. He also set a new standard for power-hitting shortstops with 431 home runs and 3,184 hits.
His hot-water heater didn’t work Tuesday morning, making him laugh and recall starting his pro career at Bluefield in 1978.
“I was sitting there remembering the cold-shower days,” Ripken said.
Gwynn, a 15-time All-Star, compiled 3,141 hits and a .338 batting average during his 20-year career with the San Diego Padres. He woke up at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, couldn’t get back to sleep and was fidgety and nervous before he received the call from Jack O’Connell, the BBWAA secretary-treasurer.
“I broke down right away,” Gwynn said. “My wife came over and put an arm around me.”
Congratulations to two of the game’s best on this well-deserved honor.
