The CLASS of Baseball Inducted into Cooperstown!

A star baseball and basketball player in college, Tony Gwynn opted for the diamond and fashioned a stellar 20-year career with the San Diego Padres. Gwynn's mastery of slapping the ball between the third baseman and shortstop, what the lefty called the "5.5 hole," propelled him to 3,141 career hits, a lifetime .338 batting average and eight batting crowns, an NL record he shares with Honus Wagner. A true student of hitting, Gwynn was an early advocate of using videotape to study his swing, while his five outfield Gold Glove Awards, 319 career stolen bases and 15 All-Star Game selections attest to his superior all-around play.

“He was one of the best players I ever saw, and he was probably the smartest and most dedicated.” — Bruce Bochy

Cal Ripken Jr. gave new meaning to the phrase "everyday player." From May 30, 1982 through September 19, 1998, the lanky shortstop played in 2,632 straight games for the Baltimore Orioles, shattering Lou Gehrig's "unbreakable" mark of 2,130. Beyond "The Streak," however, Ripken methodically put together a remarkable career, notching 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, 19 straight All-Star appearances, and two Most Valuable Player Awards. Though his solid, steady play earned him hero status throughout America, Ripken also had a flair for the dramatic, homering in both his record-setting 2,131st game and his final All-Star contest.

“I know that if Lou Gehrig is looking down on tonight's activities, he isn't concerned about someone playing one more consecutive game than he did. Instead, he's viewing tonight as just another example of what is good and right about the great American game.” — Cal Ripken Jr.

They did not play for the Red Sox, BUT I WISH each did at some point in their storied career. Cal "The Iron Man" Ripken, Jr. & Tony "The Hitting Machine" Gwynn were inducted with the elite at Cooperstown on Sunday.

San Diego and Baltimore were blessed to have these two Classy Baseball Men play their entire careers in each city.

I send out a Boston Baseball Heads Salute to both men as they venture into immortality!