Ripken's newest fan: Tony Gwynn

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (Map, News) - Even after all these years, Cal Ripken Jr. is capable of producing awe. Sometimes, it comes in the smallest ways.

On Saturday, the latest victim of Ripken’s charm was Tony Gwynn, the San Diego Padres left fielder, who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., with the Orioles great Sunday

Ripken sat on a stage Saturday at The Village of Cooperstown Central School and smoothly answered a tear-bating question from a reporter who wanted to know how Ripken would corral his emotions during his acceptance speech.

Sitting to Ripken’s left, just a few feet away, Gwynn looked out to the crowd of reporters and quipped: “Smooth, isn’t he?”
Some things never change.

Ripken and Gwynn are the heroic guests of honor in this cherished township this weekend, while 2,800 miles away a reviled man named Barry Bonds continues his assault on the all-time home runs record in San Francisco.

Bonds, now just one home run away from tying Hank Aaron’s mark of 755, was a topic of many conversations among fans and Hall of Famer in town for the induction celebrations.

But, at the news conference for Ripken and Gwynn, Hall of Fame officials forbade questions about Bonds and the performance enhancing drug scandal that has marred the game of baseball in the national eye.

Saturday was about “good guys,” Ripken and Gwynn.

Reporters obliged and the two men on stage were engaging enough to make the hungry horde of reporters forget about the scandal surrounding the game both men love.

Asked if they now wielded more power than before with Major League Baseball commissioner Allen H. “Bud” Selig, Gwynn said he would tread lightly on giving advice.

“Being in this position now, I think, hopefully we can affect some change,” Gwynn, now the head baseball coach at San Diego State University, said. “We can suggest some things that can help. But, you know what? Those guys that are living that are in the Hall of Fame, they care about the game too. They talk about making the game better too. I’m sure those guys have been in Bud Selig’s ear too.”

Ripken, meanwhile, has had a running discourse with Selig since he left the game in 2001. The former Orioles shortstop has been involved in the league’s outreach to minorities and children

“I think Major League Baseball is moving in the right direction,” Ripken said. “They’re looking at ways to appeal to the younger kids. Again, it’s not about producing those big league players. It’s producing the fans and families that love the game.”

For an entire generation of baseball fans, Ripken and Gwynn were reason enough to love the game. An estimated crowd of over 60,000 is expected for the pair’s induction Sunday at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown.

“What’s the population of Baltimore? Subtract from that and you should know how many are here,” Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver joked Saturday.

The previous high crowd of 50,000 came in 1999 when Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount were inducted.

Both Ripken and Gwynn remained with the Orioles and Padres throughout their respective careers, embedding their names into the fabric of the community.

“Now that I look back on it, I think part of the reaction we’re getting from the fans is the fact that we played on one team,” Gwynn said. “I’m a Padre and I always will be and I’m pretty proud that everything I did, I did in one uniform.”

Ripken, who grew up around the Orioles organization as his father served as a coach, and eventually as a manager, said there was a irrevocable bond between him and the Orioles.

“I was lucky I was drafted by the team I wanted to be drafted by,” Ripken said. “It’s not always easy because of the nature of the sport is to change and if you don’t win and you go through a rebuilding periods… but it was always important for me to play in Baltimore.”

On Sunday, Baltimore and San Diego fans will be able to show both men that the feeling is mutual.

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