I remember the wiffle ball games my brother and I used to play in our backyard. One of us would represent the American League and the other the National League, as we came up to bat, trying to stand like that player we were supposed to be, both lefty and righty, keeping stats on each batter’s performance. The notebook paper would be full of stats for dozens of our favorite baseball players. Even though I was right handed, I liked batting left handed best. Some of my favorite guys to imitate were Darryl Strawberry, because of his stance, Ken Griffey Jr, because he was an awesome young player, and the three purest hitters at that time: Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, and Tony Gwynn. The guys I watched growing up are not supposed to be dying yet, but that’s what happened to Tony Gwynn on Monday, as he lost his battle with cancer at the age of 54.
I have to share some of the things that I heard and read about his career. Everyone knows about his .338 career average and 8 batting titles, which is why he was a first ballot HOFer, but here’s some other unbelievable stuff. In his first year, he batted.289. In his last 19 years, he never batted below .300. He faced Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux more than anybody else, 107 times. He never struck out against him. Maybe my favorite was that in his career he was a .302 hitter with 2 strikes; nobody else in the history of major league baseball has a 2 strike average above .265. This guy could flat out rake. And he wasn’t so bad in the postseason either with a .306 career postseason average, including a .371 BA in the World Series. And for the record, even though his Padres beat the Cubs in 1984, and I hated his teammate Steve Garvey, I never hated Gwynn. How could you? This guy was a class act all the way around, spending his entire 20 year career with the Padres. The Padres! How many guys today spend their entire careers with one team, especially a small market team when they have big market talent. RIP Tony, I’m sure your wiffle ball BA on our notebook paper was outstanding too.
I didn’t think I was going to watch the USA play on Monday, but as it turned out, I got home from work minutes before the game started. So interrupting my son’s favorite cartoon Paw Patrol on the TV, I flipped on the game just as it started. Perfect timing, as the US scored an immediate goal. OK, so now it had my attention, and I watched the whole thing. It was kind of like the Blackhawks just trying to protect that lead, as Ghana had opportunity after opportunity. Well, they finally scored late, and it looked like a tie was what we would settle for. Then, a little history, as the first substitute EVER for the US scored a World Cup Goal. John Brooks, whose father was born in Chicago, headed one in as the US actually won a World Cup game. It was pretty cool to see, and we might as well enjoy it. With Portugal and Germany on deck, this may be our only one. Nice job guys.
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Onto the last sporting event of the evening, my beloved Cubs. I came to the harsh realization that this lineup is brutal. Besides Rizzo and Castro, there is nobody else to count on. Usually when the Cubs are winning, it is one of these 2 guys. Tonight it was Castro. As I flipped the game back on, I was the beneficiary of perfect timing again, as I saw Starlin hit a hanging curveball over the left field fence for a 3 run HR that gave the Cubs the lead at the time. The Marlins tied it, and it went to extra innings. Finally, somebody got a big hit for the Cubs in the top of the 13th. So who from this brutal lineup got the big hit? Pinch hitter, and starting pitcher, Travis Wood. We’ll take it anyway we can get it. These are games that the Cubs usually lose, but tonight they found a way.
From emulating our favorite hitters growing up, to watching our country enjoy an unexpected victory, to watching your beloved home town team win a game you just knew they were going to lose, this is why we love sports. Yes, we did lose a great one on Monday, but he also represented why we love sports. The consistency, the loyalty, the greatness that he showed that is so hard to find nowadays will not be forgotten. There will never be another, but we can always hope. Keep watching, and keep cheering… you may be happily surprised.
Wiffle Baller
Backyard wiffle ball, there is nothing like it. Hours upon hours playing, pretending, and tracking stats. Such good times that I still do it with my kids today! We even had a Father’s Day game that had homers, bat tosses, and a play at the plate in a great game! Who doesn’t love a good wiffle ball game?!?
Tony G was one of the best hitters, period. His stats are beyond impressive, and he was someone you just couldn’t dislike. He left too early but will never be forgotten. Probably the best National League hitter growing up that I ever saw.
USA USA USA! I thought we were getting 1 point after the equalizer from Ghana, but I was wrong. A 21 year born in Berlin, Germany came thru with a game winning goal in his first ever World Cup game! I yelled like I usually do when the Blackhawks would score…exciting stuff! And what do you know, USA held the lead and got the much needed 3 points! If we can find a way to tie or beat Portugal and not get smoked by Germany, the US has a good chance of moving on from Group G.
I actually caught the end of the Cubs game, too. I saw Rizzo fly out with 2 men on in the 12th to end the inning, but pitcher Travis Wood bailed the Cubs out with an rbi double that brought Lake all the way around from first without a throw. And what do you know, the Cubs and James Russell held on for the W, just like USA.