COOPERSTOWN, NY – Today, the capital of baseball has become Cooperstown, NY.
But in all actuality, it has become the capital of the state of Maryland as well.
Tens of thousands of Baltimore Oriole fans crowded the upstate New York hamlet in anticipation of favorite son Cal Ripken, Jr's induction into the Hall of Fame.
“I think the best way to count is to see how many people are left in Baltimore and subtract,” quipped Mets great Tom Seaver.
But what is expected to be a record crowd for the induction tomorrow is well deserved. Ripken, baseball's ironman, who played in 2,632 consecutive games, will be entering the Hall of Fame along with National League batting champion Tony Gwynn, who has less fans in attendance from far away San Diego, but is just as beloved. The two players were overwhelming inductees, getting over 98% of the votes from the BBWAA.
Ripken, who had over 3000 hits and 400 home runs, only generated eight ballots without his name.
“People respected him for not how he did it but who he is,” said Carlton Fisk who played against Ripken as a member of the Red Sox and White Sox. “Playing that many games in a row, you have to be on the list as one of the wonders of the world. I don't know if any of you guys have gone to work 2000 days in a row, it's not easy.”
Added Dave Winfield: “I played against him for many years. Not only was baseball in his blood, he respected the game. He and Eddie Murray, back to back, you couldn't get rid of those guys. Good defensive player. He was clutch. The thing I use with Cal, he made so many adjustments, he played at a high level year after year.
“He was a big old shortstop that redefined the position.”
Just as impressive is Gwynn's resume. Ranking 17th on the all-time hit list, the former San Diego Padre led the National League in batting eight times and finished with a career .338 batting average.
“He was the National League counterpart of what I did in the American League,” said five-time AL batting champ Wade Boggs. “He revolutionized the game and that was our game. Getting on base. Hitting .365 or .370. That was the part of our game that made us successful. We were able to set the table for the big guys.”
After playing golf this morning, both inductees held a press conference in the afternoon, and then sat for an exclusive dinner reserved for just other Hall of Famers. Afterward, it's on to tomorrow where they will be at the Induction Ceremony in the afternoon. It's expected that more than 50,000 people will cram the lawn at the Clark Sports Center on the outskirts of the town.
“The response has been overwhelming and I don't know if we can figure out the reason why, but I am thankful that it's happening,” Ripken said. “This is a wonderful celebration of baseball and it's not about us...I love the fact baseball is celebrated.”
And tomorrow afternoon, both Ripken and Gwynn will feel the passion of the fans as well.
