Jots from Jeff

Image by hartcurt via Flickr

The election of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. into the baseball Hall of Fame comes as a surprise to no one. The percentage of votes that each received came within a whisker of Tom Seaver’s all-time record. Their five year wait to be inducted will finally be culminated in late July in Cooperstown.

The annual rite of induction also begs the inevitable question about the values of their memorabilia in addition to the impact on their lives. Suffice it to say that the busy schedules of Gwynn and Ripken have just become even busier.

Certainly the minimal free time that they once had will shrink. In Gwynn’s case, he is the coach of the San Diego State University baseball team, his alma mater. Likewise with Ripken, who goes around the country promoting youth baseball. There are no indications that either of them will stop doing exactly what they love doing. (more…)