Gwynn set perfect example for future MLB players

Photo Courtesy of Fox40.com

These days, the rarity of finding a player that can play for one team and stay in the MLB, or any league for that matter, is glaring.

But Tony Gwynn did what a lot of players couldn't do.

The Hall of Famer was known for having over 3,000 hits and batting over .300 for his career...all for the San Diego Padres. Another thing that you rarely see. Gwynn set the bar for every current baseball player aiming to make it to "The Show."

On Monday, Gwynn passed away at the age of 54 falling to cancer. It was a sad day for baseball players past, present and future. Gwynn may not have a World Series championship to show for his efforts, but Gwynn's record as a player was nowhere near as great as his record as a person according to the reactions that followed his death today. Most notably...Cal Ripken, Jr.

 

"This is an extraordinarily sad day," Ripken said. "Tony was a Hall of Fame ballplayer, but more importantly he was a wonderful man. Tony always had a big smile on his face and was one of the warmest and most genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Like all baseball fans, I will miss him very much and my thoughts are with his family today.”

Guys like Ripken and Gwynn are the last of a rare breed of baseball players. Gwynn simply did it the right way as a player and thoroughly enjoyed the game. You could tell from his wide smile and the way he spoke about the game how much it meant to him. 

I'm not saying that there's a whole lot wrong with the players that play the game now, but there's a lot that could be learned from Gwynn. The game's not what it used to be, but who says that some of the older traits that players like Gwynn displayed regularly couldn't be exhibited more often? When the game loses Derek Jeter (and I mean that in a retirement sense), the class that players like he and Gwynn displayed will be considered a breath of fresh air.