Baseball Needs More Ripkens and Gwynns

There was a lot of talk during the baseball All-Star game festivities about Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn. Talk about the records they set, about their longevity in the game, about the inspiration they provide to young major leaguers.

What I value most about these two gentlemen is that they give me, a dad with a son who’s a sports nut, genuine role models for him to admire, true heroes who could have raked in dough elsewhere but value loyalty, dads who love family above all else, prominent men who live their lives the way I hope he lives his.

Thanks Cal and Tony. You will be missed for much more than just your heroics on the field.

Rick Shafarman

Saugus

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I wish Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds well in their quests to set home run records, but please stop the drivel about how much better they could be doing without the loss of time to injuries.

What about the multiple full seasons combat veterans Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg, Warren Spahn and so many others lost during World War II, when they were in their prime, when the baseball wasn’t juiced and when the distances to the fences was more of a challenge? Also, what would the impact have been, had they been involved in weight training? In respect for the record books, let’s not even go there!

Sid Skolnik

West Hollywood