Can’t They All Be Like Cal? Poor Behavior By Players Left Disappointing Images, But Ripken Saved The Season

Baseball year in review

He was a reluctant hero, even in his greatest moment of glory.

Not once did Cal Ripken Jr. thump his chest, pump his fist or pat himself on the back. Not a single gesture to gloat, brag or boast.

Instead, just the opposite. It took two teammates to literally pull baseball’s ol’ blue eyes out of the dugout and urge him to take perhaps the most inspiring curtain call in sports history.

The whole time, while he made his way around Camden Yards and the big numbers on the B&O Warehouse showed The Streak was official, he remained humble. And that made the fans love him even more, showering their hometown hero with an ovation that lasted 22 minutes after the Baltimore shortstop broke Lou Gehrig’s hallowed record by playing his 2,131st consecutive game.

“I’d like to think that outpouring was for the game, not me,” Ripken said.

Of course, we all know better.

Because if they were all like Cal, there wouldn’t have been the problems that plagued baseball in 1995.

Replacement players during a skewed spring training. Replacement umpires during a delayed opening day. Attendance down 19 percent, even with free tickets at some parks. Thousands of empty seats during the expanded playoffs.

No labor peace. A third straight year without a commissioner - that office on Park Avenue, by the way, was used as a stockroom for most of the year. Michael Jordan didn’t want any part of it - he packed up his bats and went back to basketball.

Plus these images that people will remember:

Jack McDowell thrusting his middle finger in the air and twirling it at fans at Yankee Stadium.

Three men wearing “Greed” T-shirts running to second base and throwing $1 bills at players at Shea Stadium.

Angry fans pelting Dodger Stadium with souvenir baseballs, causing the first forfeit in the majors since Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979.

An upset bond trader bolting from the stands at Wrigley Field and trying to tackle Cubs reliever Randy Myers.

Replacement player Mike Busch getting a standing ovation in Los Angeles after being frozen out by his supposed teammates.

- Tom Glavine, without wearing so much as a tie, walking into the White House to meet with President Clinton during strike talks.

In Glavine’s case, at least, the season had a happy ending. The Atlanta pitcher and player representative, booed early in the spring for being so vocal during the negotiations, became the World Series MVP by pitching the Braves to the championship that had eluded them for five frustrating years.

“It’s a nice way to end it,” Glavine said.

The Braves proved once and for all that good pitching does stop good hitting, beating Cleveland in six games. David Justice, booed by the Atlanta crowd after complaining it wasn’t loud enough, brought on cheers by homering in the clinching 1-0 victory.

Fans, however, were happy just to have had any World Series after the 1994 version was wiped out by the 232-day strike. Still, even October, the month that usually is the highlight of the baseball season for all, was tinged with trouble.

The new wild-card round of the playoffs featured many of the best players - four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux and first-time winner Randy Johnson, MVPs Barry Larkin and Mo Vaughn and top newcomer Hideo Nomo - first-time participants Colorado and Seattle, and some thrilling finishes, but no one got to see all of the games.

Because of a flawed television format, the term “regional coverage” meant a big shutout for fans. That’s since been corrected, and next year NBC, ESPN and Fox will make sure everyone can see every postseason game.

Then in the World Series, a nifty matchup between the Indians, making their first postseason appearance since 1954, and the Braves was tainted by the boorish behavior of Albert Belle.

Belle, who hit 50 home runs in a shortened, 144-game season, verbally assaulted NBC reporter Hannah Storm before Game 3. Interim commissioner Bud Selig promised swift action. But other than security officials interviewing Storm a couple of times since the incident, nothing has been done.

Belle did not escaped unscathed, either in the courts of law or public opinion.

Despite becoming the first player to get 100 extra-base hits since Stan Musial in 1948, he lost the A.L. MVP award in one of the closest elections ever, with several writers saying they marked down Belle because of his nasty character. Vaughn, who wears No. 42 to honor Jackie Robinson, accepted the honor at a Boston youth center that houses a program he founded.

Belle also was fined for a misdemeanor after running a couple of teenagers off the road with his vehicle - a Halloween altercation that began after a youth, upon finding out that Belle was not giving away treats, threw an egg into his house.

Injuries, meanwhile, played tricks on several All-Stars. Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Piazza, Jimmy Key, Matt Williams, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire all missed time.

Dave Stewart, though, left on his own. Unable to pitch up to his high standards, he put away his stare and retired in midseason. So did jolly John Kruk, who waited until he got one last hit and then walked away.

Don Mattingly, who finally got to play in the postseason with the Yankees, and Dave Winfield may be gone. Time also will tell if Sparky Anderson is finished - he left the Tigers in the spring, rather than work with replacements, and resigned as Detroit’s manager at the end of the season.

Ryne Sandberg, though, happily announced he’s coming back in 1996 after 1-1/2 years in retirement. Next season will get an early start, too, with a March 31 opener between Seattle and the White Sox.

Once more, from 1995:

- Baseball and a generation of Americans lost a hero in Mickey Mantle. Yankee Stadium had not been so silent since Gehrig’s farewell speech.

Nomo, stirring up memories of Fernando-mania, started the All-Star game in Texas, won by the N.L. on Jeff Conine’s home run.

Eddie Murray got his 3,000th hit. Next year, he’ll likely join Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only player with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.

Pedro Martinez lost a perfect game in the 10th inning. A month later, his brother, Ramon, pitched the only complete no-hitter of the year.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays were awarded expansion franchises. Buck Showalter will be Arizona’s manager when it starts in 1998.