Carole..I'm happy you're happy gf...I just can't talk sports with you, don't know a thing about  it...but they do sound like they are nice fellows and very deserving.

I see Mark McGire got very few votes and Jim Rice ( Boston Red Sox) didn't make it again. I knew both Cal and Tony would get in first time around they are some of the greatest of all time.

Their work ethics do say volumes about them as human beings, I admire these guys a lot and they are my heroes.

 Great blog

Moni it's kind of you to come anyway lol.  They are nice fellows indeed! Jay it was nice to see two mirror images with the same life lessons to teach get elected on the same day. It's karma, and baseball is all karma no?

Both studs...both deserving of the Hall.  I saw them both play and have met Tony.  A true mensch.

The Tribe's training in Goodyear, AZ this year, correct? 

What goes around comes around. You got it kiddo.

Brian: Correct, and the Indians probably never should have left Tuscon lol.  Supposedly Gwynn is a stats wizard. Not unlike many baseball fanatics lol 

Jay: That's another one of those life lessons, karma LOL

Carole, there are very few players left today that cared about the game the way these two players did, and that is why they will be remembered for a long time.  I got back into collecting baseball cards back in 1981, so when Ripken & Gwynn came up into the majors, I was putting away as many rookie cards as I could, because that is always the most valuable card if the player makes it.  I got lucky and have cards for both Ripken & Gwynn in clear unopened packs.  It was fun to collect the cards back then, now there are so many kinds that it is impossible to keep up with them.

Supposedly Gwynn is a stats wizard.

And geeky mortgage brokers; maybe it's a San Diego thing 

I spent many a home opener in Old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.  I used to sit out in right field and watch Roberto Clemento - a great player and a fine human being.

Carole,

I am not much of a baseball fan, but I will say that Cal Ripken, Jr is one of my all-time favorite pre athletes.  I went to a spring training game in Jupiter (Ripken vs. McGuire).  Ripken stayed 3 hours after the game signing autographs (he even took the time to take a picture with me).  McGuire left the game early signed maybe 10 autographs, saw the line of people wanting his signature, turned to his assistant and said let's get out of here.  Ripken remembers why he is there (the fans)...  He is definitely a good role model for many aspects of life.

Carole - I was thrilled that Cal Ripken got in, and by such a large vote, too.  I do think Jim Rice deserves to be in there, but I'm not so sure about Mark McGwyre.  I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I do watch plenty of games each year.

Ann

Cal Ripken was my favorite baseball player. He's a great guy and who doesn't love those eyes!

I think we can learn a lot from sports figures. So many parallels.

Great analogy to our business - and to life here on AR.

I'm not into baseball - The Bucks are here. ;-) Archie Griffin, 2 time Heisman winner, is a class act and works for the Athletic Dept. I've never seen one negative article on Archie. In fact, there are few articles on Archie. He works behind the scenes and just does good things. He's "good people" with high standards. But who gets the press? People like Art Schlicter (gambling) and Maurice Clarett - guilty of about everything!

As someone in another blog said, beware of those that constantly brag and say they are the BEST. Very often they aren't. The ones that are truly the BEST, are the "unknowns". Those that quietly do their job and service their clients in a responsible, ethical manner.

Good article, Carole! You're a PEACH.

If anyone had to break Lou Gehrig's record, I'm glad it was someone like Cal Ripken.

Great post, Carole.  "I'm an independent contractor but if I don't treat what I do like a profession I know I will undercut myself and my clients. That's not acceptable."  I couldn't have said it better myself!

Back in my Triple A ticketing days, the Las Vegas Stars were the farm team for the Padres. At the end of our season we all went to San Diego for the weekend and got to see Tony get his 2,000th hit. And the parallel with Spring Training is the importance of fundamentals. Even the pros go back to the basics every year.

This was fun to read baseball, football, ice skating all show how important training and focus are!  Enjoyed this well done

All of that and Cal has the prettiest eyes!  Ooops - off the subject.

Thanks everyone for the comments, I caught some kind of a bug so not as with it as usual. I like the Spring Training reference John. very true, back to basics  It sounds to me like you all 'get it.' Thank you!

F3C... what  GREAT post. I only wish I could relate. I am a designer. I kid you not... the only baseball I own is PINK.

Shhhh... keep that quiet in the rain!

Ball it forward...

Me

Carole- Great post.  Very good life lessons.  I am not a big baseball fan either (I follow football) but there was something about Cal Ripkin, Jr. that always caught my attention.  He just seemed like a nice guy.  Oh yeah, and he has beautiful blue eyes.  :)

Good post, Carole. I am not a huge baseball fan but am well aware of these guys and their tremendous contributions. Loved the analogy with our business.

I love these work-ethic, grind em out, old style players. These guy's "get it" and are loved/respected for their attitude and determination. Big time vote getters and baseball sends a message with some very low #'s for McGwire 

Carole.... so true... playing for the love of the sport and not always the money. I knew that these two would make it.  But I don't know why Jim Rice hasn't made it yet. I am not happy, because I am a Redsox fan... and if I am correct, you only get so many chances?

One thing that comes to my mind all the time when talking about sports, money, and stand-up people..... is when Joe Montana decided to reduce his salary to fit under the cap to keep another player on the team. Talk about a team player.... a person that loves the sport, realizes sportsmanship, team work, sacrifice for the team, and makes the sport better.  I still look at him as one of the few that have done this and one of the first to do it. Always respected the guy because of that. True Class.

so Carole, do you like baseball?  ;o)

Carole-Not only were these two of the hardest working and dedicated players without all the flash but they were genuinely nice gentlemen and ambassadors of the game.  They were never featured in a magazine or newspaper because they did something wrong. 

Are you going to write a blog about the two guys that didn't make it:  Mark McGwire and Pete Rose?  I dont know if I am the minority here but I think they should both be in....especially Pete Rose.  He screwed up but that should not overshadow the things he did on the baseball diamond.

Aloha!

1st SGT.....   I would definately say Pete Rose should be in......  McGuire...,  I still would have to think on that. He cheated the public with lies and deciet......  sure, he is human.... but to obtain a record at one point, because of a drug?????  Just my opinion.   Write a blog on this?  Great start..... but make it related to real estate and such, so it counts.

Carole, another great post, as usual.

Kudos to the new Hall of Famers.  Let's not forget they did it on their own merits with no help from steroids.  I read an article a couple of months ago about why Mark McGwire would not get one particular voter's vote and it had everything to do with steroids. 

Hi Carole, Stopping in for my morning read. I thought you did a very good job connecting their work ethics with what we do as REALTOR®.  I have folks tell me I'm wasting my talents continueing to work in the bottom of the market with affordable housing. But I love it!! I love the people I work for and I love keeping busy. I love showing up and getting the job done. Maybe I can go into the hall if fame someday:)

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exxagerated lol.  TY all for commenting:

George: it sounds like you could retire on your baseball card income!

Brian: It's probably in the San Diego water :-)

Linda: I can't believe I ahve never been to a Pirates game in Pittsburgh; St. Louis yes, not in Pittsburgh!

Jason: Cal and Tony are very special, but it seems to me that McGwire has been running a foundation for children for years; things are rarely black and white on these things, although he certainly made a bad choice about the steroids.

Ann: I agree! Jim Rice should be in the Hall of Fame; I don't know how many years he has left for consideration but I hope he makes it.

Christy and Dena: LOL  ok, nice eyes don't hurt

Elaine: Kind of like real life no? Some of us make choices we wish we hadn't; I remember when Archie Griffin was playing and it sounds like he has continuted to be important in the community I like hearing that!

Mike: all records are made to be broken, IMHO, but I hear you, it's easier to swallow when someone we like does the 'breaking'

Jim and Maria and Jeff D: Thank you!

John: Great point about spring training and fundamentals. I guess our business plans can help to focus on those each year. And Linda and Angus are farmers, so we can learn a lot from them on that important 'basics' point.

FC:  Ball it forward, or at least a photo! Pink! It's the Mary Kay baseball, I know it :-)

Angus: Love that phrase 'grind em out' and it really is how I feel sometimes about what we do, when it's working!

Jeff B: I didn't recall the Montana story until you brought it up, yes that was a classy thing to do and not common anymore, although loyalty going in the other direction isn't so common either. No, I hate baseball :-)

Teri: There seems to be a particularly skilled ability for all the greats to focus and concentrate. Good point.

Maggie: I'm not sure how I feel yet about steroids affecting McGwire's vote. Because how do we know that others have not already gotten elected to the H of Fame and were steroid users? And it seems to be that as obvious as it is that he used them, that there really will be no proof. I don't know. But you bring up a good point, all that great talent, I bet he would have been good enough without them. Now it's in question.

Bryant: Ya know, the 'affordable' homes are the ones that don't get affected by bubbles, at least not so much; so I'm with you, it's a great 'focus' area. Although, I nice expensive sale once in a while would make me smile :-) 

David and Tonya: I say write that blog! And I am leaning towards your way of thinking, only because at this point, what good does it do to single out one or two people when I bet over half the players on each team were using them. Now one thing I CAN see happening, is an asterisk after McGwire's home run record.

Great blog and there are certain people that just "get it" and these guys do -- and so do you.

Just one correction to Elaine's comment -- Archie is no longer in the athletic department, he is now presdent of the alumni association for Ohio State, he left about two years ago. It was a great opportunity and he was tired of being Assoc. Alumni Director. He is an amazing man and I really think Mr. Troy Smith is going to be very similar to him.

Carole- This is quite the motivational post. Good on ya!! It is amazing how dedication, in any field can translate to our career. Determination and Faith are great assets! :o)

Jeff - One of the reasons Jim Rice has nor made it is his numbers are not there and I think the biggest reason is the way he treated the press. They say he was not very approacable and at times nasty to the media. I think they only get 15 years to try and get in.

Carole, I am from Cleveland.  Grew up in Brook Park...I live in Boston now.  Anyway, I am a huge sports fan (played football through college and signed with the Browns as a free agent in 2000).  When I was a kid my good friend's father was a cop at the stadium.  After the ballgame's he would get us in to see the visiting players walk out of their locker rooms to get autographs (I met all the great ones personally). 

One night, I was able to get Cal Ripken Sr. (3rd base coach the time), Cal Ripken Jr. (SS), and Billy Ripken (2nd Base) all on one ML baseball.  I am sure the value just spiked with Cal's induction.  Thanks for the post.

Jay: I think Eddie Murray got in, and rightfully so! Even though he wasn't known for schmoozing the press.  I think Jim Rice gets a bad rap; as for his stats, that I am not up on.

Nick, hello! A fellow Clevelander! What a great story about all those autographs. And it sounds lilke you are quite the athlete yourself.  I have fond memories of autographs when I was a little girl, outside the stadium. (A tad older than you so my players are , uh, older!)   Yes I would say the ball's value just went up up and up. I just showed a few condos two weekends ago in Brookpark, nice ones at a good price!  I attended quite a few games when all three Ripkens were playing, but I was living in Maryland then and never tried the autograph route.

Carole, I come back to Brook Park to visit my parents every couple months.  I will let you know when I am in town.  My company will open the Cleveland market soon and we are always looking to make new blogging relationships and or partners.

I grew up with the San Francisco Giants - Willie May, Bobby Bonds, Willie McCovey, Juan Marchial, Dick Dietz, and many others. In those days there was tremendous team and fan loyalty. Players stayed with the same team their entire career. You collected all the cards for YOUR team and never ever traded a Willie Mays for ANYTHING! Many of the "It's ALL about ME" egotistical players could learn some valuable lessons from Cal and Tony. There is no "i" in team. Wonderful post, Carole!

Nick: So that means you will be doing condos here? It's exciting to know you will be opening business in Cleveland!

Rich: You know, I remember those days, and the teams have managed to do as much as the players to change that 'team' feeling,' which is sad. I take it that means you still have a Willie Mays? Don't tell George he will want it! lol. Lots of good players in that list you mention, Thanks Rich!

Well yes...not selling condos though.  We are a media company for condo develeopers and brokers and a search platform or online magazine for the condo home buyer.  We have some fun things happening soon.  http://activerain.com/blogsview/31724/Looking-for-Condo-Bloggers.

Carole, Just yesterday on a sports talk show they said they think Jim Rice will get in next year. The main reason Jim didn't get in this year is due to the fact that Cal and Tony were eligible. They said next year there is not a banner crop of inductees. So, we shall see what we shal see come then.

Thanks Jay 

No Willie, unfortunately. All of my cards got tossed. Can you imagine what a May rookie card would go for today? <sigh>

Carole, I agree that it's a shame for McGwire.  I'm not much of a sports follower, but I sure did watch that year just to stare at his biceps ;-)  OK, OK, the tight pants too.  wow...how long ago was that??

Sports figures can elevate the moral of the population. Cal Ripken was the work horse everyone looked up to. That is what we should thrive for as professionals.Put aside the personal stuff of your lives and go to the plate.Clients are not interested in your arthritis or your problems with your niece, unless they invite you to. Like the fans, our clients want consistency not flash in the pan.But Cal is a classy personality and stands among very few in that league.Sorry I am a Red Sox fan. My guy is Ortiz. When I see an athlete going beyong the usual I am inspired. They may be Lance Amstrong, Navratilova,Michelle Wang,Federer, Ali, Cal Ripken or Tony Gwynn. They push us to be better pros. Now I am going to go for a bike run and hope that I am not going to pull something! 

Maggie: well maybe those biceps were just a tad enhanced eh? lol Thanks for commenting!

Lloyd: lol go for the gusto and enjoy the ride. I like your list, I have a slew of tennis heros like Michael Chang who did well in spite of being short, not an easy feat....and one of my all time sports heros Arthur Ashe. Class is something we can all strive for in life and now that I think of it, here on AR too!

Great Post Carole! 

I would normally pass by this post if it had anything to do with Football or Baseball, but you made it interesting and absorbing!

Thank You,

Debbie Cook - (from Cal Ripken's Home State)

PS
Do you think someone can help OUR Redskins?? 

Hi Debbie: I remember all the Redskin glory years (80s?) seems like things have not kept pace lol. Maybe Joe Gibbs should have stayed in retirement? Or maybe they just need more experienced players? I have to admit, I'm more of a baseball fan than football fan so not sure! Hope your team gives you more reason to smile next year (hey, maybe they need to get back to the basics like we all talked about on this post lol)

You live in Silver Spring? I lived in Rockville for a long time. Love that whole area; saw a Blue Heron once in the middle of rush hour afternoon traffic flying over University Blvd. and Connecticut Avenue...this was about five years ago. Very cool memory :-)

I don't know much about baseball.  Someone called me the clean up batter for RCG the other day.  Had to ask what that was.  Still not sure.  Clean up duty does not sound good to me.

Hi Ardell, see it's like this; the first couple of batters are supposed to get on base. Then the clean up batter has the power babe; you are supposed to bring it on home - yer the power hitter is what they are telling you. Sounds like a compliment to me.

Cal Ripken Jr. is probably my alltime favorite baseball player and I was so proud when I saw him accepted into the HoF. I love your analogy between the two because it is so very true! The baseball greats (and some not-so-greats) have at times had incredible philosophies, the most important in my opinion is finding what gives you peace and puts you into a state of mind different from that of everyday stress and life. In many religions the point of life is to find peace within yourself, in real estate I imagine it is selling the properties/homes you enjoy the most, to the people you enjoy the most! "If you build it they will come"? I think it should actually be, "If you love what you sell, they will come" =) Life seems to unfold like that in the long run.

You sound like a wise person Joel and it's nice to meet you here, thank you. Look forward to learning more about you in your posts!