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Thursday, July 17, 2014

MLB, Fox release a joint statement about the lack of a Tony Gwynn tribute on Tuesday night

Calcaterra with the joint blowing statement.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, an extraordinary individual whose memory we have honored in numerous ways in recent weeks. The Baseball family has sadly lost a number of people this year – including Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, Frank Cashen, and former All-Stars Jerry Coleman, Jim Fregosi and Don Zimmer – and did not want to slight anyone by singling out one individual.”

As I said yesterday, though a tribute to the departed would always be welcome, I don’t feel like MLB and Fox not doing anything along those lines is a problem given all that has been done in baseball — by the league, by every team, in every game broadcast in the days following his death — to honor Gwynn. And I think the statement’s inclusion of people like Coleman, Fregosi, Cashman and Zimmer is a mild jab back by Fox and MLB at the critics whose anger at the lack of a Gwynn tribute perhaps overlooks the fact that, if anything, Gwynn has been honored far more than others baseball has recently lost.

That said, this statement is pretty rich given that, above all else, Fox’s broadcast on Tuesday night was nothing if not the honoring of one person — the singling out of Derek Jeter — in a way that pretty much slighted most of the 70-some other All-Stars that were in attendance. Not to mention the game itself.

Still, I presume that the furor over this alleged slight will lead Fox and MLB to put together an Oscars-style death reel to be played at some point during the World Series pregame show.

Repoz Posted: July 17, 2014 at 07:14 AM | 53 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: jeter

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1. JRVJ Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:22 AM (#4752634)

"Furor"?

Look, I am fairly sad that Tony Gwynn passed away, but of all the things in the world to get into a furor about...... this lack of a tribute is not one of them.

#FirstWorldProblems

2. Batman Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:32 AM (#4752641)

I'm outraged that "Cashen" became "Cashman" in the article.

3. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:39 AM (#4752646)

Doing something like the Oscars--short montage of players, etc that have been lost over the past year--would be a fine addition to the telecast without introducing too much sadness into the festivities.

4. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:43 AM (#4752650)

The actual press release was a video, but you couldn't tell what they were saying for all of the gurgling around Jeter's knob, so they printed it up.

5. Ray (CTL)

Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:46 AM (#4752653)

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, an extraordinary individual whose memory we have honored in numerous ways in recent weeks. The Baseball family has sadly lost a number of people this year – including Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, Frank Cashen, and former All-Stars Jerry Coleman, Jim Fregosi and Don Zimmer – and did not want to slight anyone by singling out one individual.”

Not that I care, but there's a distinction with Gwynn: he died young. And played recently.

But I'm glad they didn't want to single out any one individual, and so we never had to sit through them fellating Jeter.

6. #6bid Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:49 AM (#4752655)

The original draft of the press release was just "Derek Jeter" repeated 412 times.

7. Nasty Nate Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:52 AM (#4752658)

"...did not want to slight anyone by singling out one individual.”

HAHH HAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

8. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:57 AM (#4752661)

Gwynn is qualitatively different from the other guys mentioned in the article not just in that he was a first ballot Hall of Famer but that he was around so recently. Derek Jeter played in an All-Star game with Tony Gwynn. He still has at least one former teammate hanging around in Xavier Nady.

9. Jose is an Absurd Doubles Machine Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:58 AM (#4752664)

Baseball Prospectus counted the mentions of each player the other night;

Derek Jeter - 84
Mike Trout - 38
Miguel Cabrera - 28

That's your top three.

10. Batman Posted: July 17, 2014 at 11:02 AM (#4752669)

He still has at least one former teammate hanging around in Xavier Nady.

Buddy Carlyle too. Ruben Rivera is still playing in Mexico, so bb-ref marks him as active.

11. Ray (CTL)

Posted: July 17, 2014 at 11:06 AM (#4752675)

#8, yeah, the idea that you couldn't honor Gwynn because you would have also had to honor Frank Cashen is nutty.

12. Pat Rapper's Delight (as quoted on MLB Network) Posted: July 17, 2014 at 11:10 AM (#4752679)

It's a tragedy that Gwynn is no longer with us so he couldn't be at the All-Star Game to be asked, "Tony, just how great is Derek Jeter and how did he serve as an inspiration to you throughout your career?"

13. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 17, 2014 at 11:22 AM (#4752690)

Re #9:

The All-Stars at least one of the three announcers had never heard of:

Michael Brantley: 3
Josh Harrison: 3
Erick Aybar: 3
Koji Uehara: 3
Scott Kazmir: 2
Greg Holland: 2
Charlie Blackmon: 2
Tony Watson: 2
Miguel Montero: 1

Which one of them didn't know who Uehara was?!

14. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 17, 2014 at 11:36 AM (#4752702)

Losing Tony Gwynn sucks, but has MLB ever acknowledged the passing of a major player at an ASG or big event like this before? I'm sure it has happened, but I can't think of it happening a lot.

15. Rally Posted: July 17, 2014 at 11:58 AM (#4752733)

"Tony, just how great is Derek Jeter and how did he serve as an inspiration to you throughout your career?"

Well Joe, as you know I started my career more than a decade before Derek Jeter played his first game. But one time in Walla Walla, as I was passed out in a haze after tying to get my Betamax to work, I had the vision of a perfect swing by a player in pinstripes. I didn't know whose swing it was, but the way he could inside out a ball, it was just revolutionary. I copied that swing as best I could, and it set me on my way to 3000 hits. Later in my career, playing in my second world series, the Yankees sent this young shortstop up to the plate. He dropped in a perfect single, right in front of me. That's when I knew! It was Deja Vu all over again. Now I had a name and a face to match to the swing. After the game I thanked Derek Jeter for all that he did for my career.

16. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:06 PM (#4752752)

#13: I was going to share your indignation, but then I realized that I had no idea who Tony Watson was (figured he was a reliever). Then again, if I were a full-time baseball broadcaster, I'd probably follow the rest of the league more closely.

17. billyshears Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:25 PM (#4752780)

Ton Watson isn't real.

18. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:29 PM (#4752783)

#13: I was going to share your indignation, but then I realized that I had no idea who Tony Watson was (figured he was a reliever). Then again, if I were a full-time baseball broadcaster, I'd probably follow the rest of the league more closely.

I assume that header was merely a joke about the lack of star status of those nine individuals, since it would be virtually impossible to identify players not known by the announcers.

19. Stormy JE

Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:47 PM (#4752792)

Losing Tony Gwynn sucks, but has MLB ever acknowledged the passing of a major player at an ASG or big event like this before? I'm sure it has happened, but I can't think of it happening a lot.

Seriously, AG? If any True Yankee, let alone named Derek Jeter, dropped dead within one month of the ASG, do you really think MLB wouldn't acknowledge it? Heck, they'd probably carve the deceased's face into the grass behind home plate.

20. Batman Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:53 PM (#4752796)

There was a moment of silence before the 1951 All-Star Game for a player who had died the day before. Anyone who guesses the player wins every internet.

There was also one for Steinbrenner in 2010. He died the morning of the ASG.

21. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:57 PM (#4752798)

Tony Gwynn was a first ballot HOFer who played in 15 all-star games, was absolutely adored by fans and players, coached college ball and was a mentor to younger players, and died very recently at a fairly young age of a terrible disease. If ever there was a time and place for a tribute for a deceased player, this was it.

22. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:59 PM (#4752799)

Ted Williams was honored before the 2002 game, though he had died only four days earlier.

23. gef the talking mongoose, amorphous lefty blob Posted: July 17, 2014 at 12:59 PM (#4752800)

Seriously, AG? If any True Yankee, let alone named Derek Jeter, dropped dead within one month of the ASG, do you really think MLB wouldn't acknowledge it? Heck, they'd probably carve the deceased's face into the grass behind home plate.

They'd cancel the game, if not the rest of the season.

24. Jose is an Absurd Doubles Machine Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:02 PM (#4752805)

25. Jose is an Absurd Doubles Machine Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:03 PM (#4752806)

There was a moment of silence before the 1951 All-Star Game for a player who had died the day before. Anyone who guesses the player wins every internet.

I guessed "not a San Diego Padre." Do I get half credit?

26. gef the talking mongoose, amorphous lefty blob Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:06 PM (#4752809)

Just out of curiosity, was Ted Williams' passing mentioned during the 2002 game? It would've occurred only a few days earlier, & of course he was part of a very memorable All Star Game moment only 3 years before that (which I gather also involved Tony Gwynn ... unfortunately, I didn't see any of it, but I see the whole thing is available on YouTube*).

*In a related development, I suspect it's about to get dusty in here.

27. BDC

Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:07 PM (#4752811)

1951 All-Star Game for a player who had died the day before

I guessed how to guess who it was, and now I know, but I don't think that wins me anything :)

28. Batman Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:20 PM (#4752821)

I guessed "not a San Diego Padre." Do I get half credit?

He played for a PCL team in San Francisco, but not the one that became the Padres. You win this round, Jose!

29. Sunday silence Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:22 PM (#4752825)

I would guess Harry Aganis but I think he died in mid decade, but that's my guess.

30. Jose is an Absurd Doubles Machine Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:23 PM (#4752826)

Just out of curiosity, was Ted Williams' passing mentioned during the 2002 game?

In a bit of irony they decided to rename the All Star Game MVP after him for that year. The ironic part is that no one was actually given the award that year since the game ended in a tie. I assume that his name came up a few times though I don't remember.

31. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:26 PM (#4752829)

In a bit of irony they decided to rename the All Star Game MVP after him for that year. The ironic part is that no one was actually given the award that year since the game ended in a tie. I assume that his name came up a few times though I don't remember.

As I noted in 22, yes he was.

32. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:32 PM (#4752836)

If they mentioned Gwynn on the broadcast, then we'd be enduring a thread where people were angrily arguing that there is no proof that Gwynn's death was tobacco related.

33. The Mighty Quintana Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:41 PM (#4752849)

They could ve just cued up that perfect Ted Williams-Tony Gwynn moment from the Fenway All-Star game...it was on Fox, so they wouldn't even have to secure rights. Seems too easy, tailor-made....

34. Khrushin it bro Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:45 PM (#4752855)

I realize it would be rude to St. Derek of Fox to discuss anyone else

I'm starting to think that A-Rod's year long ban was so that he would not selfishly take the attention away from Jeter's last season.

35. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:53 PM (#4752866)

but then I realized that I had no idea who Tony Watson was

I assumed he was the same guy as Allen Watson, and was still kicking around. Lefty reliever and all.

36. Martin Hemner

Posted: July 17, 2014 at 01:59 PM (#4752877)

Hell, they didn't even need a tribute. Just mention the ####### guy. Bring up Kiner, Fregosi and others if you want but Buck announced several years of Gwynn's career including a world series, Verducci covered him and Reynolds played against him and even with him for a spring. No one thought of him? I realize it would be rude to St. Derek of Fox to discuss anyone else but sitting on my porch I thought of Gwynn several times and I never met the guy.

They didn't honor Gary Carter, who was similarly great and in his 50s when he died, so it would be a slippery slope to honor Gwynn officially. But Fox could definitely have run a montage at some point.

37. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 17, 2014 at 02:03 PM (#4752884)

They didn't honor Gary Carter, who was similarly great and in his 50s when he died, so it would be a slippery slope to honor Gwynn officially.

Carter died in the offseason, so there's a little bit of difference there.

38. Jose is an Absurd Doubles Machine Posted: July 17, 2014 at 02:11 PM (#4752898)

Carter died in the offseason, so there's a little bit of difference there.

Yeah. And even if the timing had been the same just because they've made the same mistake in the past doesn't mean they should keep making it.

More generally I don't want a full on Oscars style musical montage or anything but it was awfully odd that he did not get mentioned.

39. The Yankee Clapper Posted: July 17, 2014 at 03:06 PM (#4752960)

Doing something like the Oscars--short montage of players, etc that have been lost over the past year--would be a fine addition . . .

Excellent idea. Maybe limit it to former All-Stars, which would still be a fairly large group.

40. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: July 17, 2014 at 03:17 PM (#4752986)

Doing something like the Oscars--short montage of players, etc that have been lost over the past year--would be a fine addition . . .

Play it instead of subjecting fans to "God Bless America." The perfect plan.

41. gef the talking mongoose, amorphous lefty blob Posted: July 17, 2014 at 03:28 PM (#4753003)

As I noted in 22, yes he was.

Oops. Didn't realize you'd addressed that before I asked about it.

42. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 17, 2014 at 03:56 PM (#4753031)

Play it instead of subjecting fans to "God Bless America." The perfect plan.

I'm not sure why you hate America, but I agree with your plan just the same.

43. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: July 17, 2014 at 04:46 PM (#4753097)

I'm not sure why you hate America, but I agree with your plan just the same.

Just "Horse With No Name."

44. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 17, 2014 at 05:15 PM (#4753127)

Doing something like the Oscars--short montage of players, etc that have been lost over the past year--would be a fine addition.

Excellent idea. Maybe limit it to former All-Stars, which would still be a fairly large group.

The least cheesy tribute would be to emulate the PBS NewsHour salutes to the week's military casualties. Have a slowly changing slide show of the deceased players' photos on the Jumbotron, while the crowd remains silent. No music necessary----why does every tribute have to have some goddam marketing tie-in?

45. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: July 17, 2014 at 05:21 PM (#4753137)

What announcer doesn't know Erick Aybar? He's in his 9th year in the majors! He has over 50 postseason plate appearances!

Was it Chris Berman?

Now, Tony Watson, I'd be suspicious if someone DID know who he was.

46. asinwreck Posted: July 17, 2014 at 05:38 PM (#4753155)

I thought the wake Fox gave Jeter was moving.

47. TerpNats Posted: July 17, 2014 at 06:00 PM (#4753174)

48. Walt Davis Posted: July 17, 2014 at 07:10 PM (#4753226)

I think an Oscars montage would be fine. I'm also fine with nothing.

To highlight the "problem": Sure, Gwynn was more famous, younger, etc. But Kiner is also an HoFer and was a beloved broadcaster for decades. Zimmer was famous for having been in baseball for 70+ years and would have been instantly recognizable to pretty much any baseball fan. Coleman was another long-time beloved broadcaster. Etc.

That's the slippery slope. As soon as you honor Gwynn the question is raised "why didn't you honor this guy too?" Even when there's a good answer to that question (e.g. Gwynn vs. Cashen), nobody wants to give that answer because it sounds like an insult.

Day of, a couple of days before is different as everybody is still emotional. Did they do anything for Kile? Was there a playoff/WS tribute to Munson? What did they do for Clemente (opening day I suppose)?

Doesn't excuse not talking about him during the broadcast, doesn't make the "didn't want it to be about one person at the expense of others" excuse less laughable in this particular case.

49. Rob_Wood Posted: July 17, 2014 at 07:42 PM (#4753238)

Am I imagining things? I thought Fox did a segment on Gwynn in the pre-game show. I was flipping channels, so maybe it was ESPN or MLB Network.

50. Ulysses S. Fairsmith Posted: July 17, 2014 at 10:30 PM (#4753297)

I thought Fox did a segment on Gwynn in the pre-game show.

I'm glad you said that. I thought it was just me.

51. DanG Posted: July 18, 2014 at 02:30 AM (#4753392)

That's the slippery slope. As soon as you honor Gwynn the question is raised "why didn't you honor this guy too?"

Limit the montage to 20 people. Everyone gets three seconds.

52. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 18, 2014 at 02:42 AM (#4753395)

Limit the montage to 20 people. Everyone gets three seconds.

You can read more about this in Part 4 of Fixing the Hereafter.

53. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 18, 2014 at 06:33 AM (#4753404)

At the several Yankees Old-Timers Days I've attended over the years, there was always an "in memoriam" segment for about a minute or so where members of the MLB community who had died over the past year -- whether or not they were associated with the Yankees -- had their names shown on the video screen.

That's exactly the sort of model that should be used during the All-Star games. As usual, less is more when it comes to multiple tributes.

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MLB, Fox release a joint statement about the lack of a Tony Gwynn tribute on Tuesday night

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