Anybody paying any attention to the "Memorable Moments" voting on mlb.com? As of today, Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak is the most memorable moment in the history of baseball ... huh, wha??? So a guy gathers up his glove and colostomy bag for a zillion games in a row, no matter how much he needed to be rested, no matter how mediocrely he was playing, and that moment transcends Lou Gehrig's "luckiest man in the world" speech, Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier, Satchel's Paige's induction into the HoF, Nolan Ryan's 7th no-hitter, or Kirk Gibson's pinch-hit homer??? Maybe I'm getting a little too bothered over some cheesey Mastercard-sponsored contest, but I just can't bear the thought of Ripken's already-far-too-overglorified accomplishment getting yet more fawning adulation.

I'm not paying a bit of attention to it. They could have given a much better selection.

I think there is more criticism of Ripken than is warranted, but that definitely shouldn't be the most memorable moment.

Cal Ripken's feat of longevity is truly amazing. His ability (and desire, for that matter) to play so many consecutive games in an age when they call the All Star game a tie because they've run out of pitchers is a testament to his devotion for the game and its fans. Hell, I haven't been to work that many consecutive days, have you?

Nevertheless, Rudy, you're right. But only because his feat isn't a "Moment" rather a test of time.

To answer your question, however, I'd have to say, yes, you are indeed getting a little too bothered over some cheesey Mastercard-sponsored contest. But at least be glad that our lives are so uncomplicated that we have the luxury to get this worked up over such inconsequential things.

Go Rocks (proud team of absolutely no "Memorable Moments". Yet.

I guess I'd join you in saying it was an amazing achievement over time if it had happened naturally, using sound baseball judgment. But somewhere along the line, The Streak took on a life of its own, and suddenly the most unbreakable of baseball records looked like it could be broken. There was no way the manager could sit Ripken, no matter how badly he was playing, no matter how much his body could use the rest, because fans all over would scream for his head if he had. Certainly half of The Streak is Ripken's dedication, work ethic, and love for the game. But come on, The Streak would have ended long before #2131 if contrivance and fabrication hadn't taken over.

At the risk of *GASP* actually agreeing with BoSoxRudy, I agree with BoSoxRudy. Oh wait, this isn't the P&R forum, it's cool for me to agree with him!

And let the record reflect that I'm not bitter about The Streak because he broke it against the Angels. Nope, not at all.

And no way in H.E.double hockey sticks would a Dodger get my vote. Nope, not at all.

Hmmm....yeah Joe in Maryland, that is a pretty short list. Of the ones on there, I'd say my vote getter would be either DiMaggio's 56-game streak or Don Larsen's WS perfect game.

And while we're dissing the list here, I'd like to put in a negative comment about Willie May's 1954 WS catch. I was watching a baseball show recently and they had a film clip of that catch, but it was a clip I'd never seen before, from a completely different angle. And well, I've always thought that Willie's catch was a good one and for the context of when it happened, a huge play, but by today's standards, it's pretty routine. Now, Jim Edmond's sprawling over-the-shoulder catch about 4-5 years ago that was replayed on SportsCenter about a billion times, I think THAT was a catch.

And it has nothing to do with the fact that he was an Angel then, nope, not all.

[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]