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2014 All-Star Game - Tony Gwynn’s Glaring Omission

MLB: All Star Game

The 2014 MLB All-Star game, unlike many in years past, was actually exciting to watch. Despite its excitement, the summer classic was also not without drama. The Prince of New York - Derek Jeter - was showered with ovation, provided candid in-game interviews, delivered two base knocks and was allegedly gifted/grooved a few meatballs from National League starting pitcher Adam Wainwright. All the while, MLB and Fox capitalized on the inflated hype as they incessantly played Jeter’s RE2PECT commercial in between innings. With all of the pomp and circumstance celebrating Jeter’s career, in addition the coronation of the new ‘face of baseball’ by awarding Angels outfielder Mike Trout the All-Star Game MVP, most baseball fans (especially those in San Diego) have been shaking their heads in disdain and clamoring for an apology from Bud Selig.

Throughout the program’s entirety, not one mention or iota was devoted in recognition for the recently passed legend, Mr. Padre - Tony Gwynn. Pundits and media personalities alike have demanded nothing short of people’s heads to roll in outrage of the perceived snub - labeling the act as disrespectful and intolerable. But I am here to tell you that although I believe that producing the game on television without any mention to Tony may have been a glaring omission, it is nowhere close to being disrespectful.

Calling MLB disrespectful for failing to mention Gwynn or his accomplishments would in truth be giving them far too much credit than they could ever deserve. You see, calling their choice disrespectful implies some sort of intent. If that were the case, MLB would have had to insidiously plan to remove any mention of Tony from its programming. To be disrespectful would mean that in dealing with the decision of where the focus of the game would be taking direction, someone would be responsible for advocating that Jeter would take precedence. As a result, there would be no room for someone like Tony. That kind of pretentious nonchalance to the historical aspect of the game would be disrespectful if it was intentional. Which in this case, I clearly believe that it was not.

Sure not mentioning Gwynn and his illustrious career was a magnanimous oversight; of which someone should be reprimanded. But it was far from disrespectful. Let us not forget that Gwynn was not the only baseball great to have passed this year. Jerry Coleman, Don Zimmer, Bob Welch, and Ralph Kiner all too have passed away this year. None of them were mentioned during the All-Star game, just like Tony.

MLB baseball missed out on a golden opportunity to mention and honor these men in a contest in which many of them played in, coached, and provided broadcast material for multiple years. But the fact that they were all collectively forgotten, as opposed to being singled out and purposefully silenced, shows that this omission was not done with malice as others have suggested. Baseball had a chance to bridge memories of the past, by acknowledging these legends, and pass the torch to the future faces of baseball. They failed miserably.

At one point in time, it seemed that the All-Star game marked a true coming of sorts for a player. For a young player, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to be named to an All-Star team. Players have fondly reflected about their first time participating in the midsummer classic - relishing in the opportunity to meet some of the men that they had been inspired by as kids growing up and learning how to play the game. No better chance than to pair the memories of the fallen and those no longer with it than to celebrate at the same time the exodus of Jeter from the big stage. Alas for MLB and its fans, it was just another swing and a miss.

As a Padres fan my knee jerk reaction was to also become upset thinking that Tony was somehow forgotten, so quickly. But then the more I thought about it, I began to empathize and project the way that Tony would have seen it. As humble of a man as he was, he would have wanted to stay out of the limelight and let the new guys have their chance to shine. And that’s exactly what happened.

In my heart and in the hearts of many other Padres fans alike, will always live a special place for Tony that no one can take away. Rather than become incensed that he wasn’t mentioned during an All-Star game, I challenge you to become more Tony-like. Instead of demanding apologies, realize that a mistake was made and be ready to move on without the necessity of an apology.

“Remember these two things: play hard and have fun.” - Tony Gwynn

Author: Dennis Gulyas

Dennis Gulyas is a native San Diegan currently covering the San Diego Padres. Dennis’ aim is to bring you objective commentary throughout the season - from the front office, to the dugout, and everything in between - without that “hometown” bias. This is Dennis’ first endeavor in writing and sports media. Dennis is currently studying at San Diego State University in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.

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