I love baseball. I mean, I really love baseball. Sometimes I ask myself why. But then an event like today’s Hall of Fame press conference comes along and I remember all too quickly.

Baseball is about life. It’s about families growing up, struggling to succeed. It’s about failing most of the time, but accomplishing just enough to keep pushing on. It can be mentally draining and physically tough, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Life and baseball are challenges, and just as we reward exemplary citizens of society, we do the same with those in the game of baseball. And today, I couldn’t help but think that baseball inducted two of the finest ball players AND American citizens this country has ever seen.

On this first real cold day of the winter season in New York, all was warm inside the Waldorf Astoria hotel. And it wasn’t just because we gathered in the most lavish hotel in Manhattan. Writers, media members, honored guests, historians and the Hall of Fame staff gathered together in the Empire Room of the hotel to feel the warmth of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn.

It didn’t matter today if you were old school or new school. It didn’t matter if you were a writer or a television reporter. And it didn’t matter, at least from what I saw, whether Mark McGuire should have been elected or if steroids played a role in anyone’s career. Today was about two men and the game they love and the game WE love.

Cal was his typical charming self, speaking calmly and eloquently as ever. He reflected upon “the streak” and talked about the influence his father Cal Ripken Sr. had on his career. He also spoke of Eddie Murray and the confidence and support he provided. And of course he thanked the Orioles family and fans for an unbelievable run.

Tony Gwynn began his comments with a flash of that unmistakable smile that makes the room glow. He chuckled and did his best kid impersonation you could imagine. Tony always seemed to make people feel comfortable, and today was no different. Gwynn spoke of the support his wife gave him and attributed much of his success to tips he received from the late great Ted Williams. As Tony says, “When I met Ted Williams I was a lifetime .323 hitter. When I ended my career, I was a .338 hitter.”

Gwynn and Ripken took turns praising each other and sharing stories of the minor leagues. Cal talked about the lack of hot water in the showers while Tony reflected on his days at the Padres minor league affiliate in Walla Walla, Washington. To this day he said he still remembers getting on the bus after a game on a very hot summer afternoon. “The windows wouldn’t open,” said Gwynn, “and there was no air conditioning. And John Kruk was a teammate of mine so you can imagine how (crazy) things got.”

The two Hall of Famers stressed how important it was to play for one team their entire career. It helped them stabilize their families and identify with the city and the fans. I think Gwynn summed it up best when he said, “When you hear my name, you're not going to think about what hat he's going to wear.”

In many ways, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn are throwbacks. While they both were gifted with incredible talent, neither was one to rest on his laurels. They took a blue collar approach to their craft and earned the respect of millions for doing just that. Today, that respect was on display for all to see. In a room filled with everyone from Jack O’Connell of the BBWAA to Bill Madden of the New York Daily News to Alan Schwarz of Baseball America and scores of MLB executives, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn commanded not only our respect, but our admiration as well, while we all sat there smiling like proud parents.