For the past week or two there has been a lot of talk about playing the game in an old school way. From Cole Hamels initiation of Bryce Harper with a ball in the back, to the Mets David Wright being pulled out of the game by his coach to protect him from potential retaliation after a Mets pitcher hit Ryan Braun, there has been a lot of debate about what should and should not be a part of the game.
Let me preface a lot of what I’m going to say be defining what I think “Old School” now means in the baseball world. Old School – 1) The excuse pitchers use to cover up for the fact that they can’t get batters out so they just hit them with a pitch to feel good about themselves. 2) The excuse that hitters use when they are struggling and want to take it out on someone else or simply what a good reason to miss a few games during the season, unpaid time off.
Players today constantly make references that they want to be old schooled in how they play and they will make references to players from the past and talk about how those players were really intense and would take a guys head off to win a game. That is all fine but that isn’t what made those guys old school.
Old School Players in my Lifetime
Cal Ripken Jr. was old school not because he played really hard and was intense but instead because he respected the game so much that he went out every day and gave everything he had to help his team win and when he wasn’t on the field he continued to respect the game by doing things that left a positive and lasting impact on the community.
Ken Griffey Jr. was old schooled because despite being a superstar he was still willing to do anything he had to including jumping into a wall and breaking his wrist to make a catch. Griffey was known for being fun loving, relaxed and a great guy in the club house. Yes he was intense when he batted but once again he respected his teammates and the game enough to honor it in his actions on and off the field.
Derek Jeter is one of the few active players that I consider old schooled today. I still remember the play where he ran at full speed into foul territory to make a catch and then dive into the stands and bloody up his face. He could of easily let the ball drop to protect himself and just hope to get the third out on the next pitch but he respected the game enough to go all out for his team.
Guys who aren’t Old School and Never Will Be
Barry Bonds is a player that could of been a living legend but because of his attitude towards everyone I can’t grant him the old school title. Yes he could hit, but how often would he make the game about himself and not about helping his team win. Bonds wanted records and stats and that is the opposite of a true old school player.
Jose Reyes is another great talent, and possibly one of the best shortstops I have ever seen but he lost any chance of being an old school player when he chose to sat out the last game of the season to make sure he won the batting title. Do you think Cal Ripken would of sat out to win a batting title? Heck would Edgar Martinez sit out for a batting title? No way, both of those guys would of went out and gone 4-4 just to prove to the baseball world that they were the best hitters in the game.
Cole Hamels hit a player because he was young and a lot of people were talking about how good the kid was. Did the kid show him up, no. Did the kids go out seeking the hype he has received, no thats Sports Illustrated and ESPN’s fault. I have no problem with hitting a player but then saying you did it because its old school to initiate a player by hitting them is just a poor excuse. If that were true then there would be a lot of dead players who would get initiated by Randy Johnson over the years.
Players who play the game because they love and respect the game day in and day out are old school for me and that is the most important thing for me in choosing who I root for as a fan.