For the love of the game: Gwynn, Ripken bring heart to Hall

Tellingly, it wasn't playing baseball or talking baseball. It's simply walking on the extended red carpet that leads to Induction Day.

The Hall of Fame is all about greatness, and when you can mix that in with a couple of guys who are among the greatest ambassadors for the sport that the game has ever seen, well, what can be better than that?

Strikes, lockouts, the Steroid Era ... cynicism, commercialism and cheating has run rampant in recent years. Too often, you have to wade through a swamp to get to the celebration.

Best part about this weekend -- and these two guys -- is, you don't.

That '94 season was Gwynn's last, best chance to hit .400, as things turned out. The closest he got to Williams after that wasn't with his average, but with a strong and thriving friendship that lasted until the Splendid Splinter died.

Did Gwynn think he could have hit .400 in '94?

Heck yes, he told me that spring night in 1995. And I believed him.