You know you've followed a sport for a long time when the players you first heard about while in the minors are now, 20 years later, hanging up the glove for the last time.
A few seasons ago, I got to watch names like Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, and Rickey Henderson (although he'd never admit it), retire from the game. This year, we may be seeing the last of Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, and others finally close the doors on long careers.
Some names I remember well simply stopped existing, for one reason or another. Juan Gonzalez couldn't stay healthy, Fred McGriff couldn't hit, and Albert Belle...well, just broke down.
I still follow some games, but not nearly as much as in the past. When Mark McGwire retired, Albert Pujols was just coming along. The A's were starting their game of merry-go-round. And, of course, the Yankees had prominence, something not seen when I first started following the game, as Don Mattingly had to miss out on his chance.
At 34 years of age, a lot of people my age wonder if Alex Rodriquez will erase Barry Bonds from the book, and give it some respect again. For every Clemens, I can think of Greg Maddux and his 350 wins. And I can still remember Eckersley and his dominance for my generation.
I'm sure the previous generation, with Pete Rose, Reggie Jackson, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, and another assorted class, went through this change, too....and I have to hope that the thrill goes on for them as well.
For me, I still enjoy the memories of the late-'80s, an earthquake series, wondering how the Reds swept the A's in 1990...and the final gamble with pitchers came up empty. After all, how many out there remember the names of the four aces the A's drafted that year?
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