OT / Cardinals miss chance to show class

[cardinalbaseballfan]

Here is an article from 2004 that gives some insight to the postgame handshake: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?....jsp&c_id=null

As a fan of the game and sportsmanship, I loved it as well. I remember reading some follow-up in the St. Louis paper afterwards (Post-Dispatch) that the execs at MLB weren't pleased with the moment as it went against MLB's non-fraternization rule. I wish I could find that article now...

Here's another piece that speaks to my comment above. Take note of the final few paragraphs: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...pagewanted=all

[JasonL]

a Joe Torre team to do it
nor a Tony LaRussa team, for that matter

that kind of behavior just isn't there on the professional level of any sport on a consistent basis. The mercenary mindset is the norm. The team identity and cohesive attitude is greatly diminished in the modern era from anything that was seen previous to the advent of free agency. And I believe alot of things flew out the window with it.

[timzcardz]

I didn't see that in '04, but it would be nice to see it regularly.

In the NYTimes article, near the end Nolan Ryan states ''This is my livelihood, and I have to be aggressive to pitch, and I can't like those guys when they're in uniform because I have one job to do. That's to get them out. That's not my nature to get beaten and walk over there and hug those guys.''

If you watch UFC fights, these guys literally beat the hell out of each other in fierce competition, but when it's over they shake, hug, etc.

It's a sport and it's about being competitive, but yet respectful of your opponent, their abilities, and accomplishments.

[FrankWakefield]

Thank you, cardsfan, for those links. I knew I wasn't dreaming that...

So it was Larry Walker, with his Canadian roots and hockey ideas, who mentioned a handshake to Larussa, who spoke with Jim Tracy during the workouts before game 1; that's how it happened.

I can envision that Bob Gibson might have had second thoughts about a handshake, as well as Don Drysdale. But both of those guys were gentlemen, and both were intelligent, I'd like to think that they'd have done it, too, given a chance.

On a Cardinals blog it was mentioned that after the display of sportsmanship by the Dodgers and Cardinals in 2004, the Commissioner's office and the League office both commented that the handshakes were close to fraternization and should be discouraged, or that they didn't want that to happen any more, that teams shouldn't plan that, or words to that effect.

If that's what put the kibash to it, then I wish it would still happen, unplanned... at least in the final game of playoff series. I think the LDS and LCS are perfect places for it.

And I think Mr. Larussa and Mr. Torre ARE able to be good sportsmen, and that a handshake would not diminish their competitiveness.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I can envision that Bob Gibson might have had second thoughts about a handshake, as well as Don Drysdale. But both of those guys were gentlemen, and both were intelligent, I'd like to think that they'd have done it, too, given a chance.

No way would Bob Gibson have done this. Or Ty Cobb. Or many in the game before money changed the mentality of the modern player.

I'd rather see the DH rule abolished!