Legends Save Baseball from Its Own Mistakes

Amongst all the talk of the steroid controversy sweeping A-Rod and baseball, the graciousness of two of the games legends has been lost. In the past week, both Aaron and Mays have stepped in to save the game from itself, making selfless comments and giving sage advice.

Hank Aaron, who held the greatest record in all of baseball as the lifetime home run leader, only to see his record passed by Barry Bonds, who is widely believed have used steroids, made a statement on the issue. Rather than complain that an injustice had been done, Aaron took the high road, stating that "There are things out there besides worrying about a home run record that somebody now holds," Aaron said in his usual understated way in a Yahoo Sports article. "Barry has the record, and I don't think anybody can change that," Aaron added, pointing out just how difficult it would be to go through all of baseball's records to determine their legitimacy.

In addition to his grace in the steroid controversy, Aaron, joined by Mays, showed his grace again when dealing with Ken Griffey Jr. Even though Aaron selfishly wanted Griffey to join the team he works for, the Atlanta Braves, he urged Griffey to go back to the Mariners, the team he played for during his first decade in the majors. According to an article in SI.com, both Aaron and Mays advised Junior to "carefully consider his baseball legacy."

May's after a long and distinguished career in a Giants uniform, went out with a whimper with the New York Mets. Aaron spent the end of his baseball playing career with the Brewers, rather than the Braves, the team he played for when he broke the home run record.

Griffey has a unique opportunity. He had a poor year last year when he was injured and is convinced that now healthy, he will have a strong season. Whatever this season holds for him, the one sure thing is that the fans in Seattle will shower him with appreciation for what he has already done for the franchise and its fans. He won't become another superstar who goes out with a wimper. Hopefully, he'll go out with style and grace in the city where he first established himself as one of the greatest players of his era, and after he retires, be around to give sage advice to the legends who come after him. Until that time, baseball has Aaron and Mays to rescue it from its mistakes with dignity and class.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-aaron-bonds&prov=ap&type=lgns
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/20/griffey.seattle/index.html?eref=sircrc