Classics

At the end of the regular baseball season, allow me to mention a couple of heroes of mine, a particular pitcher and a first baseman.
Few baseball players come anywhere near heroism. Too many are deficient in talent, in dedication, in consistent performance, even in common, every-day deportment.
So a few words are due about Mariano Rivera of the Yankees and Todd Helton of the Rockies.
Rivera, now 41, was born in Panama and was signed as a free-agent by the Yankees in 1990. He made his debut in May 1995 and has been a Yankee ever since. This season he set a major-league career record for games 'saved' by a relief pitcher.
Helton, now 38, was born in Knoxville, Tenn., was drafted by the Rockies out of the University of Tennessee in 1995 and has been the 'face' and the deeply respected player-leader of the team ever since. He has been an expert fielder, a career hitter of plus .300 and a multiple-year all-star
But beyond star performances, Todd Helton and Mariano Rivera have shown a couple of qualities that others tend to lack: Humility. And that indefinable something called class.