The Splendid Splinter & the Yankee Clipper

“That which was bought with blood deserves to last while immortality endures. The glory of the cross must never be eclipsed; the luster of the grave and of the resurrection must never be dimmed.” – C.H. Spurgeon

As many of you already know, I am “old school” when it comes to things like music and manners. For instance, I much prefer the vocals of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, and Bobby Darin to what passes for most music today. And I was taught to respect my elders, to hold doors open for others, and to always offer my seat to a lady.

When it comes to sports, I am even more old-fashioned. Exhibit A is my list of the top 15 golfers of all-time. It starts with Jack Nicklaus and includes Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Walter Hagen, Harry Vardon, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, and Tom Watson. The only current golfers that get my nod are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Honorable mention goes to Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, and Old Tom Morris.

As far as baseball is concerned, I consider Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Honus Wagner, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, and Jimmy Foxx to be the best hitters that ever played. When it comes to all-around players not already named, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Roberto Clemente, and Oscar Charleston come to mind as do Mickey Mantle, Tris Speaker, Frank Robinson, Albert Pujols, and Eddie Collins. And my starting rotation would include such luminaries as Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Warren Spahn, and Lefty Grove, with Cy Young, Bob Feller, and Greg Maddux “in the wings.” (I’m sure I missed someone, so feel free to chime in with your own selections).

My point in providing such a laundry list of great athletes – maybe I’ll rank basketball, football, and tennis players next, along with boxers and racehorses – is that all but two are retired and most are dead. Their names mean something to me, but if you ask someone under the age of 50 to identify the “Splendid Splinter” or who was nicknamed the “Yankee Clipper,” you’d probably get a blank stare.

Fame doesn’t last, whether it is in sports, entertainment, politics, or any other area of life. There will always be someone new, a fresher face, to take your place. In fact, the only things that are truly immortal are God, His Word, and our souls. Make sure your spirit lives for eternity in heaven by trusting Jesus as your Savior today!

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:7-8 (NIV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President