MLB Network pays tribute to Tony Gwynn during HOF coverage

Although Fox and Major League Baseball were more than happy to reflect on the career of Derek Jeter during the 2014 MLB All-Star game, there was a noticeable absence from the events of the evening.

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Not once was the life nor career of San Diego Padres legend Tony Gwynn mentioned, despite just passing away days earlier. Some attributed that to the fact that Gwynn passed from cancer likely due to his addiction to chewing tobacco when he was younger.

It’s understandable that Major League Baseball doesn’t want themselves to be associated with the substance, though that shouldn’t have taken away from Gwynn and honoring the baseball icon.

Thankfully, MLB Network helped clean up Fox’s mistake a bit today as they paid homage to the San Diego Padres great during the intro video for their Hall of Fame coverage.

Employing the well respected Tom Brokaw to narrate the two-plus minute introduction, the piece featured famed moments of Hall of Fame players and towards the end made mention of Tony Gwynn.

Using an image of a young Tony Gwynn, producers morphed the legendary hitter into a scene which showed him looking at Hall of Fame plaques.

It wasn’t over the top and MLB Network didn’t dwell on the subject, but rather wanted to give a quick thank you to a player who made Major League Baseball a better place. It’s a shame such wasn’t conveyed during the Mid-Summer Classic, however, when far more eyes were on the sport.

Hopefully Major League Baseball will learn from their mistake down the road.