Where Have You Gone, Eddie Mathews?

I expected a service fit for a home run king, and instead attended a ceremony that was closer to an exchange of lineup cards at home plate. Major league baseball and the Atlanta Brave organization should be ashamed for not sending representatives to the memorial service in Santa Barbara for Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews.

Johnny Logan and Darrell Evans were the only former players who made the effort to honor one of the best third basemen ever. A Texas Ranger scout and an Angel employee were the lone baseball people in attendance. No Bud Selig, or anyone from the commissioner’s office. No Hank Aaron, who with Mathews hit more homers than any other teammates. Nobody else from the Braves, for whom Mathews played in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

On a misty, overcast day, there were only Eddie’s immediate family, some local childhood friends, and me and a buddy who were fortunate to not only have seen Mathews play, but to know the slugger as a friend. What a shame that No. 41 was not remembered by the game itself.

BRUCE TRAMPLER

Las Vegas