As a long-time sports fan, it's kind of hard to come up with "my favorite player." With so many great teams, and so many great players that have competed over the years, it's kind of hard to name just one or two.
For example, I was a huge Bart Starr fan growing up. Stan Mikita, of the Chicago Blackhawks, has to be one of my favorite hockey players. Being a San Diego Padres fan, there have been a few players I truly enjoyed watching play.
However, if I have to specifically name "my favorite players," of course, other than Starr, there is no doubt. That would have to be "My Two Tonys" - Tony Gwynn of the Padres and Tony Esposito, of the Blackhawks. Unfortunately, Mr. Padre, a Hall of Famer, passed away all too soon at the age of 54, from salivary gland cancer on June 16, 2014 (my wife's birthday).
And now, the Chicago Blackhawks have announced that my other Tony, Esposito, passed away August 10, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Maybe it was karma, that my beloved Padres began play as an MLB expansion team in 1969. That was also the same year the Blackhawks drafted Esposito from the Montreal Canadiens for $25,000. He quickly established himself as their number one goalie, as Chicago went from last to first, while registered 15 shutouts that year (yet a modern NHL record). By the end of that year, he would win the Vezina Trophy (top goaltender) and Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie).
I became a hockey fan in the the early 70's in Davenport, Iowa. Late at night, when atmospheric conditions were just right, I could just pick up St. Louis' KMOX FM-radio broadcasts of the St. Louis Blues Hockey team. They always began their broadcasts with the St. Louis Blues March, followed by "This is St. Louis Blues hockey."
At times, I could also pick up KSHE FM (St. Louis), as well as KAAY Radio's Beaker Street program, from Little Rock, Ark., but that's a whole 'nother story.
In any case, living in Iowa, it wasn't long before I became a Blackhwaks fan. A friend and I would pick one game each season to go to the old Chicago Stadium. He would choose games featuring the Flyers, Rangers, or Toronto. and I would select games with the Bruins, North Stars, or Blues. Neither one of us gave a damn about the Red Wings.
According to a release from Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz, "Tony's number 35 has long been retired, but his career with the Blackhawks actually encompassed two marvelous chapters. After all those years of making spectacular saves and hearing chants of 'TO-NEE!! TO-NEE!!' throughout the Stadium, he joined the Blackhawks as an ambassador. He was born for that role, too, as he reached out - whether by request or on his own - to fans, sponsors, and friends of our team. He rejected thousands of pucks in his first job, he never said no in his second job."
To this day, Esposito remains the all-time Blackhawks leader in shutouts (74) and career wins (418). His career record of 423-306-151 ranks 10th in League history, and include his seven consecutive seasons of 30-plus wins (1969-76). Like Gwynn, Espo's number 35 jersey was retired, in a Nov. 20, 1988 ceremony at the Stadium.
Stats like that only demonstrate one facet of Tony Esposito - that of his competitive side, By the same token, how can you not like a player like Esposto, who was incredibly loyal and giving, an a genuine ambassador of the game.
Needless to say, I have built up quite a collection of Tony Esposito cards over the years.
2008 Americana Celebrity Cuts Century Silver (S/N 11/50) (#89), 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee (#153), 2003-04 Parkhurst Original Six Cleveland National (S/N 8/10) (#97), 2013 Sportskings National Convention VIP (#VIP09), 2009-10 Upper Deck Champ's Red (#22), 2004-05 UD Legends Classics Silver (S/N 63/75) (#91).
Blackhawks beat writer Bob Verdi, quotes Tony's brother Phil in a recent story on Blackhawks.com, "Just so much fun to be around. Easy for me to say, because he was my brother," Phil said. "But ask anybody. Ask his teammates, ask his neighbors. Laughs, a few beers, and more laughs.
"We'll laugh again about Tony, but not with him ever again. And we're not laughing now. Someday. But not now. Not today or tomorrow. So fast. So soon. Gone."
Like Tony Gwynn, Tony Esposito will be sorely missed in the Comatoad household.
RIP TO-NEE!!
Stay safe and healthy out there.
