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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Frank Thomas choked back tears, Joe Torre apologized for leaving people out of his speech and Tony La Russa said he felt uneasy. Being enshrined in the Hall of Fame can have those effects, even on the greats. Thomas, pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, and managers Bobby Cox, Torre and La Russa were inducted into the baseball shrine Sunday, and all paid special tribute to their families before an adoring crowd of nearly 50,000. "Im speechless. Thanks for having me in your club," Thomas said, getting emotional as he remembered his late father. "Frank Sr., I know youre watching. Without you, I know 100 per cent I wouldnt be here in Cooperstown today. You always preached to me, You can be someone special if you really work at it. I took that to heart, Pop." "Mom, I thank you for all the motherly love and support. I know it wasnt easy." The 46-year old Thomas, the first player elected to the Hall who spent more than half of his time as a designated hitter, batted .301 with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBIs in a 19-year career mostly with the Chicago White Sox. Hes the only player in major league history to log seven straight seasons with a .300 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 walks. Ever the diplomat as a manager, Torre somehow managed to assuage the most demanding of owners in George Steinbrenner, maintaining his coolness amid all the Bronx craziness while keeping all those egos in check after taking over in 1996. The result: 10 division titles, six AL pennants and four World Series triumphs in 12 years as he helped restore the lustre to baseballs most successful franchise and resurrected his own career after three firings. Torre, the only man to amass more than 2,000 hits (2,342) and win more than 2,000 games as a manager, was last to speak, and in closing delivered a familiar message. "Baseball is a game of life. Its not perfect, but it feels like it is," said the 74-year-old Torre, who apologized afterward for forgetting to include the Steinbrenner family in his speech. "Thats the magic of it. We are responsible for giving it the respect it deserves. Our sport is part of the American soul, and its ours to borrow — just for a while." "If all of us who love baseball and are doing our jobs, then those who get the game from us will be as proud to be a part of it as we were. And we are. This game is a gift, and I am humbled, very humbled, to accept its greatest honour." The day was a reunion of sorts for the city of Atlanta. Glavine, Maddux and Cox were part of a remarkable run of success by the Braves. They won an unprecedented 14 straight division titles and made 15 playoff appearances, winning the citys lone major professional sports title. "Im truly humbled to stand here before you," Cox said. "To Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, and I have to mention the third member of the big three — John Smoltz — I can honestly say I would not be standing here if it werent for you guys." Smoltz, part of the MLB Network telecast of the event and eligible for induction next year, flashed a smile in return for the compliment. Glavine was on the mound when the Braves won Game 6 to clinch the 1995 World Series, pitching one-hit ball over eight innings in a 1-0 victory over Cleveland. And the slender lefty was one of those rare athletes, drafted by the Braves and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. "I had a difficult choice to make, and as a left-handed pitcher I thought that was the thing that would set me apart and make baseball the smartest decision," Glavine said. "Of course, I always wondered what would have happened had I taken up hockey." "In my mind, since I was drafted ahead of two Hall of Famers in Luc Robitaille and Brett Hull, that obviously means I would have been a Hall of Famer in hockey, too," Glavine chuckled as the crowd cheered. "But Im positive I made the right choice." The 48-year-old Maddux went 355-227 with a career ERA of 3.16 in 23 seasons with the Braves, Cubs, Padres and Dodgers and ranks eighth on the career wins list. He won four straight Cy Young Awards in the 1990s and won 15 or more games for 17 straight seasons with his pinpoint control. "I spent 12 years in Chicago, 11 in Atlanta, and both places are very special," Maddux said. "Without the experiences in both cities, I would not be standing here today." La Russa, who ranks third in career victories as a manager with 2,728, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw, was chosen manager of the year four times and won 12 division titles, six pennants and three World Series titles in stints with the White Sox, Oakland As and St. Louis Cardinals. La Russa spoke from the heart. There was no written speech. "Its uncomfortable because I didnt make it as a player. Not even close," said La Russa, who made his big league debut as a teenage infielder with the 1963 Kansas City Athletics and appeared in just 132 games over six seasons, hitting .199 with no home runs. "Since December, I have not been comfortable with it. Theres no way to mention everybody, and that bothers me." "From managing parts of two years in the minor leagues, after thinking about all the other young managers who paid a lot of dues in the minor leagues and I get a chance and then I go into the big leagues with three organizations," he said. "All that equates to me is Im very, very fortunate. Ive never put my arms around the fact that being really lucky is a Hall of Fame credential." Jared Goff Jersey . - Veteran Kings defenceman Robyn Regehr, sidelined since Game 1 of the Anaheim series, says hes close to returning. Greg Zuerlein Jersey . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. http://www.officiallosangelesramsfootball.com/authentic-jacob-mcquaide-jersey-womens . The midfielder had an operation on Saturday, and is set to miss seven Premier League games, the third round of the FA Cup and the semifinals of the League Cup. Aaron Donald Jersey . - The RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club next year, marking the 27th time that the national open championship will be played at the Oakville, Ont. Johnny Hekker Jersey . It will then be back to business once the puck drops as the two clubs battle for key points in their respective playoff races. Watch the game live on TSN Canadiens and listen on TSN Radio 690 starting at 7:30pm et.Jordan Spieth admitted that his second round score was a couple of strokes higher than he was aiming for at Augusta. The defending champion held a two-stroke lead after the first round but has seen his advantage cut to a single shot following a round of 74, leaving him four under for the tournament.After two birdies in his first three holes, Spieth double bogeyed the fifth and despite further gains at eight and 15, he twice carded back-to-back bogeys - at nine and 10 and 16 and 17 - and now has Rory McIlroy (-3) breathing down his neck. Spieth holds a one-shot lead after the second round at Augusta I thought it was it was couple of strokes higher than what I was looking for, I thought even par was a good score today, Spieth told Sky Sports.Especially playing 11 and 12, getting two pars there on two of the harder holes on the golf course and being a couple under early, I thought it was a couple higher than the goal.Its a bit disappointing in that sense running off but its pretty much a brand new tournament coming our way the last two rounds.The 22-year-old American felt that conditions got significantly more difficult as his round progressed and said that he found it difficult to keep a cool head on the back nine. Spieth carded 74 in his second round Today was my learning experience for the week, said Spieth. It was really, really tough to hold it together on that back nine.Even when I was trying to lag putts, I still had three or four feet, and when the greens are crusty and one hundred people have walked on them that day and theyre that fast, its so difficult even to make those two or three footers.It was just a grind on each hole and emotionally that just gets you going a little and its very difficult to just keeping thinking that its okay with a smile on your face.I think the person who walks the tallest is going to end up winning these next couple of days, Ive obviously got Rory, who has proven himself in major championships, right on my heels and a bunch of other major contenders at Augusta.dddddddddddd Amateur Bryson DeChambeau said he has no doubt in his mind that he can win the Masters, after outplaying partner Jordan Spieth during their second round Amateur Bryson DeChambeau played alongside Spieth and despite a triple bogey seven on the last, finds himself just four shots off the lead, saying he had no doubt that he could win the Green Jacket.Its not a score you want on the last hole but I just hit a couple of bad drives and thats what led up to it, he said.Ive been driving the ball good all day, pretty much, and unfortunately I messed up at the last but thats golf. Im not worried about it, Im looking forward to the weekend too.Ive always enjoyed Jordans company out there and, again, he was a gentleman and I enjoyed it thoroughly out there with him.I learnt a lot from him out there I think, patience, being comfortable out there and just going and executing a golf shot - it was quite fun out there.Its impossible to know just how much this experience is going to help and I think going forward itll definitely help, I just dont know how much. Also See: Rory cuts Spieths lead to one McIlroy: Best position in years Willett: Its brutal out there Day: Conditions very tricky China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '