Jack Lintner is no longer upset with Major League Baseball players for striking in 1994, and as a life-long baseball fan, he believes that baseball is coming back as America’s favorite pastime.

For Lintner, Cleveland Indians’ first baseman Jim Thome showed the true character of baseball by coming to Carbondale just six days after his team lost the World Series.

Thome and three other professional baseball players appeared Saturday at the 1997 Saluki Baseball Sports Memorabilia Show at the Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave. About 200 people attended the show.

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I was mad for a while, Lintner, an Ava resident, said about the strike. But I think it (baseball) is starting to come back. I think events like this help.

The event was designed to raise money for the Saluki baseball program and included a chance to get autographs from Thome and San Francisco Giants hurler Kirk Rueter, as well as two former Saluki standouts, Al Levine and Aaron Jones.

Levine is a reliever for the Chicago White Sox and Jones is playing first base in the New York Yankees minor league system. Levine returned to Carbondale for the first time since leaving SIUC in 1991.

Levine transferred to SIUC in 1990 as a junior. That year, he led the Salukis and the Missouri Valley Conference in saves with 13. He has the all-time record at SIUC for saves with 19. His six saves in 1991 also led the Salukis and was good enough for fourth on the all-time list for saves.

As a Chicago White Sox hurler, Levine had an ERA of 6.91 and struck out 22 last season.

For Jones, just getting to the major leagues is a dream. Jones played at SIUC from 1996 to 1997. He has the SIUC all-time record for most doubles with 19 and has the record for most hits with 79 in his career.

It is time to move on, Jones said. Next year, I won’t have any excuse. I would like to be able to move up every year.

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One of the concerns of the players was bringing more fans like Lintner back to the game.

Thome said he had only been home a few days after the World Series before he was on the road promoting baseball. He said it is that sort of commitment to the game that will make baseball return in popularity.

I got home Thursday, Thome said. Now I am here doing a favor for an old friend of mine. Baseball needs to start to get back to where people can enjoy it again.

Thome hit .286 last season and drove in 102 runs to go along with 40 home runs as he helped his team win the American League Championship. The Indians lost the World Series in seven games to the Florida Marlins Oct. 27.

Despite the low television ratings of the 1997 World Series, Thome said baseball is regaining popularity. One reason is the fact that the games in Cleveland have been sold out for the last three seasons. But ball clubs that have not been as successful have had a more difficult time drawing the fans.

Rueter, who had a 3.45 ERA last season in 32 games, said the Giants have tried to find new ways to keep fans coming to the ball park. But what is more attractive to fans is a winning season.

Every day we have three guys available for autographs, Rueter said. I have sat there (many times) on the right field line and signed autographs. I think if we win, the fans will come out. That is what the fans in San Francisco are waiting for. But for the most part, I think baseball is on its way back.

Thome said the most important thing players can do is to never lose sight of their dreams.

You know this is every kid’s dream, Thome said. You get to the World Series and get to the ninth inning and have a chance to be a hero.