Letterman

In 2007, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and David Letterman celebrated the achievement by having them on the Late Show to read the Top Ten countdown list. On Monday, Gwynn died, at age 54, from mouth cancer. Last night, the Late Show — as it did with the late Casey Kasem a night earlier — posted Gwynn's Top Ten cameo.

This could be the start of a nice tradition, at least for Letterman's last few months on the air. Reading Late Show Top Ten lists isn't the highlight of any star's career, but it generally makes the reader seem funny and engaging. And that's not a bad way to be remembered. --Peter Weber