(Baseball) Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn dies
Source: ESPN
Tony Gwynn, who banged out 3,141 hits during a Hall of Fame career spanning 20 seasons with the San Diego Padres, has died, it was announced Monday.
The lefty-swinging Gwynn had a career .338 batting average, won eight National League batting titles, and played in the franchise's only two World Series.
He had been signed to a one-year contract extension as the baseball coach at San Diego State on June 11. He had been on medical leave since late March while recovering from cancer treatment. He took over the program at his alma mater after the 2002 season.
Read more: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11091626/hall-famer-tony-gwynn-san-diego-padres-died
One of baseball's greatest players in the past three decades. He died way too early.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)big_dog
(4,144 posts)iandhr
(6,852 posts)I remember seeing play in the World Series against the Yankees in 1998. He had an amazing series.
Brother Buzz
(36,457 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)my all time favorite baseball player.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)Stop using the stuff, kids. It will kill you.
Grab a damn handful of sunflower seeds instead.
He taught a lot about baseball, I hope he can teach even more in his passing.
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)As a gal who is a big baseball fan this is tragic, way too young to depart this earth. Yes, RIP Tony Gwynn.
StevieM
(10,500 posts)kag
(4,079 posts)RIP, Tony. You were truly one of the great ones.
I didn't eve know he was sick, but 54? That's way too young.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)In 1998, when interleague play was still new, the San Diego Padres made it to the World Series against the vaunted Yankees. After he and his teammates won the NLCS, one of the first things Gwynn mentioned was that he would finally get to play in Yankee Stadium, and moreover, hear his name announced over the PA system by Bob Sheppard. I knew both men and decided to introduce them, and listened in delight as the former St Johns speech and public speaking professor talked the nuances of diction with the batting champion who used to take communications courses at San Diego State.
Afterwards, as I escorted Bob back upstairs, I asked Bob if I could record him introducing a hypothetical Gwynn at bat, so I could transfer it to one of those talking birthday card electronic chips. Bob not only obliged, but asked me to confirm for him Tonys position and number just to make sure. We cant have any mistakes. Tony still has the recording (in my trophy case, next to my silver bats). And I cherish the memory.
http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/2010/07/11/bob-sheppard-and-tony-gwynn/
bpj62
(999 posts)Both Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. They were the only 2 players inducted that year. He was a the first guy to take advantage of the video tape era. After each at bat he would go into the hall way leading to the club house and look at his previous at bat to see what the pitcher had thrown and how he had reacted. He wanted nothing more that to coach his alma mater and that is what he was doing right up until he died. Truly a class act and he will be missed. People forget that he also went to the World Series with the Padres in 1984 against the Tigers.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,190 posts)In the era of free agency and players hopping from team to team for the top dollar, both Tony and Cal remained with the same team all their career and built strong ties with the local community. That type of attitude is rare these days, but it was fitting that both of those players were inducted in their first year of eligibility together.
totodeinhere
(13,058 posts)My condolences go out to his family.
AnotherMother4Peace
(4,251 posts)He was a true home town hero. And he could have continued on as a pinch hitter, but had other things to do, like coaching his son at SDSU and his charities. He was generous with advice on his techniques, workouts, and work ethic, and was a true role model.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Hard to pick between Tony and George Brett. Watching Gwynn was, for a baseball fan, like an art lover looking at a Rembrandt
AnotherMother4Peace
(4,251 posts)friends to go watch Tony Gwynn play, and the rest of the Padres. When he came up to bat the whole stadium paid attention. RIP Tony