He was a career .338 hitter, which is incredible, and an even better teammate. In 1994 he hit an astounding .394. No one has come close to hitting than since and to be honest we probably will never see an average that high again. The guy proved that anyone can make it in baseball as long as you can hit. He wasn't in great shape, wasn't very fast, and wasn't great defensively. However he had an unreal talent of putting the ball in play and getting on base. He is one of the greatest contact hitters/hitters in general of all time. Hence why he is a First Ballot Hall of Famer. I've heard stories that Tony and his brother grew up playing wiffle ball, using the smallest bat and balls possible. They would scuff the hell out of the balls to get crazy movement on them. The same technique Justin Wentworth, Danny Ranfone, Dave Kresge and I would use at Wenway Park A.K.A. The Swamp. He would also hit pennies, caps, and marbles with a broom handle to work on his hand eye coordination.
We may never see a type of player like Gwynn in the MLB again. These days everything is about how you look on paper on what your upside can potentially be down the road, and that's how it is in all Sports. Combine results and Showcases (for baseball prospects) seem to be more important to Coaches and GM's than a player's actual results on the field. Tony was never a flashy player, wasn't fast, and didn't have much power, so I'm thankful he played in a time when the eye test and a player's production on the field were the most important aspects in recruiting prospects.
All over San Diego today people are wearing Padres throwbacks and Tony Gwynn jerseys. He is probably the most beloved athlete ever to come out of our beautiful city, a tough task to accomplish after being born in Los Angeles. He stayed in San Diego too and was currently living hear up until his death. Tony was very active in the community with his charity work, baseball clinics, and the work he put in at the bars and beaches as well. Almost every bar in PB has a framed Tony Gwynn picture from the night he graced that particular bar with his presence. He even coached the SDSU Aztecs and was the Head Coach there when Stephen Strasburg put up unthinkable pitching statistics, stats the World hadn't seen since Joe Cesarin's dominate career at Garden City High School, New York. Strasburg became a spectacle and media circus every time he touched the mound, and his humble approach to the game and fame stemmed straight from his Head Coach and Friend, Tony Gwynn. Speaking of Joe "Dirt" Cesarini, let's talk about dipping(chewing tobacco.)
Unfortunately the cancer that killed Tony was developed from years of chewing tobacco. In fact he had several surgeries on his face, lips, gums, teeth, and cheeks before the cancer finally took his life. Base Hits and dipping went together for Tony Gwynn like Sigfried and Roy. They are both great but eventually the latter of them will lead to your face getting ripped off. As an avid dipper I'm taking tomorrow off as a "Dip of Silence" and will actually try and go as long as I can without dipping. I'd start today but I'm writing this with a mouth full of Grizzly Mint. This story hits home to a lot of baseball and hockey players who enjoy dipping and chewing Redman, but I feel a very personal connection to it. For one my mom is 54 years old, like Gwynn, and my Father turns 54 in July. I couldn't imagine losing them, especially to something that could have been avoided. The other connection of course is that I dip constantly. I've switched to pouches but still not a day goes by where I don't have a least one lip.
Tony Gwynn was taken from us far too soon, and I don't want to end up like that, so I'm going to really try and stop doing chewing tobacco. The City of San Diego lost its Golden Boy today. There are streets, restaurants, and even Micro Brews named after Tony Gwynn. You'll see a Gwynn jersey at Petco at every single home game and there is a statue of Tony in the kids park in Center Field. "You stay Classy San Diego" is a reference to Gwynn and the type of guy he was. We lost a great ball player, person, and San Diegan today and I know for sure the City feels it. RIP Tony you will be missed.
P.S.--I was talking on the phone with my friend Ben Freedman earlier today. Ben is not sports fan but was born and raised in San Diego, and like most people who are born here never left. A true San Diegan through and through. If he's going to watch a game it's most likely because we are forcing him to do so, or we're partying at the stadium with our crew. I told Ben, "San Diego lost one its most beloved citizens today." Ben's answer, "Ohhh no, Did Tony Gwynn die.?" You didn't have to be a sports fan to respect, know, and love Tony Gwynn. He was San Diego's Golden Boy and he will surely be missed.
@Toddvito18
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