Tony Gwynn
Encyclopedia
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. (born May 9, 1960), nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball
right fielder
. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres
(1982–2001). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 9, 2007 and was inducted on July 29. He is the first National League
player born during the 1960s to earn the honor (Kirby Puckett
was the first American League
r). He batted and threw left-handed.
Despite playing much of his career at a "power position" (right field is known for producing sluggers) during a time when home run
s were at an all-time high, he was not a home run threat, never hitting more than 17 in any one season during his major league career. Instead, Gwynn made a name for himself by being one of the most consistent contact hitter
s in the game's history. Gwynn hit .338 for his career and won eight National League batting titles. He struck out
only 434 times in 9,288 career at-bats, and never batted
below .309 in any full season.
Gwynn was selected by the Padres in the third round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
(the 58th player chosen overall). His uniform number was #19, which the Padres retired in 2004
.
, Gwynn was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School
, graduating in 1978 before moving on to San Diego State University
.
At SDSU, Gwynn was not only an acclaimed baseball player, but also a standout point guard
on the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball
team, setting a school record for assists
in a season and a career. Gwynn was well known for his excellent court vision and playmaking abilities. The same day the Padres drafted him, Gwynn was also selected by the San Diego Clippers
in the 10th round of the National Basketball Association
draft
, but he elected to play baseball instead.
Gwynn was noted for constantly studying his swing, always looking for ways to improve his hitting. He used a relatively small Louisville Slugger bat (model #B276C) measuring 33 inches and weighing just 30½ ounces, far smaller than those of his contemporaries, such as five-time American League
batting champion Wade Boggs
, who used Louisville Slugger's #B439 model. Gwynn began using the smaller bats while playing his first season of professional ball for San Diego's A-level Walla Walla
Padres minor league club in 1981
because he was having trouble adapting to wood bats and wanted something of a similar weight to the aluminum bats he used in college.
Even though Gwynn was batting .360 at the time, he felt that the larger bats were hampering him because he had to choke up so far — and his first major league hit, on July 19 against Philadelphia Phillies
pitcher Sid Monge
, was a double. In the aftermath, Phillies first baseman Pete Rose
, at the time second in career hits and aware of how well Gwynn hit in the minors, came up to the new Padre and told him, "Don't try to catch me in one night." The 1982 season would be the only one of Gwynn's career in which he would hit below .309. He would go on to play in two World Series, one in 1984 and again in 1998.
After a winter ball wrist injury, Gwynn struggled in the second half of 1983
, sinking as low as .229 by July 29. It was then that he began using video recording to review his at-bats. He heated up to a .309 average for his shortened season; he would only hit that low again once, in 1990
. Gwynn's breakthrough season was 1984
, when he hit .351 and won the first batting title of his illustrious career. That season, the Padres won the first National League pennant in team history, defeating the Chicago Cubs
in the National League Championship Series
before losing the World Series
to the Detroit Tigers
. Gwynn batted .368 in the NLCS, but was less effective in the World Series, in which he made the final out by flying out to Tigers left fielder Larry Herndon
.
Gwynn was also a good baserunner in his early years. In 1987, he tied an NL record with five stolen base
s in a game, and he had 319 steals in his career. He became proficient with a glove for most of his career, winning five Gold Glove Award
s from 1986
to 1991
despite playing much of his career with knee problems. Over time, his left knee became the more troublesome, and Gwynn has had several operations on both to halt the deterioration of the joints.
Gwynn got his 1000th hit on April 22, 1988, in San Diego, against Houston Astros
pitcher Nolan Ryan
.
Primarily a center fielder as of 1984, in 1989
Gwynn split time between right field and center fields
, while winning his third Gold Glove.
In 1994
Gwynn batted .394, the highest batting average in the National League since Bill Terry
hit .401 in 1930
and the highest in the majors since Ted Williams
hit .406 in 1941
. Had the season not been shortened by a strike, Gwynn would have had the chance to become the first batter to eclipse the magical .400 mark in more than 50 years; of course, several players have hit .400 for four months, only to fade. In the end, Gwynn fell three hits short of the .400 mark in the shortened season.
In 1997
, Gwynn reached career highs with 17 home runs and 119 runs batted in. The next season
, Gwynn batted .321 and helped the Padres win their second pennant, as they defeated the Houston Astros
and Atlanta Braves
in the playoffs. However, the Padres lost the World Series
to the New York Yankees
in a four-game sweep, despite Gwynn's home run in the opening game against New York Yankees
pitcher David Wells
, and his overall batting average of .500 in the Series.
Gwynn had 135 career home runs: 74 solo home runs, 39 two-run home runs, 19 three-run home runs, and 3 grand slams (one of which was of the inside-the-park variety). 99 of his home runs came when the game was tied or the Padres were behind.
Gwynn got his 3,000th hit on August 6, 1999, with a single in the first inning off Montreal Expos
pitcher Dan Smith. Coincidentally, he got his 2,000th hit, also a single, on August 6, 1993, against Colorado Rockies
pitcher Bruce Ruffin
. August 6 is also the birthday of Gwynn's mother.
Gwynn is an eight-time National League
batting champion
, leading the league in 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, which ties him with the Pittsburgh Pirates'
Honus Wagner
for the league record — the all-time Major League batting titles leader is Ty Cobb
, who won 12 American League
batting titles.
He is also a 15-time All-Star
, and was voted as a starter by the fans in 11 of the games.
Although he had 135 career home run
s, Gwynn described himself as a contact hitter who could hit to all fields. He rarely struck out (just 434 times, once every 21 at-bats) and his goal was to put the ball in play and move baserunners over. He was also an outstanding bunter.
In 1999, while still active as one of baseball's best hitters, he ranked Number 49 on The Sporting News'
list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball
All-Century Team. Despite adding to his career statistics for two more seasons until his retirement, when TSN updated their list for 2005, Gwynn had fallen to Number 57.
Gwynn retired in 2001
with 3,141 hits and a lifetime batting average of .338. His career average is the highest among players whose careers began after World War II
, and fourth-highest among players whose career was entirely within the live-ball era
(only Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, and Bill Terry have higher averages in that time). He played his entire career with one team, a rarity in any era, and is considered by many to be the best player to ever wear a Padres jersey. In his last game at home, the Padres honored him by stenciling "5.5" on the third-base side of the infield dirt, referencing what he called the "5.5 hole" (so named because it was in between third base, marked as the number 5 on a scorecard, and shortstop, which is position number 6) where he placed many of his hits.
Since his retirement, Gwynn has worked as a color commentator
for ESPN
and is the head baseball coach
at his alma mater, San Diego State University
. In 1997, Smith Stadium, the school's baseball facility, was extensively renovated. Then-Padres owner John Moores financed the estimated $4 million project, and at Moores's request, it was renamed Tony Gwynn Stadium
.
On July 21, 2007, a 10 foot statue of Tony Gwynn was unveiled outside PETCO Park
. In honor of Gwynn's long service to the Padres and the community, the address of PETCO Park is 19 Tony Gwynn Drive.
to the Baseball Hall of Fame, being selected on 532 out of 545 ballots (97.61%), seventh highest percentage in Hall of Fame voting history, and just thirteen votes short of a unanimous selection. At the time of his induction, Gwynn was the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who was never a teammate of another Baseball Hall-of-Famer. Since then, former teammates Goose Gossage
, Rickey Henderson
and Roberto Alomar
have been elected.
On July 21, 2007, the Padres unveiled a statue of Gwynn at the "Park in the Park" area of Petco. This statue features an engraving which reads "Mr. Padre", and includes a quote from Gwynn's father on the back. Gwynn was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Cal Ripken, Jr.
on July 29, 2007. Ripken and Gwynn are 2 of the 46 players in the Hall of Fame who played their entire major league career for only one team. Both were elected in their first year of eligibility.
The Gwynn-Ripken induction weekend was notable for a number of attendance records, which were announced during the ceremony. 14,000 people visited the Hall of Fame Museum on July 28, a record number for a single-day. Baseball attendance for all games played on July 28 also set a single-day record. The induction ceremony also had the greatest collection of living Hall-of-Famers, 53, present for a ceremony. A record crowd estimated at 75,000 attended the induction ceremony, shattering the previous record of 25,000 in 1999. In 2002, Gwynn was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions
into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface. Prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame on July 20, 2007, Gwynn appeared on a Wheaties
box.
, his alma mater
, and until recently was a part-time analyst for ESPN
. He has recently been recruited as a Yahoo!
Sports expert analyst. He often sits in for play-by-play during Padres games on San Diego's Channel 4
. Gwynn has also been hired to help broadcast postseason games on TBS.
and major league outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr., whose major league debut (with the Milwaukee Brewers
) and first major league hit on July 19, 2006 came 24 years to the day of his father's first major league hit — both Gwynns hit doubles. Gwynn also has two granddaughters. His brother, Chris
, was also a major league outfielder. Both Chris and Tony Jr. played with the Padres during their careers. Gwynn currently splits his time between his homes in Poway, California
(San Diego) and Fishers, Indiana
(Indianapolis).
Gwynn has had three procedures to remove noncancerous growths from his parotid gland
since 1997. In 2010, Gwynn was diagnosed with cancer of a salivary gland and had both lymph nodes removed. Gwynn attributed his cancer to his dipping tobacco
habit that he had since playing rookie ball in Walla Walla in 1981.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(1982–2001). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 9, 2007 and was inducted on July 29. He is the first National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
player born during the 1960s to earn the honor (Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...
was the first American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
r). He batted and threw left-handed.
Despite playing much of his career at a "power position" (right field is known for producing sluggers) during a time when home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s were at an all-time high, he was not a home run threat, never hitting more than 17 in any one season during his major league career. Instead, Gwynn made a name for himself by being one of the most consistent contact hitter
Contact hitter
In baseball, the term contact hitter is used to describe a hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, they are usually able to use their bats to make contact with the ball and put it in play...
s in the game's history. Gwynn hit .338 for his career and won eight National League batting titles. He struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
only 434 times in 9,288 career at-bats, and never batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
below .309 in any full season.
Gwynn was selected by the Padres in the third round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
1981 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
(the 58th player chosen overall). His uniform number was #19, which the Padres retired in 2004
2004 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since , ending the Curse of the Bambino.*With 262 hits, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners breaks George Sisler's record of 257. Suzuki also sets the record for most singles in a season, with 225.*2004 also marked the final...
.
Career
A native of Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, Gwynn was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
, graduating in 1978 before moving on to San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
.
At SDSU, Gwynn was not only an acclaimed baseball player, but also a standout point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
on the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball
San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball
The San Diego State Aztecs basketball team is the basketball team that represent San Diego State University Aztecs in San Diego, California. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference, and play their home games in Viejas Arena...
team, setting a school record for assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
in a season and a career. Gwynn was well known for his excellent court vision and playmaking abilities. The same day the Padres drafted him, Gwynn was also selected by the San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the 10th round of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
, but he elected to play baseball instead.
Gwynn was noted for constantly studying his swing, always looking for ways to improve his hitting. He used a relatively small Louisville Slugger bat (model #B276C) measuring 33 inches and weighing just 30½ ounces, far smaller than those of his contemporaries, such as five-time American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
batting champion Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, who used Louisville Slugger's #B439 model. Gwynn began using the smaller bats while playing his first season of professional ball for San Diego's A-level Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
Padres minor league club in 1981
1981 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPsNOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
because he was having trouble adapting to wood bats and wanted something of a similar weight to the aluminum bats he used in college.
Even though Gwynn was batting .360 at the time, he felt that the larger bats were hampering him because he had to choke up so far — and his first major league hit, on July 19 against Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
pitcher Sid Monge
Sid Monge
Isidro "Sid" Monge Pedroza is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher with a ten-year career from 1975 to 1984...
, was a double. In the aftermath, Phillies first baseman Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
, at the time second in career hits and aware of how well Gwynn hit in the minors, came up to the new Padre and told him, "Don't try to catch me in one night." The 1982 season would be the only one of Gwynn's career in which he would hit below .309. He would go on to play in two World Series, one in 1984 and again in 1998.
After a winter ball wrist injury, Gwynn struggled in the second half of 1983
1983 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
, sinking as low as .229 by July 29. It was then that he began using video recording to review his at-bats. He heated up to a .309 average for his shortened season; he would only hit that low again once, in 1990
1990 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Oakland Athletics ; José Rijo, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP Dave Stewart*National League Championship Series co-MVPs: Rob Dibble and Randy Myers...
. Gwynn's breakthrough season was 1984
1984 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over San Diego Padres ; Alan Trammell, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirk Gibson*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Garvey...
, when he hit .351 and won the first batting title of his illustrious career. That season, the Padres won the first National League pennant in team history, defeating the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the National League Championship Series
1984 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 2, 1984 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisBob Dernier led off the game for the Cubs with a homer, and things went steadily downhill for the Padres as Chicago romped to a crushing 13–0 win in their first postseason game since 1945. Gary Matthews also homered in the first...
before losing the World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Gwynn batted .368 in the NLCS, but was less effective in the World Series, in which he made the final out by flying out to Tigers left fielder Larry Herndon
Larry Herndon
Larry Darnell Herndon is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , and Detroit Tigers...
.
Gwynn was also a good baserunner in his early years. In 1987, he tied an NL record with five stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in a game, and he had 319 steals in his career. He became proficient with a glove for most of his career, winning five Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
s from 1986
1986 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Mets over Boston Red Sox ; Ray Knight, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marty Barrett*National League Championship Series MVP: Mike Scott...
to 1991
1991 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves ; Jack Morris, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirby Puckett*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Avery...
despite playing much of his career with knee problems. Over time, his left knee became the more troublesome, and Gwynn has had several operations on both to halt the deterioration of the joints.
Gwynn got his 1000th hit on April 22, 1988, in San Diego, against Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
pitcher Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
.
Primarily a center fielder as of 1984, in 1989
1989 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants ; Dave Stewart, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Rickey Henderson*National League Championship Series MVP: Will Clark...
Gwynn split time between right field and center fields
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, while winning his third Gold Glove.
In 1994
1994 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason is played...
Gwynn batted .394, the highest batting average in the National League since Bill Terry
Bill Terry
William Harold Terry was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee...
hit .401 in 1930
1930 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over St. Louis Cardinals -Statistical leaders:1Single season record for RBIs-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Negro National League final standings:...
and the highest in the majors since Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
hit .406 in 1941
1941 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Joe Dimaggio hits in 56 consecutive games. After being hitless in the 57th game, he hit safely in 16 more consecutive games for a streak of 72 of 73 games.*Ted Williams ended the season with a .406 batting average...
. Had the season not been shortened by a strike, Gwynn would have had the chance to become the first batter to eclipse the magical .400 mark in more than 50 years; of course, several players have hit .400 for four months, only to fade. In the end, Gwynn fell three hits short of the .400 mark in the shortened season.
In 1997
1997 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians ; Liván Hernández, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández...
, Gwynn reached career highs with 17 home runs and 119 runs batted in. The next season
1998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
, Gwynn batted .321 and helped the Padres win their second pennant, as they defeated the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the playoffs. However, the Padres lost the World Series
1998 World Series
The 1998 World Series, the 94th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, matched the New York Yankees against the San Diego Padres . The Yankees swept the Series in four games to capture their second championship in three years, and their 24th overall...
to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in a four-game sweep, despite Gwynn's home run in the opening game against New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
pitcher David Wells
David Wells
David Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
, and his overall batting average of .500 in the Series.
Gwynn had 135 career home runs: 74 solo home runs, 39 two-run home runs, 19 three-run home runs, and 3 grand slams (one of which was of the inside-the-park variety). 99 of his home runs came when the game was tied or the Padres were behind.
Gwynn got his 3,000th hit on August 6, 1999, with a single in the first inning off Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
pitcher Dan Smith. Coincidentally, he got his 2,000th hit, also a single, on August 6, 1993, against Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
pitcher Bruce Ruffin
Bruce Ruffin (baseball)
Bruce Wayne Ruffin was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies ....
. August 6 is also the birthday of Gwynn's mother.
Achievements and honors
Gwynn is an eight-time National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
batting champion
Major League Baseball titles leaders
At the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
, leading the league in 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, which ties him with the Pittsburgh Pirates'
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
for the league record — the all-time Major League batting titles leader is Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, who won 12 American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
batting titles.
He is also a 15-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, and was voted as a starter by the fans in 11 of the games.
Although he had 135 career home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, Gwynn described himself as a contact hitter who could hit to all fields. He rarely struck out (just 434 times, once every 21 at-bats) and his goal was to put the ball in play and move baserunners over. He was also an outstanding bunter.
In 1999, while still active as one of baseball's best hitters, he ranked Number 49 on The Sporting News'
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
All-Century Team. Despite adding to his career statistics for two more seasons until his retirement, when TSN updated their list for 2005, Gwynn had fallen to Number 57.
Gwynn retired in 2001
2001 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Arizona Diamondbacks*Postseason - October 9 to November 4Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
with 3,141 hits and a lifetime batting average of .338. His career average is the highest among players whose careers began after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and fourth-highest among players whose career was entirely within the live-ball era
Live-ball era
The live-ball era, also referred to as the lively ball era, is the period in Major League Baseball beginning in , following the dead-ball era. During that year offensive statistics rose dramatically in what would be mistakenly attributed to the introduction of a new "lively" ball...
(only Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, and Bill Terry have higher averages in that time). He played his entire career with one team, a rarity in any era, and is considered by many to be the best player to ever wear a Padres jersey. In his last game at home, the Padres honored him by stenciling "5.5" on the third-base side of the infield dirt, referencing what he called the "5.5 hole" (so named because it was in between third base, marked as the number 5 on a scorecard, and shortstop, which is position number 6) where he placed many of his hits.
Since his retirement, Gwynn has worked as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and is the head baseball coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
at his alma mater, San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. In 1997, Smith Stadium, the school's baseball facility, was extensively renovated. Then-Padres owner John Moores financed the estimated $4 million project, and at Moores's request, it was renamed Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium is the home field of the San Diego State University Aztecs college baseball team. In addition, the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League use the park as their home field.-Stadium history:...
.
On July 21, 2007, a 10 foot statue of Tony Gwynn was unveiled outside PETCO Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
. In honor of Gwynn's long service to the Padres and the community, the address of PETCO Park is 19 Tony Gwynn Drive.
Hall of Fame
On January 9, 2007, Gwynn was electedBaseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2007
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2007 proceeded according to revised rules enacted in 2001. The Baseball Writers Association of America held an election to select from among recent players...
to the Baseball Hall of Fame, being selected on 532 out of 545 ballots (97.61%), seventh highest percentage in Hall of Fame voting history, and just thirteen votes short of a unanimous selection. At the time of his induction, Gwynn was the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who was never a teammate of another Baseball Hall-of-Famer. Since then, former teammates Goose Gossage
Goose Gossage
Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname...
, Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
and Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
have been elected.
On July 21, 2007, the Padres unveiled a statue of Gwynn at the "Park in the Park" area of Petco. This statue features an engraving which reads "Mr. Padre", and includes a quote from Gwynn's father on the back. Gwynn was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
on July 29, 2007. Ripken and Gwynn are 2 of the 46 players in the Hall of Fame who played their entire major league career for only one team. Both were elected in their first year of eligibility.
The Gwynn-Ripken induction weekend was notable for a number of attendance records, which were announced during the ceremony. 14,000 people visited the Hall of Fame Museum on July 28, a record number for a single-day. Baseball attendance for all games played on July 28 also set a single-day record. The induction ceremony also had the greatest collection of living Hall-of-Famers, 53, present for a ceremony. A record crowd estimated at 75,000 attended the induction ceremony, shattering the previous record of 25,000 in 1999. In 2002, Gwynn was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions
San Diego Hall of Champions
The San Diego Hall of Champions is an American multi-sport museum in San Diego, California. Located in the Federal Building in Balboa Park, the facility recognizes outstanding athletic accomplishments and traditions involving more than forty-two sports...
into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface. Prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame on July 20, 2007, Gwynn appeared on a Wheaties
Wheaties
Wheaties is a brand of General Mills breakfast cereal. It is well known for featuring prominent athletes on the exterior of the package, and has become a major cultural icon...
box.
Career totals
- Bold indicates Padres all-time leader
AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP SLG .338 2,440 9,288 1,383 3,141 543 85 135 1,138 790 434 319 118 .388 .459
Milestone Hits
| Hit # | Date & Opponent | Pitcher | Type of Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 19, 1982 vs. Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
Sid Monge Sid Monge Isidro "Sid" Monge Pedroza is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher with a ten-year career from 1975 to 1984... |
Double |
| 500 | August 18, 1985 vs. Atlanta Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... |
Craig McMurtry Craig McMurtry Joe Craig McMurtry was a Pitcher for the Atlanta Braves , Texas Rangers and Houston Astros . He is currently Baseball coach at Temple College.... |
Single |
| 1,000 | April 22, 1988 vs. Houston Houston Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field... |
Nolan Ryan Nolan Ryan Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers.... |
Single |
| 1,135^ | September 17, 1988 @ Atlanta Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... |
Jim Acker Jim Acker James Justin Acker is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to . He played college baseball at the University of Texas.... |
Single |
| 1,500 | August 15, 1990 vs. Montreal Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's... |
Steve Frey Steve Frey Steven Francis Frey is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He attended William Tennent High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, and played three seasons of college ball at Bucks County Community College before being drafted by the New York Yankees in the fifteenth round of the 1983 Major... |
Single |
| 2,000 | August 6, 1993 vs. Colorado Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... |
Bruce Ruffin Bruce Ruffin (baseball) Bruce Wayne Ruffin was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies .... |
Single |
| 2,500 | August 14, 1996 @ Cincinnati Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890.... |
Héctor Carrasco Héctor Carrasco Héctor Pacheco Pipo Carrasco is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher... |
Single |
| 3,000 | August 6, 1999 @ Montreal Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's... |
Dan Smith | Single |
| 3,141* | October 6, 2001 vs. Colorado Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... |
Gabe White Gabe White Gabriel Allen White is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from -. He gave up Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn's final hit of his career, on October 6, 2001, while playing for the Colorado Rockies.-External links:... |
Single |
- ^ Became the Padres all-time leader surpassing Dave WinfieldDave WinfieldDavid Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
(1973–80). - * Final of career
Post-playing career
Gwynn is currently the head baseball coach at San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, and until recently was a part-time analyst for ESPN
ESPN Major League Baseball
ESPN Major League Baseball is a promotion of Major League Baseball on ESPN and ESPN2, with simulcasts on ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. ESPN's MLB coverage debuted on April 9, 1990 with three Opening Day telecasts. ESPN Major League Baseball is guaranteed to remain on air until 2013.The title is derived from...
. He has recently been recruited as a Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
Sports expert analyst. He often sits in for play-by-play during Padres games on San Diego's Channel 4
4SD
4SD, commonly referred to as Channel 4 San Diego is a local origination cable TV channel based in San Diego, California, United States, and is owned and operated by Cox Communications, through its San Diego-based cable television system. In addition to Cox...
. Gwynn has also been hired to help broadcast postseason games on TBS.
Personal life
Gwynn is married to Alicia Gwynn, PhD, and is the father of R&B artist Anisha NicoleAnisha Nicole
Anisha Nicole Gwynn, known best by her stagenames Anisha Nicole and Nee-Nee Gwynn, is an R&B/hip hop pop-artist. Her father is Tony Gwynn, former Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres and current head baseball coach for San Diego State University...
and major league outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr., whose major league debut (with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
) and first major league hit on July 19, 2006 came 24 years to the day of his father's first major league hit — both Gwynns hit doubles. Gwynn also has two granddaughters. His brother, Chris
Chris Gwynn
Christopher Karlton "Chris" Gwynn is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Career:...
, was also a major league outfielder. Both Chris and Tony Jr. played with the Padres during their careers. Gwynn currently splits his time between his homes in Poway, California
Poway, California
Poway is a city in San Diego County, California. Originally an unincorporated community in San Diego County, Poway officially became a city in December 1980. Even though Poway lies geographically in the middle of San Diego County, most consider its relative location as north county inland...
(San Diego) and Fishers, Indiana
Fishers, Indiana
Fishers is a town located in Fall Creek and Delaware townships, Hamilton County, Indiana, with a population of 76,794, according to the 2010 census. A suburb of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown rapidly in recent decades: about 350 people lived there in 1963, 2,000 in 1980, and only 7,200 as recently...
(Indianapolis).
Gwynn has had three procedures to remove noncancerous growths from his parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
since 1997. In 2010, Gwynn was diagnosed with cancer of a salivary gland and had both lymph nodes removed. Gwynn attributed his cancer to his dipping tobacco
Dipping tobacco
Dipping tobacco, traditionally referred to as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known by various terms – most often as dip and sometimes rub or chew...
habit that he had since playing rookie ball in Walla Walla in 1981.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball hit records
- List of Major League Baseball players with 2000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with a .325 batting average
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at outfield
- List of Silver Slugger Award winners at outfield
- Major League Baseball titles leadersMajor League Baseball titles leadersAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
- Major League Baseball titles streaksMajor League Baseball titles streaksAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
- DHL Hometown HeroesDHL Hometown HeroesOn September 27, 2006, Major League Baseball announced a list of players, one from each team, voted by MLB fans. Fans were asked to vote for the most outstanding player in the history of each MLB franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value.The candidates for...
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- 3,000 hit club
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions