Tony Gwynn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Gwynn
Gwynn with the San Diego Padres in 1983
Right fielder
Born: (1960-05-09)May 9, 1960 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died: June 16, 2014(2014-06-16) (aged 54) Poway, California, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Left
debut
July 19, 1982, for the San Diego Padres
Last appearance
October 7, 2001, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
Batting average	.338
Hits	3,141
Home runs	135
Runs batted in	1,138
Teams
San Diego Padres (1982–2001)
Career highlights and awards
8× NL batting champion (1984, 1987–1989, 1994–1997) 15× All-Star (1984–1987, 1989–1999) 5× Gold Glove Award (1986–1987, 1989–1991) 7× Silver Slugger Award (1984, 1986–1987, 1989, 1994–1995, 1997) Roberto Clemente Award (1999) San Diego Padres No. 19 retired San Diego Padres Hall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2007
Vote	97.6% (first ballot)

Tony Gwynn Sr. (May 9, 1960 – June 16, 2014) was a famous American baseball player. People often called him "Mr. Padre" because he played his entire 20-year career (1982–2001) for the San Diego Padres. Tony Gwynn was known as one of the best hitters in baseball history.

He won eight batting titles, which means he had the highest batting average in the National League eight times. This is tied for the most in the league's history. His career batting average was .338, and he never hit below .309 in any full season. Gwynn was also a 15-time All-Star. He was great at both hitting and fielding, winning seven Silver Slugger Awards for his hitting and five Gold Glove Awards for his defense. Tony Gwynn was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, the first year he was eligible.

Growing Up and Early Life

Tony Gwynn was born in Los Angeles, California. When he was nine, his family moved to Long Beach, California, because of its good schools and sports. He grew up with his older brother, Charles Jr., and younger brother, Chris, who also became a Major League Baseball player.

His parents worked hard in civil service jobs. They taught him to always be prepared. Tony loved playing basketball the most when he was young. His dad even made a small baseball field in their backyard. Tony learned to hit the ball to the "opposite field" (away from where he was swinging) because if he pulled it (hit it to his natural side), it would go over the neighbor's fence! He looked up to Los Angeles Dodgers player Willie Davis, who was also left-handed and fast.

High School Sports Star

Tony went to Long Beach Polytechnic High School, which was famous for its sports teams. He was a star in both basketball and baseball. In his last two years, his basketball team won 53 games and only lost 6. They even reached the championship game twice.

Gwynn was a standout basketball player in both high school (pictured) and college.

As a junior, he was the starting point guard for the basketball team that won a big championship. He thought about quitting baseball to focus on basketball, but his mom told him to keep playing, saying it might be important later. In his senior year, even though he joined the baseball team late, he batted an amazing .563!

Tony received scholarship offers for college basketball, but none for baseball. He chose to go to San Diego State University (SDSU) because he could play both sports there.

College Baseball and Basketball

At San Diego State, Tony Gwynn was a star in both baseball and basketball. He played three seasons of baseball and four of basketball. He was named an All-American outfielder in his last two baseball seasons, leading his team in hitting. In basketball, he set school records for assists. He is the only player in his conference to be honored in two different sports.

Tony wasn't allowed to play baseball in his first year. His basketball coach wanted him to get in shape. But in 1979, two outfielders on the baseball team got hurt in a bike accident. A teammate convinced the baseball coach to give Tony a chance. Tony said he might never have played college baseball if not for that accident.

He mostly played left fielder and designated hitter in college. He hit .301 in his first year. In 1980, he hit .423, and in 1981, he hit .416. His college career batting average was an incredible .398. Playing point guard in basketball helped his baseball skills, making his wrists stronger for hitting and improving his speed for baserunning.

Starting His Professional Career

The San Diego Padres picked Tony Gwynn in the third round of the 1981 MLB draft. On the same day, the San Diego Clippers also drafted him for basketball. Tony chose baseball, thinking it was a more practical choice for his body.

He quickly showed his talent in the minor leagues. In 1981, he led the Northwest League with a .331 batting average and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Major League Baseball Star

Early Years and First World Series (1982–1986)

Tony Gwynn made his Major League debut with the Padres on July 19, 1982. In his fourth try, he got his first big league hit, a double. He finished his first season batting .289, which was the only time in his career he hit below .300.

In 1983, he started using video recording to review his at-bats and fix his swing. He said video "turned around my career." He then went on a 25-game hitting streak, a Padres record.

A post-2001 recreation of Gwynn's jersey in 1984, when the Padres won their first pennant

In 1984, Tony had an amazing season. He was voted into his first All-Star Game and won his first batting title with a .351 average. He had only 23 strikeouts all season! The Padres won their first National League pennant that year, making it to the World Series before losing to the Detroit Tigers. Tony hit .368 in the playoffs.

He continued to play well, earning his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense in 1986. He also scored 100 runs for the first time that year.

Batting Titles and Injuries (1987–1992)

In 1987, Tony Gwynn won his second batting title with a .370 average. This was the highest average in the National League since 1948! He also stole 56 bases, showing he was fast too. He led the league in hits with 218.

He won two more batting titles in 1988 (.313) and 1989 (.336), making him the first National League player to win three batting titles in a row since 1952. During these years, he also reached 1,000 career hits.

Starting in 1990, Tony faced several injuries, especially to his left knee. This caused him to miss parts of seasons. Despite this, he kept working hard. In 1992, he met baseball legend Ted Williams, who encouraged him to hit for more power. This meeting changed Tony's hitting approach for the rest of his career.

Career Highs and 3,000 Hits (1993–2001)

In 1993, Tony Gwynn had a great season, batting .358. He also had the only six-hit game of his career! On August 6, he got his 2,000th career hit.

Inscription «If you work hard good things will happen» by Charles Gwynn, Tony Gwynn's father

In 1994, Tony had his best batting average ever, hitting .394. This was the highest in the National League since 1930! The season ended early due to a baseball strike, stopping his chase for a .400 average. He won four batting titles in a row from 1994 to 1997.

Shoes worn by Gwynn in 1997, when he batted .372

In 1997, he had career highs with 17 home runs and 119 RBIs. He won his eighth batting title with a .372 average, second only to Ty Cobb in total titles. He also set a Padres record with 49 doubles.

In 1998, Tony helped the Padres reach their second World Series in franchise history. Even though the Padres lost, Tony hit an amazing .500 in the series. He hit a memorable home run in Yankee Stadium, which he called his favorite hit.

Gwynn in 2001

On August 6, 1999, Tony Gwynn got his 3,000th career hit, a single off a Montreal Expos pitcher. He was the first National League player to reach 3,000 hits in 20 years. This milestone was a huge achievement.

He played two more seasons, battling injuries, and retired after the 2001 season with 3,141 career hits. He ended his career with a .324 average in his final season, making it his 19th straight season batting over .300.

How Tony Gwynn Played

Tony Gwynn was known for his amazing ability to hit the baseball. He could hit the ball to all parts of the field, especially to the "5.5 hole" (between third base and shortstop). He rarely struck out and was very patient at the plate, waiting for the perfect pitch.

A Gwynn game-used and autographed bat

He used a lighter bat than most players, which helped him wait longer before swinging. After meeting Ted Williams, he learned to hit inside pitches with more power, which increased his home runs and RBIs.

Even though he wasn't known for being super muscular, Tony was a great athlete. He was also a good base stealer early in his career. He worked very hard on his defense, even though he wasn't naturally good at it at first. He was very proud of his five Gold Glove awards.

Tony was famous for his incredible work ethic. He would spend hours studying videos of his own swings and opposing pitchers. He was one of the first players to use video so much to improve his game.

People loved Tony Gwynn for his friendly and cheerful personality. He was always kind and humble. He was a great teammate and a leader.

Life After Playing Baseball

Gwynn's No. 19, retired by the Padres, displayed at Petco Park

After retiring, Tony Gwynn became the head baseball coach at his old college, San Diego State University. He coached for 12 seasons, helping his teams win championships and reach the NCAA Tournament. He also helped develop future Major League players like Stephen Strasburg.

Tony also worked as a baseball announcer and analyst for TV. In 1997, SDSU's baseball stadium was renamed Tony Gwynn Stadium in his honor. In 2004, the Padres retired his No. 19 jersey, meaning no other Padres player will ever wear that number. A large bronze statue of him was also placed outside Petco Park, the Padres' home stadium.

Gwynn's exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

On January 9, 2007, Tony Gwynn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with almost all the votes. He was inducted alongside Cal Ripken Jr. in a ceremony attended by a record crowd of 75,000 fans.

Tony Gwynn's Legacy

Gwynn was known as "Mr. Padre".

Tony Gwynn is remembered as one of baseball's greatest hitters. His Hall of Fame plaque calls him "an artisan with the bat." Many experts called him the best pure hitter of his time. He won eight batting titles and had a career batting average of .338, which is one of the highest in baseball history.

He was amazing at making contact with the ball and rarely struck out. He had more than 3,000 hits and 500 doubles, but fewer than 500 strikeouts, which is very rare.

Tony Gwynn played his entire career for the San Diego Padres, which is unusual in modern baseball. He chose to stay with the team, even taking less money, because he loved San Diego. He became a beloved symbol of the city and the team.

He was also recognized for his kindness and good character, winning several awards for his humanitarian work. Tony Gwynn was truly a special player and person.

Personal Life and Health

Tony Gwynn was married to Alicia Gwynn. They had two children: a daughter, Anisha Nicole, who is an R&B singer, and a son, Tony Gwynn Jr., who also became a Major League Baseball player. Tony Jr.'s first hit in the big leagues happened exactly 24 years after his father's first hit! Tony's brother, Chris, also played for the Padres.

Tony Gwynn had some health problems later in his life. He was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer in 2010. He believed it was linked to his habit of using dipping tobacco. He underwent treatments and surgeries for his cancer.

On June 16, 2014, Tony Gwynn passed away from complications from his cancer at the age of 54. A public memorial service was held for him at Petco Park, where thousands of fans and baseball legends gathered to remember him.

Baseball Achievements

Awards and Honors

Records

Gwynn No. 19 shirts on display

Tony Gwynn Drive outside of Petco Park.

Career Statistics

• Bold indicates Padres all-time leader

Images for kids

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  Gwynn was a standout basketball player in both high school and college.

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  Inscription «If you work hard good things will happen» by Charles Gwynn, Tony Gwynn's father

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  Shoes worn by Gwynn in 1997, when he batted .372

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  Gwynn in 2001

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  A Gwynn game-used and autographed bat

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  Gwynn's No. 19, retired by the Padres, displayed at Petco Park

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  Gwynn's exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

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  Gwynn was known as "Mr. Padre".

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  Gwynn in 2011 at the Baseball Hall of Fame induction parade

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  Tony Gwynn Drive outside of Petco Park.