In 2008 my parents took me to Cooperstown, N.Y. to visit the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. We were in Cooperstown the week before the '08 induction ceremony and I wanted to makes sure that I got my picture taken with the Class of 2007 before the new faces were added. I remember being excited because Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were at the top of my list as my all-time favorite non-Cleveland baseball players. Even though I missed the beginning of both of their careers, I had been alive and remembered some of their biggest milestones. When Gwynn was poised to hit over .400 in the strike-shortened 1994 season (.394 when the strike hit, raising his batting average from .386 on June 16th, he WOULD have done it) he became one of my favorite players. Maybe part of it was his rounded figure, or the fact that I had a Swingaway in my basement that he endorsed, but I started to try and be more like him in my approach every day. No, I would never swing from the left side and pepper the hole between short and third with precision as he did, but I would hit three buckets of balls to the opposite field off the tee before I started hitting. And I'll always remember the words he was known to say and play by when he said, "Remember these two things: Play hard and have fun."
Listening to Gwynn talk about hitting was fascinating. Not just because he was so knowledgable about the his craft or the fact that he was about as scientific about his approach as Ted Williams, but because he had that distinctive voice. I could listen to Tony talk about hitting for hours.
When we left the Hall of Fame that day I made it my mission to find a Tony Gwynn Padres shirt. I'm glad to say that I did. I'm also glad that I was able to spend the first part of my baseball fandom rooting for one of the best men to play the game. Today my heart is with the many Padres fans who mourn the loss of their legend. Like Williams for Red Sox, Gary Carter for the Expos, and Bob Feller for the Indians, Gwynn stood for many things that go far beyond the game of baseball and meant more to San Diego than anyone else.
Thank you Tony Gwynn, for all the memories.
** For your listening pleasure here is Ted Williams and Tony Gwynn talking hitting. I'm hoping that these conversations are continuing in heaven **
