Anthony
Keith
(Tony)
"Mr. Padre"
Gwynn
Sr.
Born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
Ancestors 
Son of Charles Allen Gwynn
and Vendella (Douglas) Gwynn
Brother of
[private brother (1960s - unknown)] [half]
[spouse(s) unknown]
Father of
[private son (1980s - unknown)]
Died
at age 54
in Poway, San Diego, California, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 20 Oct 2019
This page has been accessed 442 times.
| Tony Gwynn Sr. is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage |
Biography
Tony Gwynn Sr. is Notable.
Tony Gwynn was a Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder, who played 20 seasons for the San Diego Padres. The 15-time All-Star compiled a .338 career batting average, by far the highest since the expansion of the league in 1961.
Tony Gwynn was born on the 9th of May, 1960 in Los Angeles, California.[1] He was the son of Vendella Douglas and Charles Allen Gwynn.
He attended San Diego State University (SDSU), playing both baseball and basketball for the Aztecs. He was an all-conference player in both sports.
Tony married his wife (private, still living) on the 6th of June, 1981 in Los Angeles, California. They had one son and one daughter together. His son (private, still living), along with one of his brothers (private, still living), also played multiple years in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Spending his entire professional career with the San Diego Padres, he retired with a .338 batting average, 15 All-Star appearances, 5 Gold Glove awards and participated in two World Series. Consistency was his true signature gift, never hitting below .309 in any complete season. As a reference, in July of 2024, this career low BA would still rank 4th highest in the National League (NL) as well as match that of New York Slugger Aaron Judge.[2][3]
In 2007, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Cal Ripken, which is often cited as the Classiest Class, drawing the largest crowd ever to an induction ceremony, an estimated 82,000.[4] A statue of the San Diego Legend welcomes all to Petco Park.
|
| Bronze sculpture of Tony Gwynn at San Diego's Petco Park Baseball Stadium. |
In 1997, the San Diego State University (SDSU) baseball stadium was demolished and rebuilt with funding from the Padres Ownership team. They named the new venue Tony Gwynn Stadium (see attached photograph).
Tony entered one of the most exclusive clubs within the sports world on August 6th, 1999; that of the career 3,000-hit club. Following a first inning single off Montreal's Dan Smith, his teammates rushed the field to congratulate the 14-time All-Star. Most notably, his mother Vendella met and hugged him along with his daughter, as this historic milestone occurred on her 64th birthday.[5]
Following the 1999 Season, Tony was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the MLB player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team." Baseball fans as well as members of the media are eligible to vote.
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| The Roberto Clemente Award |
Following his professional playing career, Gwynn took over as the head coach of the SDSU baseball team for 12 seasons (2003-2014), winning three Mountain West Conference championships and paricipating in three NCAA tournament appearances. He also worked as an MLB broadcaster and studio analyst for ESPN.
Tony passed away on the 16th of June, 2014 in Poway, California from complications of oral cancer. He attributed the disease to his earlier habitual use of dipping tobacco.[6][7]
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| Tony Gwynn Signed Baseball Bat. |
Gifted with such dignity and modesty befit for just a chosen few, Sports Illustrated honored his legacy accurately, stating Gwynn was "an ambassador not just for the game of baseball but for mankind."[8]
Sources
- ↑
Birth Record:
"California Birth Index, 1905-1995"
Birthdate: 9 May 1960; Birth County: Los Angeles
Ancestry Record 5247 #7634288
Anthony K Gwynn born on 9 May 1960. - ↑ MLB.com Link.
- ↑ MLB.com Link.
- ↑ MLB.com Link
- ↑ 3,000 Hits - Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2022. The Desert Sun; Publication Date: 7 Aug 1999; Publication Place: Palm Springs, California, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/244680229/?article=5de1077c-3406-11ed-a4d3-d24f87fe5605&xid=4535.
- ↑ Death Record - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131484795/tony-gwynn: accessed July 2, 2024), memorial page for Tony Gwynn (9 May 1960–16 Jun 2014), Find A Grave: Memorial #131484795, citing Dearborn Memorial Park, Poway, San Diego County, California, USA.
- ↑ Obituary of Tony Gwynn - Ancestry.com. U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2019. The Commercial Appeal; Publication Date: 17 Jun 2014; Publication Place: Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Ancestry Sharing Link
- ↑ SI.com - Verducci, Tom (June 16, 2014). "Tony Gwynn was a joy to watch at the plate, and in life". SI.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2014.
- See also:
- Wikipedia: Tony Gwynn
- Wikidata: Item Q1145222
- Wikipedia: San Diego Padres
- Wikipedia: MLB Batting Champions
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