What's really insane is how often he made contact. Gwynn only struck out 434 times IN HIS ENITRE CAREER. Some players do that in a 2 year stretch. His ability to put the ball in play was remarkable.
Man. It is so simultaneously inspiring yet saddening to see this instructional video from Tony Gwynn last year. You can so plainly see that he is very ill, but he still wants to teach and be a mentor to young folks learning the game. RIP, sir. I've never had a rooting interest in the Padres at all, but I always saw you as a quiet hero.
His instructional tutorial was my favorite as a kid growing up. I’m not even a padres fan but I had a Tony Gwynn jersey. He was probably my favorite because until high school I was usually one of the smaller players on my team. His videos catered to being a smaller player.
Even though he’s a hall of famer. One of the most under rated players of his generation. The guy never struck out. He was a pure hitter. Never out spoken, very modest, not selfish or greedy. Never cried about being on a team that struggled for most of his career. Never manipulated these things to go to so called greener pastures. Never cried about money. A class act in every sense of the word. Baseball needs more guys like this. He kept his mouth shut about everything and just played. And did that extremely well.
Love when the host comments on "what made you one of the greatest hitters in the game" and Gwynn just puts his head down in the most modest way and takes the compliment. He always came off a that ultimate baseball gentleman.
Mega respect for Tony Gwynn. One of the absolute best hitters the game has ever seen and a wonderful ambassador for the game. I always loved just listening to Tony talk baseball. Rest In Peace Tony Gwynn…thanks for giving so much of your heart and passion to the game.
I was a Braves fan, but I loved to see Tony Gwinn bat. This man along with Wade Bogs had the greatest bat control I have ever seen. He would let the ball get to him, then decide if he wished to hit it. And he could hit it when he wanted and where he wanted usually. A Tony Gwinn at bat video should be hanging in the Louvre, as it was truly a work of art. Rest in Peace Tony.
Boggs once said it disappointed him that he could never battle Tony for a batting title because they were in different leagues. Wade viewed him as a spitting image of himself on the field. Notice I said did not say OFF THE FIELD. Boggs was a notorious womanizer. Gwynn stayed married to his HS sweetie.
There will never be another one like tony. I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, but when you saw him on TV it was like being with family.He carried himself with class and dignity. You hear of high caliber players before your time, thank god I had that opportunity to witness such a class act on and off the field.My hero and role model you will never be forgotten and your legacy will live on forever.God bless the Gwynn family
i remember this story my hs coach always told our team about his dedication to hitting. before prom night Gywnn sneaked out to his backyard to hit off the tee while in his tuxedo. no matter the day or time he always found a way to perfect his craft and that story has always stuck with me RIP
I was at the Murphy when Tony stole his 300th base, got his 500th double...and when he came back to SD after collecting his 3000th hit...and the ceremony. Also, his farewell...
He will be missed. One of only a handful of loyal players that played for ONE team when he could have easily went elsewhere to have a better chance to win a pennant and make better money. He stayed and played in San Diego because he was happy there.....and NOT because of money. God Bless Mr. Padre!!!
One of the best players of his time, underrated, unique, I can go on and on. Tony Gwynn could of played for any top team he wanted, the Yankees Red Sox. He chose San Diego because that is where his calling was. He played with heart. For love of the game. He could of made more money somewhere else. But Tony was content with what he made in San Diego. You won't see that nowadays. R.I.P Mr. Padre you are truly missed #19
Also, Gwynn had great eyesight, he was 20/15 at 38 years old, so in his prime he probably could see the grip on the pitches. By the way, I remember the late Darryl Kile once struck him out twice in a game. That didn't happen often.
I remember my father tell me how great Tony Gwynn was going to be when he watched him play winter ball in puerto rico in1981. And he was right. May you R.I.P.
You got that right. I just lit into some fool a few days ago who posted Bonds is a better hitter than Tony G. What a maroon. Tony struck out far less than Bonds did, had over 3,000 hits, and they were all clutch. Bonds could never do that.
man Tony was one of a kind. I can't even think of another player who would say "I'm not trying to knock this out of the park, I'm just trying to make contact with the ball." Every player has to juice and hit home runs, the game is totally different because of it.
It's astounding that he thought he let the ball travel. You watch any tony gwynn swing where he smashed a ball. He, like all hitters in the bigs, makes contact in front of his front hip. RIP
Gwynn was arguably the best contact hitter that ever lived. Had he been in better shape he probably would have hit .400 multiple times with far more infield hits. People forget he was a terrific athlete. He started at point guard at SDSU. He didn't guess at the plate which probably cost him a lot more home runs. His eye hand coordination was so good that he very rarely struck out on any ball near the zone, even on 0-2 counts. He rarely struck-out period but Gwynn vs the very best pitchers could not be overpowered or dominated by great stuff.
If the commie MLB player's union hasn't ended the 1994 season he would've hit .400. A lot of people don't realize the racism and harassment he was subjected to in the Padres clubhouse and within the player's union for not leaving San Diego for a bigger market and more bucks. It had to have affected him. Read his wikipedia entry. He put up with some horrifying shit. Jack Clark is a jackass.
The Padres back in the day were such a good freakin team! Rumor has it they are supposed to be playoff worthy in the next upcoming years. I guess they have a lot of top notch prospects coming up
we share the same last name so as a kid i was fascinated with him. i watched every game i could that he played in. he was a true magician at the plate. he is truly missed in the baseball world.
Watched MLBTonight with Eric Byrnes and Sean Casey and at the 2:28 mark of this video Tony said let the pitch get deep. The Network was explaining hitting and they talked about the ball getting deep but didn't explain it too well. Tony did a great job.
one of the greatest hitters of all time young people need to watch film of him hitting the baseball even tho he played in San Diego he still one great player!! I was tearing up Joey Hamilton me and my 3 friends lit him up no cussing but he was hating it Tony said to me you guys have no mercy!! he started laughing after lining a hit to center field in Cincinnati.
Our school system's high school coach made us all watch this at 13, and only a few took it serious. If only we all had watched it, we would've done so much better throughout high school dammit.
Saw him play in 87 when I was 13. I had no idea what I was getting to see. Imagine him on a good hitting team, regardless, there are no more like him. 338 career average these days, when only homeruns seem to matter, RIP Tony gwynn, you owned hitting
did u guys know he's the only modern era hitter to career bat avg(3000+ plate appearances) above .330? no one who played in the 60's-10's has ever done that
