RIP TONY GWYNN

Tony Gwynn, hall of fame outfielder with the Padres died from salivary gland cancer, he was 54. “Major League Baseball today mourns the tragic loss of Tony Gwynn, the greatest Padre ever and one of the most accomplished hitters that our game has ever known, whose all-around excellence on the field was surpassed by his exuberant personality and genial disposition in life,” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said. Gwynn had 3,141 career hits and had a .338 batting-average, he was a 15-time all-star and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2007.

Gwynn is known as “Mr. Padre” for being the best Padre of all time, the Padres retired his number, named the street of the stadium after him and built a statue of him.

REAX

“He was beloved by so many, especially the Hall of Fame family, for his kindness, graciousness and passion for the game,” Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. “Tony was one of baseball history’s most consistent hitters and most affable personalities. He was an icon for San Diego Padres fans, never more evident than on Induction Day of 2007, when tens of thousands of Tony’s most appreciative fans filled Cooperstown for his Hall of Fame speech. We extend our deepest sympathies to Alicia and the entire Gwynn family.”

Gwynn became the San Diego State baseball coach and had recently signed a one-year extension with the school. San Diego State tweeted Monday, “Our hearts are heavy today. RIP Tony Gwynn. Thoughts to the entire Gwynn family and SDSU Baseball family.”

“Today I lost my Dad, my best friend and my mentor,” Tony Gwynn Jr.tweeted “I’m gonna miss u so much pops. I’m gonna do everything in my power to continue to… Make u proud!”