Post by Admin on Jun 17, 2014 13:37:42 GMT
On June 16, 2014, Tony Gwynn passed away at the age of 54. I first knew of Gwynn in 1983, as he and Wade Boggs emerged as baseball's top hitters for average that year. I had his rookie card, and I'm not sure if I still know where it is, or if I even have it. I also have his autograph on a baseball card - a special edition card from a set issued from Quaker foods.
Gwynn, along with Boggs, was the 80s and 90s version of Rod Carew in the 70s. Gwynn not only hit for high, high average, but he also played great defense in the outfield and stole a lot of bases. On June 19, 1986, I went to a Padres' game in San Diego. I don't remember much about the game. I knew that Tony Gwynn was San Diego's star player, and I remember that the Padres played the San Francisco Giants. I also remember that Roger Craig was managing the Giants, and that John Kruk played for San Diego then.
When the Milwaukee Brewers went to the National League in 1998, I went to a couple of games in the old County Stadium when the Padres came to town. I was very lucky enough to have box seats, which where in line with the first base line. Perfect! I had a perfect view of seeing the left-handed batting Gwynn swing. He had such great, consistent form as he looked as a well-timed spring coiling. By then, he was in the twilight of his career, as his batting "dipped" below .350 that year. I wish that I had a camera when he batted those nights.
I think that the Brewers lost both of those games that I attended. In one of those games, I remember that the score was something like, 13 - 4, and Gwynn was pulled from the lineup in the seventh inning, so, in the top of the eighth, I left, and made it home in time to watch the ninth inning on television. Once Gwynn left that game, I didn't care about seeing anymore of the game.
Several years later, when Milwaukee drafted Tony Gwynn, Jr., I was glad that the Brewers picked Tony Gwynn's son, because of Tony, Sr. Although,I was hoping that Tony, Jr. would be with the Brewers for a long time, it didn't pan out that way as Gwynn, Jr. went on to a couple of other teams, and he is now with Philadelphia. I was looking forward to seeing Tony, Jr. hit .290 or .300, and steal some bases for the Brewers. Now, I look forward to sharing my baseball fan memories about one of the greatest baseball players ever in Tony Gwynn.