San Diego’s Gwynn Files for Bankruptcy

Tony Gwynn, the San Diego Padres’ All-Star right fielder, and his wife, Alicia, have filed for bankruptcy, citing liabilities of $1,147,000 and assets of $690,150.

Gwynn, whose bankruptcy petition was filed here Friday, would not comment on his financial status Saturday, other than to say: “It (the financial problem) hasn’t affected me a bit (on the field). I just want to play baseball. That’s why I’m out here. I’ve got a job to do. And I do want to keep my job.”

Gwynn leads the Padres with a .339 batting average--sixth-best in the National League.

Gwynn--who will earn $700,000 this season--is trying to reorganize his finances with the aid Bob Teaff, Jim Harper and John Boggs--all of whom are closely associated with Padre first baseman Steve Garvey. They have been working with Gwynn since January 1.

Harper is serving as Gwynn’s business manager, Boggs is Gwynn’s marketing representative and Teaff is his attorney. Gwynn also received advice from Jim Biggins, a bankruptcy specialist.

“From Tony’s viewpoint, he’s looking to focus on baseball and on the future,” Teaff said Saturday. “He’s looking to close this financial chapter and start a new one.”

Teaff said the Gwynns’ financial difficulties apparently are due to their “being exposed to substantial liabilities during a period of time when they were receiving advice from a former attorney-agent.”

Gwynn’s Poway home is valued at $480,000, his largest single asset. Gwynn also earned $54,096 last year from Tony Gwynn Enterprises and another $2,000 from a 10% interest in the San Diego School of Baseball.

The bankruptcy petition also said Gwynn is a co-shareholder in Hillside Construction Inc., a firm involved in the importation and conversion of European automobiles.

According to court papers, Gwynn, 27, owes $45,000 in back taxes to the federal government.