Advertisement

A look at the career and life of Tony Gwynn

San Diego Padres fans watch a tribute to Tony Gwynn on a large screen at Petco Park. Gwynn died Monday after a lengthy battle with salivary gland cancer.
(Bill Wechter / Getty Images)
Share

• Born Anthony Keith Gwynn, May 9, 1960, in Los Angeles; died June 16, 2014, in Poway, Calif. (age 54).

• Raised in Long Beach; attended Long Beach Poly High School (1973-1977), where he was best known as a highly recruited point guard on the basketball team.

• Attended San Diego State (1977-1981) on a basketball scholarship; set school records for assists in a season (221) and career (590) that still stand; joined baseball team as a sophomore and became a two-time All-American outfielder.

Advertisement

• Drafted in 1981 by the San Diego Clippers (NBA, 10th round) and San Diego Padres (MLB, third round).

• Promoted to the big leagues by the Padres in 1982; retired in 2001 having played his entire career for San Diego.

• Had a .338 career batting average over 20 seasons, the best since Ted Williams retired in 1960 with .344 average; batted .300 or better for 19 consecutive seasons, a National League record.

• Hired as head baseball coach at San Diego State in 2002; had career record of 363-363 in 12 seasons.

• His uniform number, 19, was retired by the Padres in 2004; he was inducted to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2007, his first year of eligibility.

• Wife is Alicia; son Tony Jr., 31, is an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies; daughter Anisha Nicole, 28, is a rhythm and blues singer; brother Chris was a major league outfielder and Tony’s teammate with the Padres in 1996; brother Charles is an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles.

Advertisement
Advertisement