Anthony Keith (Tony) Gwynn

(www.denverpost.com)

In January of 2007, the Baseball Writers Association of America elected Gwynn to the Hall of Fame. He was elected in his first year of eligibility and had been named on 97.6 percent of the ballots, the seventh-highest percentage in the Hall of Fame's history.("Tony Gwynn." Contemporary Black Biography) Tony Gwynn is a huge influence in the San Diego Padres Baseball organization and in the entire city of San Diego.   "Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn was born on May 9, 1960 and passed away on June 16, 2014.  His brother, Chris Gwynn, played with him on the padres in 1996.  Tony  played 20 seasons for the San Diego Padres from 1982-2001 and he entered the hall of fame in 2007.  After his retirement, he coached SDSU from 2001-2014.  Tony Gwynn accomplished many achievements in his career.  Tony Gwynn is nicknamed "Mr. Padre" for his accomplishments in the MLB.  He had made a huge impact in the Padres organization and in the SDSU organization.  He is a hero because of his accomplishments and records in the MLB and by helping the baseball community in San Diego and SDSU.  

(www.cbs8.com ())

When Tony Gwynn was batting, pitchers had to change the way they pitched to him because if they took him as a normal batter, he would get a base hit because he is that good of a hitter.  Pitchers had to think harder on what pitch to throw and try and get him out.  He also coached SDSU after he retired, even when he could do anything he wanted, which makes him a hero.  I think Tony Gwynn is a hero because he inspires other people to never give up, word hard, and never give up.  I think that Tony Gwynn was one of the best players in the game of baseball because of all the work and practice he put in.  "Gwynn lost his battle with cancer on June 16, 2014, dying at Pomerado Hospital in Poway, California. For many around the game, the loss of one of baseball's all-time greatest hitters felt deeply personal." ("Tony Gwynn." Contemporary Black Biography)

Works Cited

Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002.Biography in Context. Web. 4 May 2015.

PORTER, DAVID L. "Tony Gwynn." Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Ed. Arnold Markoe and Kenneth T. Jackson. New York: "Tony Gwynn." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 122. Detroit: Gale, 2015. Biography in Context. Web. 7 May 2015.

Shurgin, Ann H.. "Gwynn, Tony." Notable Sports Figures. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 8 May. 2015

"Sweet Swinging 'Mr. Padre' Dies At 54." Tony Gwynn Bio. San Diego State, 2015. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.goaztecs.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/gwynn_tony00.html>.

"Tony Gwynn". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 08 May. 2015

(www.goldinauctions.com ())

Tony Gwynn is a hero because of his accomplishments and records in the MLB.  "Gwynn's career highlights include setting the National League (NL) record for most consecutive seasons hitting .300 or better (19), tying the NL record for most batting titles (8), and being the 22nd player to reach 3,000 hits." ("Tony Gwynn". Encyclopedia Britannica.)  Tony Gwynn is a great hitter because he hit over .300 in 19 seasons, which is incredible.  He achieved something that 22 other people accomplished at that time.  Tony Gwynn is one of the greatest players and most prolific hitters in major league baseball history, ranking with Ted Williams and Stan Musial for batting average. Finishing his twenty-year career with the San Diego Padres at age forty-one in 2001, he recorded a .338 overall average, with 3,141 career hits, putting him in sixteenth place for the most hits in major league history.(Shurgin, Ann H.. "Gwynn, Tony)  Gwynn ranked among the best players in the game, which is a huge accomplishment  .Gwynn stayed with one team for 20 years.  These are the reasons that Tony Gwynn is a hero.  "The 53-year-old Gwynn concluded a 20-year career with the San Diego Padres on Sept. 30, 2001, as one of only 16 players (including four National Leaguers) to have played at least 20 seasons and spent their entire careers with one team."(SDSU)  Tony Gwynn was a very loyal person because didn't want to leave the city of San Diego.  Gwynn is 1 of 16 players to play 20 seasons with one team, which is amazing because there are so many baseball players but rarely any stay with the same team forever.  

(sportspeak.org ())

Tony Gwynn is a hero because he helps the baseball community by coaching SDSU. "Upon retirement in October 2001, Tony Gwynn was selected head baseball coach at San Diego State University (SDSU), his alma mater, which in 1997 named its new baseball stadium in his honor. He chose to serve one year as a volunteer coach before beginning a three-year contract term with the university. Gwynn called the coaching position "the dream gig for me." (Shurgin, Ann H.. "Gwynn, Tony)  Tony Gwynn wanted to stay and help the city of San Diego because he loves the sport of baseball and didn't want to go away from it.  Gwynn could of done whatever he wanted to do after he retired, but he chose to coach the SDSU baseball team because he wanted to stay in San Diego.  Even after Tony Gwynn had cancer, he still wanted to coach SDSU because he loved the sport of baseball.  "In 2010 doctors detected a malignant growth in his right cheek, the result of the hitter's habit of chewing tobacco during his playing days. Gwynn underwent surgery to remove the cancer in August of that year. A second surgery followed in February of 2012. Although his health problems left him feeling fatigued, Gwynn remained dedicated to his coaching, and was back with his team by April of that year. Through it all, the Hall of Famer maintained his characteristic positive attitude. "I'm just happy to be here," David Ramsey quoted Gwynn saying prior to a series between San Diego State and the Air Force Academy in April of 2012. "And I'm happy to be back at work."("Tony Gwynn. Contemporary Black Biography)  Even when  Tony Gwynn was diagnosed with cancer, he didn't want to give up his job as head coach because he wanted to continue to coach SDSU because he loves the sport of baseball.  Tony Gwynn could of quit his head coaching job and retire so he could focus on his health, but he didn't want to give up on coaching.   "Former major league all-star and San Diego State outfielder Tony Gwynn enters his 12th season at the helm of the Aztec baseball program. His tenure at SDSU follows a standout major league career that saw him inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2007." (SDSU)  Tony Gwynn shows his appreciation to the city of San Diego by coaching SDSU.  He went to SDSU and played baseball there, not he is coaching there.  These are the reasons that Tony Gwynn is a hero because he continued to help San Diego.