RIP Tony Gwynn

[kudu]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Classy move by the Philly fans and catcher Saltalamacchia:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/holding-back-tears-tony-gwynn-jr-returns-to-standing-ovation-in-philadelphia?ymd=20140624&content_id=81485432&vkey=news_mlb

[R. C. Walker]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

That is incredible.

Far more remarkable is this from ESPN's Jason Stark:

"Finally, what does it mean to have piled up a .338 batting average over a 20-year career, over 9,288 at-bats? It means Tony Gwynn would have had to go 0-for-his-next-1,183 to get his average to fall under .300 (and even then, it would have "plummeted" to a mere .29997). We kid you not."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11092617/mlb-late-tony-gwynn-incredible-hitting-numbers

[Nnunnari]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Gwynn was beloved in San Diego, for good reason. A first class individual that always signed team friendly deals to stay there, even when the team was going thru another down period.
I found this footnote on RiverAveBlues that really puts into context what a special hitter he was, pretty amazing...

Ben

"Following the news of Tony Gwynn’s death yesterday, there were all sorts of fun information and hard-to-believe stats floating around the internet. My favorite (by far) comes from Chris Jaffe, who pointed out Gwynn has the highest batting average in two-strike counts in baseball history by 40 (!) points. Here’s the full list. Gwynn hit an absurd .302 in two-strike counts in his career. Fellow Hall of Famer and totally awesome hitter Wade Boggs is second with a .262 lifetime average in two-strike counts. Former Yankee Luis Polonia is third at .261. (Luis Polonia, huh? Alrighty.) Derek Jeter is tied for 67th all-time with a .228 average with two strikes. During Gwynn’s career, from 1988-2001, all of baseball hit a combined .187 in two-strike counts. He was 115 points better than everyone else. We’re talking thousands of plate appearances too, so this isn’t some small sample noise. Hitting .300+ in general is hard. Doing it in two-strike counts over a 20-year career blows my freaking mind."

That is incredible.

[r_phelps]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Too sad the news will never really sink in that he is gone. Rip mr. Padre

[Roady]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

His hitting prowess aside baseball could sure use a few more men the caliber of Tony Gwynn.

Society could use more Tony Gwynns.

[tbone90]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

His hitting prowess aside baseball could sure use a few more men the caliber of Tony Gwynn.

[Roady]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Having Gwynn and Boggs to watch hit was a real treat.

[gorilla777]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Gwynn was beloved in San Diego, for good reason. A first class individual that always signed team friendly deals to stay there, even when the team was going thru another down period.
I found this footnote on RiverAveBlues that really puts into context what a special hitter he was, pretty amazing...

Ben

"Following the news of Tony Gwynn’s death yesterday, there were all sorts of fun information and hard-to-believe stats floating around the internet. My favorite (by far) comes from Chris Jaffe, who pointed out Gwynn has the highest batting average in two-strike counts in baseball history by 40 (!) points. Here’s the full list. Gwynn hit an absurd .302 in two-strike counts in his career. Fellow Hall of Famer and totally awesome hitter Wade Boggs is second with a .262 lifetime average in two-strike counts. Former Yankee Luis Polonia is third at .261. (Luis Polonia, huh? Alrighty.) Derek Jeter is tied for 67th all-time with a .228 average with two strikes. During Gwynn’s career, from 1988-2001, all of baseball hit a combined .187 in two-strike counts. He was 115 points better than everyone else. We’re talking thousands of plate appearances too, so this isn’t some small sample noise. Hitting .300+ in general is hard. Doing it in two-strike counts over a 20-year career blows my freaking mind."

[kudu]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Gone way too soon. Its been a rough year this year being a Padres fan. Jerry Coleman passing away earlier this year. Then Tony. And can't say much for the team's performance. I've met Tony a handful of times, everytime as classy as the first. RIP Mr. Padre.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

I recall Gwynn's approach to dealing with the autograph seekers at Wrigley Field during his last several years with the Padres.

However many games the Padres were playing the Cubs on a particular road trip, Gwynn would pick one day out of the series to sign for the people at the players' gate. There was no advance notice as to which day he'd sign, you just showed up and took your chances. If you picked the right day, you got him. If you didn't, better luck next visit.

We'll miss you Tony...RIP

Dave Miedema

[CampWest]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

RIP Mr. Gwynn... One of my all time favorites. Loved the hitting discussions he filmed with Ted Williams, learned more about hitting listening to that conversation than in any other hour of my life.

[Mattapan03]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw...at=0&_from=R40

Bravo Steiner

[mbenga28]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Which account is that? I only see a signed photo in the SteinerSports store.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&item=201110098894&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&_osacat=0&hash=item2ed31893ce&_ssn=gameusedguru88&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313&_nkw=gwynn&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

Sorry to hear Gwynn is gone, but at least that means he's not suffering. Hope all is well for those close to him.

As for the tobacco cancer issue... whether Gwynn's cancer was due to tobacco use or not doesn't change the established connection between tobacco and cancer.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless

In Thailand, cigarette packs are required to show quite gruesome images of tobacco related cancers. If you care to see what I mean, do a Google search.

Very sad day for baseball. Gwynn seemed like a nice guy.

[johnsontravis@ymail.com]

Re: RIP Tony Gwynn

+1.

Sadly, this is another casualty of baseball's chew culture. How many other ballplayers die from smokeless tobacco that get overlooked, because they aren't of Gwynn's stature? MLB needs to ban this substance once and for all.

RIP, Tony. One of the best pure hitters you'll ever see.

It should be said it was never proven to be caused by the tobacco. Gwynn believed it was because he always chewed on his right side and that is where it showed up.

Whether or not that is how he got his cancer doesn't really change how bad tobacco is...I'm just saying you really shouldn't just start demanding a ban on a non proven case.