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Tony Gwynn has a spectacular aura about.
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Dean Spanos Should Get Ass Cancer Of The Ass!
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Now he's home.Originally posted by Highboltage View PostDean Spanos Should Get Ass Cancer Of The Ass!
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Man, I was out of the country when Tony died. Just saw something on the scroll on CNN about it and was heartbroken. He was my favorite player of all time. TGwynn was an incredible ballplayer. You've all heard the ridiculous stats. But he was such a consistent player. Just no real holes in his game. Imagine what his stats might have been like on better clubs. He was just amazing. But the thing I will never forget is what a great person he was. Such a good attitude. So interested in others. So aware of his affect on fans.
My lasting memory of him will not be anything he did on the field but of something he did off of it, in spring training 1997. I was going to grad school in Phoenix and had an afternoon off so went out to watch a Mariners-Padres game down the road in Peoria. We were sitting on the berm in the outfield and were just really enjoying a beautiful day. Don't remember anything about the game itself. But I do remember that all of the regulars were out by the 4th inning. I went up by the RF fould pole to buy a beer and looked down at the players entrance to the field and there were about 50 kids standing by it and there was Gwynn signing autographs. One by one. For the rest of the game. He spent more time down there signing autographs than he spent playing that afternoon. Smiling. Talking to the kids. Asking THEM questions. "How're you doing today?" "What grade are you in?" "Oh, your family came all the way out from San Diego? Awesome! What a great Padres fan. We need fans like you! Have you hiked Camelback yet? Tell your folks to take you. It's a lot of fun!" No shit.
I had never been that close to my idol. I was dying to talk to him. To get an autograph. But then I started to think I didn't want to break his mojo with the kids. I didn't want to crowd them out. I wish I had. Tony Gwynn was a great ballplayer. But he was a better person. A better man. A better role model.
He'll be sorely missed.
PS- Rough few years for SD sports (Gwynn, Coryell, Jerry Coleman and Seau).
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This is pretty moving stuff. Memorial for Gwynn at Petco last night.
For Stinky-Jon-Wizzleteats....
"Pray for strength and healing oh and money!"Comment
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It was a beautiful ceremony from start to finish, and damned if I didn't start suffering from allergies throughout, beginning when Ted Leitner took the podium and choked back tears as he began the ceremony.
Tony was an unequivocal class act, I can't recall a player that was so universally loved and praised by everyone. Maybe Lou Gehrig, but I wasn't alive back then.
Godspeed Tony.Comment
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