MLB HOFer and San Diego Legend Tony Gywnn Unexpectedly Dies
 

Tony Gwynn was one of seven players I cherished as a kid watching baseball. Unfortunately he is the first of those to die. I shed a tear as I post this unforseen tragic death. He beat oral cancer brought on from six years of tobbacco use in his early playing career. That was only a little over a year ago. He will be missed. He is survived by a wife of 35 years,a son,and a daughter and a grandson. His son and namesake plays in the MLB like his father before but is just an average player unlike the father that hit everything in sight though mostly within the park. San Deigo lost a legend this day. He was only 54.
http://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?story...%2BGwynn%22%7D

I'm not much of a baseball fan myself, but this is truly sad for those who followed Tony's career. He will be missed and my condolences go out to his family and fellow players as well as his fans.

When I was 10 year old I made him a birthday card that was the outline of his uniform.Sent it to him through the Padres front office and got a personalized thank you note. I treasure the note to this day.

A wonderful man who lived the dream. He got a full ride at San Diego State and then got drafted by hometown. He soon developed into a Hall of Famer and revered by his home. He would retire after 20 years with the same team. Its virtually unheard of now. As he was one of the last ones to do it atleast in MLB. He then returned to his alma mater and coached the team he played for and discovered Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals,who was overlooked at that point and developed the major leaguer into the force he became. From his pupil Stephen and his son Tony Jr. To his close friend and colleague Cal Ripken Jrm and longtime teammate Trevor Hoffman to the bond he shared with Red Sox legend and fwllow San Degio native Ted Williams his connections extend into the long ago past to the future through Stephen and was long as his son bounces around.