...And you're out! (RIP Tony Gwynn)

Sketch · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 12:33 pm

Easily the best hitter of his generation. I'll miss him even if he hadn't played in ages.

Link

huskerpunk · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 12:51 pm

Damn... one of my three favorite players growing up (along with George Brett & Kirby Puckett).

And the one I most tried to emulate as a player myself.

Stop Breathin' · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:01 pm

Very sad. Far too young. :cry:

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:02 pm

Cheek cancer, eh? Damn. Fucking chaw.

Cupcakes · **Joined:** Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:04 am **Posts:** 3271

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

Cheek cancer, eh? Damn. Fucking chaw.

Could be...Can't tell for sure since the article I read termed it "salivary gland cancer" which includes a handful of aggressive malignancies not necessarily associated with tobacco use.

bort · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:04 pm

Quote:

At the All-Star Game in Kansas City in 2012, I did a question and answer event with Tony Gwynn, which was every bit as much fun as you might expect. At some point in the conversation, I asked Gwynn, point blank, if he would have hit .400 in 1994 … that season ended abruptly because of the strike. He ended up hitting .394 in 110 games.

“Yes,’ he said without an instant hesitation.

“Really?”

“Of course,” he said. “Why would I think anything else?”

duckyboy · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:12 pm

For me, as a child who grew up in San Diego in the 80s, Tony was a veritable God. Not only is he the best Padre who ever was and ever will be, you'll hear countless stories of what a great human being he was. Gone way too soon. RIP, Tony.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:40 pm

He always seemed like an awesome guy.

Chrome_CW · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:46 pm

Jerkass Wrote:

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

Cheek cancer, eh? Damn. Fucking chaw.

Could be...Can't tell for sure since the article I read termed it "salivary gland cancer" which includes a handful of aggressive malignancies not necessarily associated with tobacco use.

If I remember correctly, you work in the medical field, so I can't trump your possibly expert opinion.....but Gwynn himself said that he felt that the cancer was likely caused by his chewing tobacco use throughout his career: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5665646

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:50 pm

Technically I don't think Gwynn would trump Jerkass either. Like, I "feel" like my bike runs fine on 87 octane but if a mechanic looks at it and says "you're fucking your valves up" then I'd probably believe him.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:27 pm

Heard an interview with Gynn one time where he said the greatest thing he ever saw on a baseball field was Ted Williams, who basically couldn't see, throwing a strike at the 1999 All Star Game. (It's right around 43:00 in this video but its worth starting at 36:00 to see Williams' introduction).

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

With today's game being hailed as the era of the strikeout, it's amazing to reflect on what a great contact hitter Gwynn was.

some stats stolen from articles I've read over the last couple of days:

*In 1995, Gwynn struck out 15 times in 535 AB's. 27 current major leaguers have struck out more than 15 times this month.
*11 times in his career, Gwynn went at least 20 games between strikeouts with the longest streak lasting 39 games
* For his career, Gwynn had 434 K's in 10,232 ABs. Only one player with at least 3000 hits had less.
* Adam Dunn has more strikeouts since 2012 than Gwynn had in his career.
* He had more games with 4 or more hits than with 2 or more strikeouts.
* His career batting average with 2 strikes is .302 which is 42 pts higher than the next highest batter (stat only tracked post 1988).

Oh, and his batting average after the age of 35 was .350.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:42 pm

billy g Wrote:

With today's game being hailed as the era of the strikeout, it's amazing to reflect on what a great contact hitter Gwynn was.

some stats stolen from articles I've read over the last couple of days:

*In 1995, Gwynn struck out 15 times in 535 AB's. 27 current major leaguers have struck out more than 15 times this month.
*11 times in his career, Gwynn went at least 20 games between strikeouts with the longest streak lasting 39 games
* For his career, Gwynn had 434 K's in 10,232 ABs. Only one player with at least 3000 hits had less.
* Adam Dunn has more strikeouts since 2012 than Gwynn had in his career.
* He had more games with 4 or more hits than with 2 or more strikeouts.
* His career batting average with 2 strikes is .302 which is 42 pts higher than the next highest batter (stat only tracked post 1988).

Oh, and his batting average after the age of 35 was .350.

He hit a career .381 and had only 3 strikeouts versus Maddox, Glavine & Smoltz.

pinehurst · **Joined:** Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:45 am **Posts:** 1526

Saw him in Montreal 1989. RIP

shmoo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2014 3:20 am

Who's the one player with 3K hits and fewer strikeouts?

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:43 am

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Heard an interview with Gynn one time where he said the greatest thing he ever saw on a baseball field was Ted Williams, who basically couldn't see, throwing a strike at the 1999 All Star Game. (It's right around 43:00 in this video but its worth starting at 36:00 to see Williams' introduction).

goosebump central. Damn.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

shmoo Wrote:

Who's the one player with 3K hits and fewer strikeouts?

Paul Waner. Never heard of him before but apparently he played from 1926 to 1945 and only had 376 K's.

duckyboy · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2014 12:52 am

My sister and I with Tony, 1987

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:51 am

Damn, that's awesome.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2014 10:02 am

Noooo shit. Awesome. And man, were the 80's not a good look for Tony.

shiv · **Posted:** Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:03 am

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Heard an interview with Gynn one time where he said the greatest thing he ever saw on a baseball field was Ted Williams, who basically couldn't see, throwing a strike at the 1999 All Star Game. (It's right around 43:00 in this video but its worth starting at 36:00 to see Williams' introduction).

People who can't even hit the plate (Baba Booey, 50 Cent, Carl Lewis) should be embarrassed that an 80 year old showed them up.

duckyboy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:47 am

There was a "memorial tribute" at Petco Park last night. Over 25k people came. Probably won't experience anything like that ever again

...And you're out! (RIP Tony Gwynn)

Who is online