Legends Never Die
Growing up in a time before the internet became the internet
and there was no such thing as MLB Extra Innings, a young baseball fan on the
east coast had to rely on Sportscenter and other highlight shows to get the
baseball fix they needed. Getting to see short snippets and highlights of
players didn’t truly allow you to appreciate their skills and in some cases
their greatness. This is where Tony Gwynn comes in. Growing up of course I knew
how good he was and how skilled of a hitter he was, but I was completely
unaware of just how great of a player he was. As coverage expanded and more and
more outlets became available to watch the game and my maturity allowed me to
appreciate the nuances of the game and its players, my eyes became wide open to
the fact that Tony Gwynn was without a doubt the greatest hitter of my
lifetime. Not only that though, but it became obvious that there were very few
hitters who could measure up to him all time.
His stats were and continue to be absolutely mesmerizing.
Spending 20 seasons with the same team was something refreshing to see because
it didn’t happen much then and certainly doesn’t now. He amassed over 3,000
hits (3,141 to be precise), he hit safely in 70% of the games he played in, had
a.338 career batting average, 19 straight seasons with a .300 average or
better, 15 All-Star Game appearances, 8 Batting Titles, 7 Silver Slugger
Awards, and 5 Gold Gloves. Perhaps even more astonishing than these accolades
is the fact that in his career against the three headed monster of Maddux,
Glavine, and Smoltz he struck out only 3 times in 265 at bats (Maddux amazingly
never struck him out). Also, he had eight seasons in his career where he struck
out fewer than 20 times, only once in his career having a three strikeout game.
Gwynn wasn’t just a legendary and Hall of Fame player but a person as well.
Reading all the articles and tributes in his honor one thing
is clear. Gwynn was a better man than he was a baseball player, and reading the
stats above you can see where he stood as a player. Gwynn always made himself
available to the media, was always charming and open with his responses, and
most of all he loved talking hitting. Hell I would too if I was as good at it
as he was. He was the master of hitting the opposite way, through the 5.5 hole
between third base and shortstop.
The baseball world lost a top member of its fraternity today
and a man whose legend will never be forgotten. Heaven needed a new hitting
instructor and God got himself the best there was. Rest in Peace Mr. Padre.
