Article Written by Felipe E. Zatarain
Owner of the SD APEs Paintball Team
Tony Gwynn is in the hearts of all San Diegans, and not just the baseball fans.
I was lucky…
I grew up in an era where Tony Gwynn was not only an athlete for my hometown team, but also a hero for so many reasons. Mr. Padre, as he was known, was a true professional. He studied his sport with a passion that may not have been seen before. He is the reason that players and teams use videos to study themselves and opponents. He used that same passion off the field with various charities and his work with his alma mater, San Diego State University. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and if you have been reading the articles about him, an infectious laugh that could brighten anyone’s day. As a little leaguer, we emulated him every chance we could. We all wanted that swing. Even if you said you wanted to be Barry Bonds or Ken Griffey Jr. It didn’t matter. We all knew he was the better hitter. He made us want to play and be better. He gave us all a place to cheer with family
I know this usually goes for a team, but in San Diego, with the Padres, there were many years where he was the “team”. As we grew older, we saw him as a professional’s professional. He knew what to say and when to say it. He always gave a good interview, with that smile for us watching on TV. Mr. Padre died today after his long battle with cancer. San Diego will forever be a better place because of him. He taught so many kids humility and respect through his own actions. Now those kids have grown up and become parts of the same community.
Photo Credit: ESPN
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