No one ever worked any harder than Tony Gwynn.
Today, he receives the ultimate reward, granted to only a coveted group of ballplayers:
Entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
I predict that during his emotional speech, which will be delivered later today, that Gwynn will mention a man who few know about, but is the reason why Tony is in Cooperstown this day.
If you are a Gwynn Fan, as almost anyone is, who lived at any time over the past 25 years in San Diego, you might have noted an inscription on the statue unveiled in Gwynn's likeness and honor at Petco Park last weekend.
The inscription most became aware of, viewed from the angle where most spectators will take their cameras out, reads MR. PADRE.
This is in reference to how Tony is known in San Diego and testimony to his 20 year career with one team, his San Diego Padres.
The first week of my residence in San Diego, July 1982, I rushed to San Diego Stadium to see my new baseball team take the field.
The chatter in the stands was that a ballplayer was making his debut tonight.
I thought that was pretty cool since I was making my debut as well, so to speak, as a resident of a city I fell in love with at first sight.
And sure enough, that first game was memorialized for me, since the man who played his very first major league game would become one of baseball's very best.
There is another inscription on the MR. PADRE statue.
It reads IF YOU WORK HARD, GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
It honors the life and words of Charles Gwynn, MR. PADRE'S dad.
Honor thy father!
Boy, did Tony do that!
As anyone who has heard about the man's work ethic, his thousands of hours in the video room preparing himself for the next AB, the hours using a Tee, being first at the park and last to leave.
Tony himself has said that he might not have been blessed with the greatest talent, but he could outwork anyone.
Where do you think that unparalleled work ethic came from?
Honor thy father!
And today, Tony will bask in the ultimate baseball honor.
And I will look back to that night 25 years ago in Mission Valley and a day in May, 16 years later, when I finally had the opportunity to meet MR. PADRE.
"I just want to shake the hand of a many heading to the Hall of Fame," were my words at the time.
Tony warmly shook my hand and added, "I don't know about that."
Next to the work ethic, was the incomparable modesty.
I wonder where that came from.
Honor thy Father!
Today, Tony rounds the bases of his baseball career.
And everyone in San Diego who loves baseball will be rooting for him one more time.
A special hitter.
A special man.
And a very special son.
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