Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr., nicknamed "Mr. Padre", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 20 seasonsin Major League Baseballfor the San Diego Padres. The left-handed hitting Gwynn won eight batting titles in his career, tied for the most in National Leaguehistory. He is considered one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He had a .338 career batting average, never hitting below .309 in any full season. Gwynn was a 15-time All-Star, recognized for...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth9 May 1960
CityLos Angeles, CA
CountryUnited States of America
We were winning late. (Colin) Tanabe hit a ball into right-center field that we thought the right fielder should've caught, didn't, and we ended up getting beat and that left a bitter taste in your mouth.
Ted Williams is one of the best hitters ever to play the game, and I didn't get a chance to see him play, so all I could do was read books and look at pictures.
I was a contact hitter my whole career but I learned how to handle the ball inside. And Ted Williams played a big part in that. He gave me the advice on how to handle inside pitches.
I think the ability to hit - some guys have it and some guys don't - but I think how dedicated you are to trying to get the most out of yourself, I think kind of determines how good you are and for how long. I was born with the ability to hit, but my work ethic has taken it to the next level.
I try to keep it real simple. I try not to add a lot of frosting on what I'm doing. Just take the swing and don't muscle the swing, because if you get in the hitting position and you take the swing, I generate a lot more bat speed, and that works for me.
I remember watching the Oceanside team in 2001. I fell in love with that little left-handed hitter with the great stroke (Matthew Cerda). It'll be fun to see who the stars are this time around.
He walks in my office and he's ready to hit the grind,'' Watson said.
Lots of guys took them. They were everywhere.
So I'm a little bit ahead of the game, ... Plus, I'll have all my clips from the North County Times.
Now that the contract has been signed, we can concentrate on moving ahead toward our goal of becoming a nationally recognized program.
When you faced the Cardinals, it was a seven-inning game. You better have the lead after seven. If not, here comes Sutter and that was it.
For a lot of these guys, that light doesn't go on until they leave college. For some kids' cases, it's too late. For other kids' cases, it happens in the nick of time. As a coach, you have to able to adapt, trust these guys even though sometimes they don't trust you. I know it sounds crazy having said that, but I love my job.
It makes Spring Training so much better. You get fed good food, you get first-class treatment. As an athlete, what more can you ask for?
It's tough, because you're messing with how you make a living, ... But I needed that upgrade. Just to show I could do it.