Gwynn delivers speech as smooth as his swing

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (Map, News) - Tony Gwynn spent his career exhibiting patience at the plate.

When it came time for his National Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday, however, the San Diego Padres great was a bit anxious.

As camera bulbs flashed while baseball officials held up his induction plaque, Gwynn looked over and asked: “Can I go now?”

Gwynn, known as the 1980s and 1990s most prolific hitter, delivered a speech as smooth as his swing.

His start in baseball was a humble one, growing up in Long Beach, Calif. Gwynn and his brothers, including major leaguer Chris Gwynn, played the game regularly in his family’s backyard.

“I don’t think any of us thought that hitting a fig, a sock ball or hitting a wad of tape was going to turn into this,” Gwynn said of his induction. “It’s unbelievable.

The eight-time batting champion and five-time Gold Glove winner rattled off a history of his career, including his successes as both a baseball player and basketball point guard at San Diego State University.

Gwynn was so successful during his basketball career he was chosen by the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the Padres on the same day, June 10, 1981. At the time, Gwynn was shocked he was selected by San Diego, which is less than an hour from his hometown.

“The whole time, I thought I was going to be an Astro, and out of the blue the Padres called me and wanted to know what my middle name was,” Gwynn said. “Because I hadn’t heard from them all year, I thought ‘Oh, Lord, I am going to be wearing a brown uniform.”

Gwynn became known as Mr. Padre and possessed a swing that elicited comparisons to Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams. Gwynn first talked with Williams at the All-Star Game in 1992. He said it was a career-altering moment.

“Really, what Ted made me do is he really made me think about the art of hitting a baseball,” Gwynn recalled.

Gwynn, who collected 3,141 hits in 20 seasons, proved to be William’s greatest pupil, patient to the very end.

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