RIP Tony Gwynn

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>We mourn the passing of Hall of Famer and <a href="https://twitter.com/Padres">@Padres</a> icon Tony Gwynn, who died today at the age of 54. <a href="http://t.co/lXPEVSzRj3">pic.twitter.com/lXPEVSzRj3</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/statuses/478556533937041408">June 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I looked up to him so much growing up. Amazing hitter and a great gentleman.

 

[RDU Irish]

Wow. Great player and maybe an even greater person.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Wow....RIP

 

[notredomer23]

Sad. Sounds like he really struggled with cancer, back problems, and his weight for the last few years of his life. May he finally be at peace.

 

[Rack Em]

Wow....

 

[gkIrish]

What???

so sad. RIP Tony

 

[Cackalacky]

Noooooooo! This guy...... One of my baseball idols growing up. Loved seeing him on Johnny Bench's show. I watched as many Padres games as I could. Dang. Thank you Tony for showing me how to hit.

 

[notredomer23]

For those like me unaware he had anything going on, from his wiki:

Gwynn has had three procedures to remove noncancerous growths from his parotid gland since 1997. In 2010, Gwynn was diagnosed with cancer of a salivary gland and had both lymph nodes removed.[119][120] Gwynn attributed his cancer to the dipping tobacco habit that he had since playing rookie ball in Walla Walla in 1981.[121]

After his playing career ended, Gwynn's weight peaked at 330 pounds (150 kg), and he underwent adjustable gastric banding surgery in 2009 in an attempt to lose weight. He did not closely adhere to the diet, and his weight loss began to stall. His weight problem led to a slipped disc in his back that affected a nerve down his leg in 2010. He needed a walker before he had the damaged disc removed to cure the pain while walking. Later, he experienced a loss of taste for food during radiation therapy for his cancer, and he lost 80 pounds (36 kg) while being limited to a liquid diet. He regained 80 pounds (36 kg) after he resumed eating solid foods.[122] Gwynn died on June 16, 2014 after battling cancer of a salivary gland. He was 54 years old.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

One of my favorite players ever who was never a South Sider.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

RIP

 

[bkess8]

RIP... Sad day in San Diego!

 

[Irishnuke]

I honestly didn't know he had any health issues. So sad. I lived in San Diego for several years and he was so loved there.

 

[Canton_Irish]

RIP. One of my favorite non-Indians players in baseball during the 90s as a kid. Gotta feel for his family, that's way too young.

 

[yankeeND]

So sad to hear this. Absolute class and growing up this is one of the guys I admired. My condolences to his family and this news truly makes me sad.

 

[enrico514]

Solid player! 1994 could have been magical for him had the strike not occurred!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I feel bad for anyone with a story like this. Síochána, anam daor.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

OMG. RIP Tony Gwynn

 

[tko]

They don't make many like TG anymore.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

It was the best pure hitter of my generation...

 

[BobD]

If they made a new "Field of Dreams" he would come out of the corn to play.

 

[Irish#1]

Put him in the same category as Rod Carew. Knew how to handle a stick.

RIP Tony.

 

[ohara831]

May he RIP. Gwynn was one of the all time great hitters, and a quality human being. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers to his loved ones.

 

[Redbar]

Hard not to have been a fan of the player and person that was Tony Gwynn.

 

[Booslum31]

That's brutal that he spent his last years battling on so many fronts. Greatest pure hitter in my life-time...Carew close second. RIP to a fantastic human being!

 

[bert2834]

His stats were ridiculous. 434 Ks in 20 seasons total.

And by all accounts a better person.

RIP to a great person.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Check out the new Tony Gwynn tribute mural in San Diego: <a href="http://t.co/SUIbv2Ue73">http://t.co/SUIbv2Ue73</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/10News">@10News</a> <a href="http://t.co/j4G4VrFCUf">pic.twitter.com/j4G4VrFCUf</a></p>— SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/statuses/492066709918842880">July 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
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