Tony Gwynn, who passed away last year due to cancer, will forever be remembered as one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history.
Prior to a 20-year big league career with the San Diego Padres, Gwynn attended San Diego State University, where he played both baseball and basketball. He returned after his playing days were over to serve as the school’s head baseball coach for 12 years. On Friday, SDSU retired Gwynn’s uniform No. 19.
The San Diego State baseball team will wear a commemorative patch on their uniform this season with Gwynn’s name, initials, and phrase “Aztec For Life.” Gwynn is also featured on a new mural at the stadium which bears his name along with Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
As coach, Gwynn led the Aztecs to the NCAA Tournament three times and his team won the Mountain West Conference championship three times. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the San Diego Hall of Champions in 2002.
H/T HardballTalk
Photo via: Twitter/annieheilbrunn
