Morgan M. Hurley | Downtown Editor

San Diego loses a beloved son

On Thursday, June 26, the San Diego Padres opened up Petco Park for a free, two-hour public memorial service honoring local legendary baseball icon Tony Gwynn. Gwynn died of complications from salivary gland cancer on June 16 after a long battle with the disease.

More than 23,000 people, including family, fans, local civic and community leaders, broadcasters, professional baseball and football stars, and staff and students from San Diego State University, flocked through the gates at 100 Park Blvd. (aka 19 Tony Gwynn Dr.) at 5:30 p.m. to pay tribute to the baseball player and coach that belonged to everyone.

Seated in a cordoned off area next to where his number 19 was emblazoned on the grass in right field, the position Gwynn played for most of his career, were distinguished guests and speakers for the evening. Flowers surrounded the podium where one of Gwynn’s framed jerseys also stood, and each speaker was projected up on the Jumbotron so those seated in the stadium could see and hear clearly.

An emotional Ted Leightner, who was in the Padres broadcast booth for all of Gwynn’s 20 years as their player, spoke first and emceed for the evening. Other speakers included Reggie Jackson, Gwynn’s agent John Boggs (“he was so much better than the statistics he accumulated” and “he was the greatest hitter of his generaton”); Mayor Kevin Faulconer (“Tony Gwynn represented the best of San Diego”); Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball’s Chief Operating Officer; Mark Martinez, SDSU executive head coach; Trevor Hoffman, his teammate for nine seasons; and many, many more.

Gwynn’s daughter Anisha Gwynn-Jones closed out the evening with poignant remarks about both her father and his fans.

“On behalf of all the Gwynn family I would like to take the time to thank each and every one of you for all of the support and all of the love,” Gwynn-Jones said to loud applause that later turned into a standing ovation. “Thank you. You guys are why my dad loved San Diego so much. So thank you, good night, God bless and be safe.”

Members and coaches of the current Padres team began wearing Gwynn’s retired number 19 on the left side of their jerseys, over the heart, on June 19 when a short tribute was conducted before the Seattle Mariners game. The patch will remain on their jerseys for the remainder of the season.

Gwynn, known as “Mr. Padre,” accumulated 3,141 career hits, had a lifetime batting average of .338, and only struck out on average once every 21 at bats. He also won five Gold Glove awards for his work on the field. Gwynn waived the opportunity for higher salary offers to remain in San Diego with the Padres for his entire career.

Since his death, hundreds of fans have visited his bronze statue — built in 2007 in Petco’s “Park at the Park” the year he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame leaving flowers, notes, hats, jerseys, newspaper articles and more. San Diego Padres officials said they cleaned up the site last weekend, but fans continue to visit and leave more items.