Wow...  What a shock.  Only 54!  As a long-time Padre fan, I watched him play since he was a rookie.  Baseball will definitely be worse for the loss. 

Not only a great player, but a great, down-to-earth guy.  I met him once at a book-signing.  He even took a moment to chat with each person on line.  RIP, Tony.  

Yeah, I met him as well (was born in San Diego and lived there until I was 24).  I might have been taking some classes at SDSU while he was there (if he stayed until his senior year).
 
There was a lot of talk about him on the sports channels last night and the Seattle Mariners just happened to be playing the Padres right now so there was even more about him.  Some of his numbers are staggering!  330 TOTAL strikeouts for his career (some guys can get 150 in a single year).  8 batting titles, 5 gold gloves...  Lots of stolen bases too.  His career batting average is higher than anyone currently has in either league.  He did some of his best work against the best.  He hit .500 in the 1998 World Series and .462 against John Smoltz.  Heck, in 107 at bats against Greg Maddux he hit .429 and never struck out!  Crazy stats...

Never heard of him but I'm also 54...so that's a shocker.

The SD sports radio station pretty much shut down normal operations and are only taking calls.  They're mostly from people who met Tony at one time or another.  There are lots of them. 
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/baseball-world-reacts-to-the-passing-of-tony-gwynn-1402966520-slideshow/
 
 

jamesg1213
Never heard of him but I'm also 54...so that's a shocker.

Tony was a star baseball player in San Diego.  He stayed in SD when other teams were offering contracts with big money.  He also did a lot of community work. 

Old55

jamesg1213
Never heard of him but I'm also 54...so that's a shocker.

Tony was a star baseball player in San Diego.  He stayed in SD when other teams were offering contracts with big money.  He also did a lot of community work. 

Sounds like a good guy. Welsh name, also like me...

Great player and an even greater person.
 
James, his ancestors come from south Wales... way south Wales.