Anxious Gwynn readies for Hall

By: JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Tuesday, July 24, 2007 4:06 PM PDT ∞

Tony Gwynn speaks about his upcoming induction into the baseball hall of fame during a press conference at San Diego State University, his alma mater, Monday afternoon.
ROBERT BENSON For the North County Times
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SAN DIEGO -- Just under two weeks before he's to be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., Tony Gwynn says he's having trouble sleeping.


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"I wake up and I write things down that I just can't afford to forget," the Padres great said Monday as he addressed about two dozen reporters and 10 cameramen at San Diego State, where he's the baseball coach. "I'm really looking forward to the induction, but I'm scared to death.

"I don't want to give away a lot of what I'm going to talk about on the 29th (induction Sunday), but I want to have fun with it. The biggest thing will be assessing the crowd.

"Do I start with a joke or do I play it straight?

"When it comes down to it, I'll probably just step up to the plate and do what I do."

In his 20 years with the Padres, Gwynn did things pretty well, banging out 3,141 career hits.

He garnered 97.6 percent of the vote for the Hall of Fame and will be inducted along with Cal Ripken Jr., baseball's iron man.

Gwynn plans to leave San Diego for Cooperstown on July 26, a day that will be lost to travel.

"The 27th, we're just going to be doing whatever stuff the Hall asks," Gwynn said. "Friday, Saturday and Sunday there are dinners, parties and gatherings to attend. Monday morning before we leave to come home and a vacation, I hope to get some time in the museums."

Cooperstown is located in upstate New York and is surrounded by lakes. So Gwynn said he's going to take his fishing pole with him and hopes to fish on Saturday "and think about my speech."

Also Saturday, he plans to play golf with his brothers -- Chris and Charles -- as well as his agent and best friend, John Boggs.

"That's going to get ugly because Charles is the only one who's playing much right now," Gwynn said. "Chris and I like to play, but we haven't had much time lately.

"And the weather is a concern. Right now, they say it's in the 70s and nice. But it could turn hot at any time."

When Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman went into the broadcasters' wing in Cooperstown in 2005, the weather was brutal with both temperatures and humidity levels in the 90s.

"I'll be the one on the podium in a suit," Gwynn said. "I told my family to be casual.

"I already have straw hats for my brothers and I need to get one for my mother (Vendella)."

Gwynn said he was told 65 of the 71 living Hall of Famers will be in attendance.

Gwynn's wife, Alicia, daughter, Anisha, and son, Tony Jr. -- will be in Cooperstown.

Tony Gwynn Jr. is playing for the Milwaukee Brewers but has been given permission by the team to fly out of St. Louis on Saturday to attend his father's induction.

Chris Gwynn, his wife and two children will also be there as will Charles Gwynn and his family.

"My daughter (who is a recording artist) is going to sing the national anthem on Sunday," Gwynn said. "That's going to kill me.

"I'm sure I'll tear up."

-- Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.