Gwynn joins baseball greats on memorable induction day

By: JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:31 PM PDT ∞

Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken pose with their Hall of Fame plaques Sunday in Cooperstown.
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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. ---- Forty-five minutes before his big moment Sunday, the National Baseball Hall of Fame threw Tony Gwynn a curveball ---- a big, overhand David Wells-variety bender.

In classic Gwynn style, the Padres' legend stayed back and punched it through the 5.5 hole.

Expecting to bat third in the order at the 2007 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, behind Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews and Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Gwynn was told that ---- because of the threat of thunderstorms in the area ---- he would be giving his speech first.

Cal Ripken Jr. would bat second, with Ford C. Frick Award winner Matthews going third and J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient Hummel batting cleanup.

"The whole time, I was thinking I was going third," Gwynn said after he delivered a 27-minute, 40-second speech in a brown suit that he said he sweated through. "I figured I had time to hear the first two speeches, see how they handled it, and go from there.

"As we were driving here, they kept telling Cal and I they had never seen people sitting on the hill. That this was a huge crowd, maybe the biggest ever. I didn't know if they were messing with us or not.

"Then they told us on the bus as we were pulling in (to the Clark Sports Center, site of the ceremony) that they had shuffled the order, and I was going first."

Gwynn didn't panic, but the man who prepared so diligently throughout his career was caught flatfooted.

"My daughter (Anisha) was sitting next to me, and she looked at me and said, 'Oh man, you're going first,' " Gwynn said. "I liked to be prepared, and I was scrambling."

After reaching the podium and realizing he had forgotten his notes, Gwynn scrambled as well as any NFL quarterback. He delivered a long but effective speech, breaking up only once near the end when he spoke about his late father, Charles.

And he managed to keep his emotions somewhat in check as Anisha sang "O Canada" and "The Star Spangled Banner" to open an event attended by a record crowd estimated at 75,000 by New York state troopers.

"She did really good," Gwynn said. "I was pacing this morning, but she got through both anthems.

"I'm proud of her. It was awesome for our family."

Family was a key theme throughout the day for Gwynn, Ripken, Matthews and Hummel. And family tripped up all four, with voices quivering.

"I had three hot spots in my speech that I wanted to get through ---- my dad, my mom and the combination of my wife and kids," Ripken said of his 15-minute, 52-second speech. "I think I did OK, but I lost it when it came to my wife."

The most touching moment of the day came when Ripken pulled a white rose out of his pocket to present to his wife, Kelly. He then placed it back in his inner coat pocket.

Because he was seated on the stage and she was in the audience, he asked his son, Ryan, to deliver it. Ryan Ripken pulled a rose out of his pocket and presented it to his mother.

"That was awesome," Gwynn said. "I wish I had thought of it."

Gwynn thought of nearly everything else.

He thanked his brothers ---- Charles and Chris ---- with whom he "hit figs, tape ball and rolled-up socks" in the family's backyard in Long Beach.

He thanked his youth and high school coaches, both in basketball and baseball.

He thanked San Diego State basketball coach Tim Vezie and Aztecs baseball coach Jim Dietz.

He thanked former teammates Steve Garvey, Tim Flannery, Terry Kennedy, Bruce Bochy and Graig Nettles for talking baseball with him during the World Series season of 1984. And he thanked the Padres, with whom he spent his entire 20-year career.

All four honorees spent their whole careers with one team or one organization.

Ripken was with the Orioles for 21 seasons. Matthews is approaching the end of his fourth decade as the radio voice of the Royals. Hummel has spent his entire three-decade career with the Post-Dispatch.

"The fact all four of us have been with one organization through our careers shows unparalleled excellence and loyalty," Hummel said.

In addition to his family, San Diego State and the Padres, Gwynn showed his loyalty and love for the fans of San Diego.

"I'm so proud of my family," Gwynn said. "Their mother did a wonderful job raising them, and I just rode in on the back end.

"But I have an adopted family ---- the fans of San Diego. I'm proud as heck to be a San Diego Padre. To play for one team in one town my entire career was a tremendous honor.

"I had a blast playing, but it wouldn't have been as much fun without you."

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

How Tony Gwynn's career numbers stack up against some similar hitters:

Tony Gwynn

Years: 1982-2001

Batting average: .338

Hits: 3,141

Best season: .394 in 1994

Consecutive .300 seasons: 19

Batting titles: Eight

Comment: His .394 average in '94 is the highest since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.

Rod Carew

Years: 1967-1985

Batting average: .328

Hits: 3,053

Best season: .388 in 1977

Consecutive .300 seasons: 15

Batting titles: Seven

Comment: Maybe the most like Gwynn in that he consistently hit for a high average with little power.

Wade Boggs

Years: 1982-1999

Batting average: .328

Hits: 3,010

Best season: .368 in 1985

Consecutive .300 seasons: 10

Batting titles: Five

Comment: Started career stronger than Gwynn, but couldn't maintain it over the long haul.

Paul Molitor

Years: 1978-1998

Batting average: .306

Hits: 3,319

Best season: .353 in 1987

Consecutive .300 seasons: Four

Batting titles: None

Comment: Although he's eighth on the all-time hits chart, his career average is 32 points lower than Gwynn's.

George Brett

Years: 1973-1993

Batting average: .305

Hits: 3,154

Best season: .390 in 1980

Consecutive .300 seasons: Five

Batting titles: Two

Comment: Had the highest batting average since Ted Williams' .406 in 1941 until Gwynn hit .394 in 1994.

Pete Rose

Years: 1963-1986

Batting average: .303

Hits: 4,256

Best season: .348 in 1969

Consecutive .300 seasons: Nine

Batting titles: Three

Comment: After Gwynn got two hits in his debut, Rose told him "Don't try and catch me all in one night."

Ty Cobb

Years: 1905-1928

Career batting average: .367

Hits: 4,191

Best season: .420 in 1911

Consecutive .300 seasons: 23

Batting titles: 12

Comment: He's the only player to win more batting titles than Gwynn.

Honus Wagner

Years: 1897-1917

Batting average: .327

Hits: 3,415

Best season: .381 in 1900

Consecutive .300 seasons: 15

Batting titles: Eight

Comment: Tied with Gwynn for second-most batting titles.

Ichiro Suzuki*

Years: 2001-present

Batting average: .332

Hits: 1,490

Best season: .372 in 2004

Consecutive .300 seasons: Seven

Batting titles: Two

Comment: Of players who started their career after 1940, he's second to Gwynn in batting average.

Paul Waner

Years: 1926-1945

Batting average: .333

Hits: 3,152

Best season: .380 in 1927

Consecutive .300 seasons: 12

Batting titles: Three

Comment: He began his career as a pitcher in the minors, but was moved to the outfield because of his hitting ability.

* Through July 22.