The Life and Career of "Mr. Padre" Tony Gwynn Celebrated in SDSU Library Exhibit

Contact:
Roberta Neiderjohn
SDSU Library & Information Access
(619) 594-4991 office
rniederj@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO (Friday, March 9, 2007) —The San Diego State University Library is celebrating the life and career of baseball legend Tony Gwynn with a major exhibit titled “Beyond the Batter’s Box: The Hall of Fame Life of Tony Gwynn.” The exhibit opened on March 6 and runs through September 7 in the library’s Donor Hall and Special Collections and includes memorabilia from Gwynn’s career that has never before been on public display.

Tony Gwynn, Courtesy SDSU Library

The library’s exhibit explores the many facets of Gwynn’s life: his college years playing baseball and basketball at San Diego State; his 20-year career with the San Diego Padres; his role as head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs baseball team; and his behind-the-scenes life, including philanthropic work with the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, Alicia.

The exhibit includes 17 cases of items belonging to Gwynn, including personal scrapbooks dating back to his high school years, photographs, and SDSU memorabilia. Also on display are his original contract with the Padres; a Gold Glove; baseball cards featuring Gwynn; the bat celebrating his 3,000th hit; his #28 Aztec jersey and his Padres jersey; his 8th National Batting Title Award; baseballs signed by each of the 18 members of the 3,000 Hit Club, such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Rod Carew; and much more.

Gwynn’s long-term association with San Diego, particularly with SDSU, inspired the exhibit. He arrived at San Diego State in 1977, where he set school records for both basketball and baseball. Gwynn spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the San Diego Padres, earning him the title “Mr. Padre.” After his retirement from professional baseball in 2001, he returned to his alma mater, where he was named head baseball coach in September 2001.

“Tony Gwynn set all sorts of records as one of baseball’s greatest players. Beyond his thousands of hits as an athlete, he was also a major hit in the lives of thousands of people. Tony Gwynn’s dedication to the craft of hitting mirrored his dedication to family, his alma mater, and his beloved San Diego community. We all have much to learn from his ‘Hall of Fame’ life and the Library, as a place of learning and understanding is just the right locale for this exhibit,” said Robert Ray, head of Special Collections and University Archives.

San Diego State Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel proclaimed, "There is no Aztec we are more proud of than Tony Gwynn. Not only is he arguably the greatest athlete in San Diego State history, but also one of its finest people. We are incredibly excited that Tony and his family have offered to the SDSU Library the priceless personal memorabilia that will be on display over the next few months. There will be no other exhibit in the world like it."

Gwynn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 9, 2007, in honor of his unparalleled career in Major League Baseball. He won five Gold Glove Awards as a right fielder and is an eight-time National League batting champion. In addition, Gwynn was a 15-time All-Star who had 3,141 hits and batted .338. His career average is the highest among players whose careers began after World War II.

For more information about the exhibit, including exhibit hours, please call (619) 594-6791 or (619) 594-1645 or visit http://infodome.sdsu.edu/projects/gwynn. Media inquiries should be directed to Roberta Niederjohn at (619) 594-4991.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 81 areas, master's degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU's more than 34,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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