A True Legend And Gentleman Of Major League Baseball Passes Away

                                                            getty images

I am 35 years old and growing up in the 80's and early 90's in Iowa it was pretty much mandatory that you are going to play and watch baseball as a kid. There were many of the all-time greats who played during that time, but this guy was in a league of his own for this reason.

His class was surpassed by nobody. His name is Tony Gwynn and in his 19 years in the major league he touched many people including myself. Not with his outstanding baseball play but because of the awesome way he lived his life.

Sure Tony Gwynn had a lifetime batting average of .338 which is one of the top all-time averages in baseball history and he had over 3,000 career hits which only a few others have ever accomplished over a career but it's the way Tony has led a very quiet "under the radar" lifestyle and how he maintained a great everyday working man's attitude that he will be known for in the end.

It's funny that the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA title last night because there are many players on that team that resemble the way Tony was with everyone. He didn't need a gimmick or to endorse a pair of sneakers, he simply went to work everyday, did his thing and went home. I wish that more players these days would have followed the example he led 20 years ago.

Rest In Paradise: Tony Gwynn 1960-2014