A TRUE MENTOR:  TONY GWYNN

            Just two weeks ago, the crowd of 23,000 at Petco Park

celebrated the life of a great ball player named Tony Gwynn (1960-2014). 

The memorial gathering gave tribute to Tony’s Hall of Fame performance

for 20 years --.338 life time batting average, 3141 career hits, 8 time

batting champion, 16 All Star appearances.

            The most important tribute made superceded his field of

play:  hard work, motivated not by big money, but by loyalty to the

same team and his city, keeping the importance of  family, seeing the media as

a friend, always being available to his fans, and service to his community.

  As one speaker said, “He didn’t cheat.”

            As the crowd called out, “Tony, Tony, Tony!” we all acknowledged that

he epitomized the true character of integrity, humility, honesty, excellence,

 and giving back.  He will be remembered as number “19,” “Mr. Padre,” and his desire

to  coach not on a major league team, but college youngsters at San Diego State

University.  For today’s young generation and the future generations, we

have the legacy of a “true mentor,”- –the finest!

Rev. Dennis Ginoza