Tony Gwynn's Career has gone as follows. Selected by San Diego in the third round of the 1981 June Free Agent Draft.

Made his major-league debut on July 19, 1982, collecting two hits off the Phillies.

Put together a 25-game hitting streak in 1983, longest in the majors that season.

Was selected to his first of 13 All-Star Games.

Won his first batting title, hitting .351 with 213 hits for the Padres in 1984.

In finishing third in MVP balloting, led the Padres to their first pennant, hitting .368 vs Cubs in NLCS and collecting five hits in World Series vs Tigers.

Won first of five career Gold Gloves in 1986.

With his 1,135th career hit, became Padres' all-time hit leader on September 17th, 1988.

Won his fourth batting title - and third straight - by edging Will Clark on last day of the 1989 season.

Tied Dave Parker's All-Star Game record with two outfield assists in the 1992 mid-summer classic.

Had career-best six hits on August 4th, 1993, marking the fourth five-hit game of the season to tie a major-league record.

Hit a career-high .394 in 1994, major league's best average since Ted Williams' .406 mark in 1941.

Became the 71st player in history to reach the 2,500-hit plateau in 1996.

1997 SEASON

Gwynn took another step toward immortality by winning his fourth straight batting title and his eighth overall, tying Honus Wagner for the National League record. Only Ty Cobb, with 12, has won more batting crowns than Gwynn, who has finished atop the league in 1984, 1987-89 and 1994-97. In doing so, Gwynn became the sixth player in history to win four consecutive batting crowns. … Gwynn enters the 1998 campaign just 220 hits shy of becoming the 21st player in history to reach the 3,000-hit plateau. … Gwynn, who has hit .300 for the last 15 seasons (every season except for his abbreviated rookie campaign), has now hit at least .350 during each of the last five seasons to become the first National League player to do so since Rogers Hornsby did just that from 1920-1925. … Gwynn, who has hit a remarkable .368 over the last five years, enters the 1998 season with a lifetime batting average of .340, tying him for 15th place on the all-time list with George Sisler and Lou Gehrig. … Tony has yet to finish below sixth in a batting race during each of his 14 full seasons. … Gwynn used a career-best season in 1997 to prove he is getting better with age. The 37-year-old registered career-highs in hits (220), home runs (17), RBI (119), extra-base hits (68), doubles (49) and total bases (324). … Gwynn led all National Leaguers with an amazing .459 batting average (67-for-146) with runners in scoring position. Tony was hitting .400 (.402) as late as July 14th, following a 3-for-4 effort against San Francisco. … Tony slugged his 100th career home run on June 7th and recorded his 300th career stolen base on May 2nd against Montreal. … Gwynn was selected to his 13th All-Star Game. … Gwynn registered his 33rd career four-hit game on September 22nd against San Francisco. He also has seven five-hit games and a six-hit game to his credit. … Gwynn legged out an inside-the-park grand slam on June 26th at Los Angeles. … Somehow enjoyed all that success in 1997 despite having to overcome a blood clot, kidney stones, and problems with his right heel, right hamstring and both knees. … Appeared on the cover of the July 28th issue of Sports Illustrated, which proclaimed Tony to be "The Best Hitter Since Ted Williams". Gwynn also joined Hall of Famer Stan Musial on the cover of the Sporting News on the same day. … Gwynn has frequently been called the unofficial ambassador of baseball for his loyalty to the Padres, the city of San Diego and the fans as well as for his down-to-earth attitude and clean image.

1996 SEASON

Another year, another batting title for Gwynn as he posted a .353 average on his way to his seventh title in his career. Now only Honus Wagner (eight crowns) stands between Gwynn and the record for most National League batting crowns. Gwynn has now hit .350 or better in four straight seasons becoming the first National League player to do so since Rogers Hornsby did it from 1920-1925. He not only hit for average he hit in the clutch batting .381 with runners in scoring position. On the year besides batting a league-leading .353 he hit 27 doubles, two triple, three homers and stole 11 bases while driving in 50 in 116 games. He was hampered by an Achilles heel injury and was not able to take his annual start at the All-Star Game a honor he has received nine times and has been invited to the game 12 times. He was remarkably consistent against righties and lefties batting .353 against the former and .352 against the latter.

1995 SEASON

Played in 135 games for San Diego and batted .368 with nine home runs and a career-high 90 RBI. Won his sixth National League batting title. Tied with Colorado's Dante Bichette for the league lead in hits (197). Struck out 15 times in 535 at bats, which made him the toughest batter in the Major Leagues to fan (once every 38.5 at bats).

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