[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1805-E1806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO TONY GYWNN

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
to congratulate and commend my constituent from Poway, California: Tony 
Gwynn of the San Diego Padres, for his achievements on and off the 
field.
  Mr. Speaker, on August 6, 1999, Tony Gwynn hit the 3,000th base hit 
of his career. As many baseball fans know, this was not an easy 
accomplishment. In the history of Major League Baseball, only 22 other 
ball-players have hit 3,000 or more base hits. This achievement places 
Tony Gwynn in the pantheon of baseball legends including: Roberto 
Clemente, Lou Brock, and Hank Aaron.
  In 18 seasons, all with the San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn has been the 
master of putting the ball into play. In the Padres' 1998 National 
League Championship season, Tony had almost as many home runs as 
strikeouts, and struck out looking only three times. His hands are 
lightning-quick and he's able to wait until the last millisecond before 
connecting with the ball wherever it is pitched. He goes after the 
first good pitch he sees and almost always hits it, so he rarely walks. 
And Tony is renowned for his ability to hit balls through the left side 
of the infield.
  Tony has batted over .300 in 17 of those seasons and in the strike-
shortened season of 1994, batted an amazing .394. His career batting 
average is an astounding .338.

[[Page E1806]]

  Furthermore, off the baseball diamond, Tony has been a tremendous 
asset to the San Diego community. Tony, along with his wife Alicia, 
have given their time and effort in philanthropic efforts. He doesn't 
like to talk about his community efforts, but the Gwynn's are involved 
in more than two dozen organizations--San Diego Police Athletic 
Leagues, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Padres Scholars, the Casa de 
Amparo, Neighborhood House, the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA to name a 
few--that benefit from his time, attention and money.
  In 1998, Tony led all Padres players in community appearances and 
joined seven-time American League batting champion Rod Carew for a 
historic youth batting clinic in Culiacin, Mexico, in March 1998. In 
addition, Tony was named the Individual of the Year at the 1998 Equal 
Opportunity Awards Dinner. He also was the 1995 Branch Rickey Award 
winner, and 1998 Padres Nominee for Major League Baseball's Roberto 
Clemente Man of the Year Award.
  These days kids, children often must pay to get a professional 
athletes' autograph, picture, or signed memorabilia. Tony Gwynn has no 
part of this. Tony stays late at events to sign autographs; he's nice 
to young people; he's nice to everybody. I hope my colleagues will join 
me in honoring this tremendous individual for his multitude of 
accomplishments.
  Also, I want to thank my former staff members, Jeannette Shields and 
Chris Hayes for their work in drafting this resolution.

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