Skip to main content

Padres honor Gwynn with memorial at Petco Park

By WTOP Staff

JAY PARIS
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tony Gwynn’s sweet swing was matched only by his incandescent smile.

The Hall of Famer was saluted at Petco Park on Thursday night in a ceremony that would have made “Mr. Padre” light up.

Though, that wasn’t something Gwynn had trouble doing.

“It was so engaging,” former teammate Steve Garvey said of Gwynn’s grin. “There are a few guys in sports that have it. You always think of Magic (Johnson), and Tony was baseball’s Magic as far as that smile was concerned.”

Gwynn, a Hall of Famer who spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, died on June 16 from oral cancer, a disease he attributed to years of chewing tobacco.

He was 54.

The 15-time All Star averaged .338 over a career in which he had 3,141 hits and won eight NL batting titles. A two-sport star at San Diego State before getting selected by the Padres in the third round of the 1981 draft, he was beloved for his achievements on the field and his humility on and off it.

Gwynn never hid his affection for San Diego, embracing his “Mr. Padre” nickname and declining to leave San Diego as a free agent on numerous occasions. After retiring from the Padres following the 2001 season, Gwynn became SDSU’s baseball coach.

Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and ex-Padre Trevor Hoffman were among the speakers who addressed the crowd of about 20,000 from a stage erected in right field, just in front of the No. 19 carved into the outfield grass.

A podium was placed between three No. 19 Gwynn jerseys, two from the Padres’ World Series appearances in 1984 and 1998 and one from San Diego State.

The left-field scoreboard showed a collage of pictures that ranged from Gwynn tipping his hat to the crowd and to him clutching his Hall of Fame plaque.

And, of course, one displaying that warm smile.

“We all know Tony was a great player, a great Hall of Famer,” Jackson said. “That is known when he got 97 percent of the vote — that puts him in the top four or five. …

“He was a genuine man, a quality man, a 100 percent family man. A great son, a great husband, a great father, a great friend and a great teammate. He was an example of what we all want to live and emulate as a person.”

Thursday’s tribute, which started when 19 white doves were released, was open to the public following the private service Gwynn’s family held Saturday at SDSU.

Gwynn’s fans, many wearing his brown-and-yellow No. 19 jersey, were given a chance to pay their respects to someone they felt they knew.

He was an anchor of not only the Padres’ two World Series teams, but in the community as well.

After leaving the Padres, he coached at SDSU, was a member of the Padres’ broadcasting team and remained active in various charities.

A stream of people walked past Gwynn’s statue in the adjacent Park at the Park, with a line snaking past memorabilia of his storied career.

Gwynn, whose No. 19 is retired by the Padres, batted at least .300 in 19 straight seasons.

In 1994, he was hitting .394 in August when the season ended prematurely because of the baseball strike; in 1995, he struck out only 15 times in 577 plate appearances.

But it was the way Gwynn carried himself that endeared him to countless fans. And not just those in San Diego.

Gwynn has been honored around baseball since his death.

Tony Gwynn Jr., his son, was given a standing ovation Tuesday in Philadelphia in his first at-bat with the Phillies since taking a leave following his father’s death.

“Even though he was on the other team you still had to admire the way he went about his business,” said Joe Torre, an executive vice president for Major League Baseball and former Yankees manager. “Unfortunately we don’t have many, maybe any — maybe Derek Jeter — that conduct themselves in a similar fashion.

“Honestly, what you saw is what you got: he was a good hitter and never tried to show anybody up.”

Gwynn became and stayed a star in San Diego. He never thought it would shine brighter elsewhere.

“I’m a Padre, a San Diego Padre,” Gwynn once said. “And I’m proud of it.”

Near the end of the tribute Hoffman, in a halting voice, talked straight to Gwynn, his former Padres teammate.

“Thank you for representing San Diego,” Hoffman said, “with such class.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote