SAN DIEGO, C.A. (FOX News) — Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who notched more than 3,100 hits during a Major League Baseball career spanning two decades, has died at age 54 following a battle with salivary gland cancer.
MLB and San Diego Padre officials announced Gwynn’s death on Monday. His .338 career batting average is the highest since Ted Williams retired from the Boston Red Sox in 1960 with a .344 average. Gwynn, who won a record eight National League batting titles and played in the franchise’s two World Series appearances, retired in 2001 and later coached for San Diego State University. He signed a one-year extension as the school’s head coach on Wednesday, ESPN reports. He took over the program at his alma mater after the 2002 season.
“We are terribly sad to say goodbye to our teammate, our friend and a legend, Tony Gwynn,” the San Diego Padres posted on Twitter. “Rest in peace, Mr. Padre.”
Gwynn had been on medical leave since late March while recovering from cancer treatment. His battle with cancer began in 2009, according to the Padres, when a malignant tumor was removed from his right cheek. Gwynn claimed the cancer in his salivary gland was the result of his longtime chewing tobacco habit. The cancer returned twice and he again underwent radiation treatment in an attempt to shrink the tumor in 2012.
“The whole experience was traumatic because I thought I had it beat, and dang, it came back,” Gwynn said during a visit to the Hall of Fame in 2012 for the induction ceremony.
Gwynn was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 alongside Orioles great Cal Ripken.
