10 years after father’s passing, Tony Gwynn Jr. reflects on ‘super special’ Philly ovation

Tony Gwynn Jr. had a “super special” moment in Philadelphia 10 years ago. (Ty Daubert/Phillies Nation)

Tony Gwynn Jr. took note of the date as he arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

This past Sunday, June 16, was Father’s Day, but also marked 10 years since Gwynn’s father, Tony Gwynn Sr., died of salivary gland cancer at the age of 54.

“It was a weird day yesterday, to say the least,” Gwynn Jr. said on Monday. “It was Father’s Day. My family was letting me know how grateful they are, and not having my father here to celebrate Father’s Day was tough.”

The elder Gwynn was one of the best pure hitters in baseball history, a first ballot Hall of Famer and the beloved face of the San Diego Padres for 20 seasons. He served as a role model for his son, who went on to play eight seasons in the big leagues as an outfielder, wrapping up his career in Philly in 2014.

Gwynn Jr. was with the Phillies as his father’s battle with cancer worsened and later took his life. As he dealt with dark times, he felt the backing of the city and organization he called home for 80 games. Monday, he stood on the field at Citizens Bank Park once again as a member of the Padres broadcast crew and reflected on his experience in Philadelphia back in 2014 in a conversation with Phillies Nation.

“I always loved coming to Philly,” Gwynn said. “Always been one of my favorite places to come play as an opponent, and then the year I got to play here was a special year for me too. It was a tough year, but, nonetheless, I enjoyed my time here in Philly.”

Following his father’s death, Gwynn Jr. took an eight-day absence from baseball on the bereavement list, returning on June 24, 2014. As he entered that night’s game against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter, the Philadelphia home crowd greeted him with a standing ovation in his first game back, a touching and memorable moment in that Phillies season.

“That’ll always be probably the first thing I think of when I come to this place,” Gwynn said. “It was such a difficult time for myself. Getting it together enough to play a ballgame was difficult enough. But stepping to the plate and receiving that ovation, the kind of love that I got, in that moment it helped me get through that (at-bat). … In that moment, it was super special.”

That moment of support helped a grieving Gwynn feel ready to take the field again. The fans showed they had his back — not only as a player, but as a person who just suffered a tragic loss — while also honoring the life and legacy of an all-time respected player and person in the game of baseball.

“This is one of the more knowledgeable fanbases you’ll ever come across,” Gwynn said. “And it tells me they have compassion. They recognize real-life moments and can put aside the baseball for a second and recognize a human being in that moment. … In that moment, it was more of a human element to it than me being an athlete, and it was a respect for my dad, ultimately, who they had watched for many, many years at that point.”

Gwynn’s lone season in Philadelphia was his final in the majors. He went into broadcasting after his playing days ended, doing pre- and postgame duties for the Dodgers in 2016 before joining the Padres commentating team in 2017. Gwynn has been the full-time color analyst on the radio in San Diego since the start of the 2021 season. He’s never missed the Padres’ trip to Philadelphia.

He’s made some memories as a broadcaster in Philly, calling the National League Championship Series between the Phillies and Padres in 2022. Philadelphia, of course, won that series in five games to secure the NL pennant.

Gwynn has enjoyed seeing Phillies fans, the people who gave him a hand in one of the toughest periods of his life, come out in droves and have a contending team to cheer for in recent years. He feels that the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park enhances the broadcast.

“I think it makes for a better listen, whether it’s here or anywhere else, when you have a crowd that’s into it,” he said. “… I love coming here, and I love this ballpark. It’s one of my favorites to come watch a ballgame.”

Gwynn continues to enjoy Philadelphia, despite the personal sadness and grief he endured while he played in the city. So, just after the 10-year anniversary of Gwynn Sr.’s passing, Gwynn Jr. soaked in the scene at his former stomping grounds with a smile on his face.

“Although the days link up, I don’t view this place as a negative,” Gwynn said. “When I signed here, it was an opportunity that I loved because I loved playing in this city and enjoyed playing in this ballpark.”