Gwynn Biography Debuts on MLB Network Tuesday
“Mr. Padre” looks beyond the numbers to why Gwynn was a revered man
By Bill Center
“Mr. Padre” says it all.
And, still, it just scrapes the surface of the hour-long feature on the Padres’ Hall of Fame outfielder debuting Tuesday night on the MLB Network.
“Mr. Padre,” which is part of the MLB Presents Series, looks well beyond the numbers and examines the man who was San Diego’s beloved baseball icon.
“Everyone in San Diego has an understanding and knowledge of my father,” said Tony Gwynn Jr. after watching with his family a premiere showing of “Mr. Padre” at Gwynn’s beloved San Diego State last Friday night.
“But this pulled the curtain back. I don’t think even people who thought they knew what my dad was about and what he valued has seen him to this extent before. My mom (Alicia Gwynn), my sister (Anisha Gwynn) and I all thought they did a fantastic job.
“There were four or five scenes I hadn’t seen before.”
The background sound track to “Mr. Padre” was the sound of the Hall of Famer’s uncontrollable laugh — that swelling of joy that started deep in his soul and bubbled out. Even in the darkest days before his death, the laugh was still there.
“Mr. Padre” celebrates all corners of Gwynn’s life from the time he was a youth, to when he met Alicia, to his days at San Diego State . . . all the way to the gut-wrenching final hours before he passed way too soon from cancer on June 16, 2014.
To this day, I cry when I am reminded of Tony’s death. But soon I am back to thinking about who Tony still is — not only a great ballplayer, but a great husband and dad, a great friend and someone who remained here for San Diegans throughout his career.
“Mr. Padre” captures that and so much more through stories shared by Tony Jr., former Padres manager Bruce Bochy and coach Tim Flannery, former teammates John Kruk and Greg Booker, his agent and friend John Boggs and others who had a chance to share time with Tony Gwynn.
“The thing that stands out most with me was the one with Ted Williams and Bob Costas after the strike shut down the 1994 season,” said Tony Jr.
Gwynn was coming off a .394 season when he sat down with Williams and Costas.
“My dad talks about how talking with Ted opened his eyes up to what more he could do,” said Tony Jr. “That was 12 years into his career. Basically, he was re-inventing himself as a hitter . . . more home runs, more RBIs. He didn’t hit under .350 after that.”
Tony gets emotional when going over the premier.
“I broke down five minutes into it and again at the end when they showed the transformation of his face. But there were so many laughs. They captured my dad in a way I didn’t know was possible. They found a focus on the little things that made him him. It didn’t have to be a game-winning it, signing a ball with a kid and giving high fives to Little Leaguers was just as big a part of him.
“And they got the smile and the laugh. That was my dad. He loved life. He loved people. He loved San Diego and how the people here connected with him. He loved it all and was humble and sharing.”
“’Mr. Padre’ further cements the type of guy my dad was. Everybody making the film did such a good job. This gives you the opportunity to share behind the scenes.”
Jeff Tuminaro, a co-producer of “Mr. Padre,” appeared on 1090-radio Tuesday morning.
“From afar, we knew Tony was a beloved figure in San Diego,” said Tuminaro. “It was deeper than we thought. We could have done two hours . . . I wish we had more time.”
“Mr. Padre” will be shown at 5 and 9 p.m. Tuesday on the MLB Network with continued showings later.
