I'll gladly admit that he was my idol growing up (along with Magic Johnson of the L.A. Lakers).  I won't gladly admit that the San Diego Padres (and Chargers, both teams of which I gave up as my favorite teams some years ago for a variety of reasons) were my favorite team throughout most my life.  About Gwynn's only weakness -which is somewhat significant- is that he rarely hit for power.  Otherwise, in every respect, he was a complete offensive and defensive player.  Defensively, while he did play outfield (easier in most respects than infield), he won I think around 10 gold gloves and he had a strong arm and was a good fielder.  Offensively, he and Wade Boggs (his white American League counterpart) were the Ted Williams of the '80s and '90s.  They were absolute hitting machines.  Both were especially adept as opposite field hitters and both were 'lefties.'  Gwynn also, until later in his career, stole many bases.  He played on mediocre or bad Padre teams more often than not (though he did go to two world series and surprise, surprise, the Padres lost both of them convincingly) but rarely complained, asked for more money (he was always underpaid compared to other ball players of similar talent), and never insinuated a want to be traded until late in his career (which never happened, thank goodness).  Very intelligent person, sometimes he broadcasts games for ESPN and is currently the head coach of the San Diego State University baseball team.  He played basketball and baseball at SDSU in the early '80s and may still even hold the all-time SDSU record for assists in one year as a basketball guard.  Easily a first ballot hall-of-famer he went in to Cooperstown along with Cal Ripken Jr. this year.

I DID mention that I find Batting Average over-rated, didn't I? He was not as useful a player as Jim Rice.

No better pure hitter in his time.

A great contact hitter. Often accused of padding his stats at the expense of his team, but he still made the Padres contenders in some seasons were they normally wouldn't of had a chance. Gwynn will always hold a special place in my heart, because he was the one who popped out to Tiger left fielder Larry Hearndon in game 5 of the 1984 World Series, thus clinching the series for my boys. Thanks Tony!!

This guy was just a pure hitter. I have to admit I'm somewhat biased in my assessment of him as he was my favorite player growing up but the numbers speak for themselves. 3000 hits, career average of 340. He probably could have hit .400 in 94 hadn't the season been cut short by the strike as he was getting hot down the stretch. Early in his career he was a phenomenal fielder winning a couple gold gloves and was a stolen base threat. His weight kind of slowed him down in his later years but he could always handle the stick. Rarely struck out and always came up big in the clutch. An all around consumate pro! I really miss watching him play.

Gwynn is one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He is a skilled outfielder and is known as a superb contact hitter who rarely strikes out. He has led the National League in batting eight times. He holds the National League record for most seasons leading the league in singles.

Very dependable hitter. Led NL in Batting Average 8 times. Though modern baseball analyses downgrades the value of BA; that Gwynn led the league so many times is a mark of a great player. Before the strike killed the 1994 season, Gwynn had an excellent chance to break .400 that year. In another season, even after an injury prevented him from the necessary 502 plate appearances needed to qualify for the batting title, they awarded it to him anyway when it was determined that if you added enough outs to give him 502 PAs, he was still way ahead of the next best hitter. Though he was rather portly, he was a tremendous athlete, who also won several Gold Gloves.

the ultimate hit man, Tony Gwynn has used a flawless left-handed stroke to frustrate pitchers for two decades, especially greg maddux(multiple cy young winner) while racking up batting titles on a regular basis, the best contact hitter of our time, an over all fantastic person.

What a fantastic hitter.. wow. Loved watching him hit.

Amazing player.

God yet vastly overrated.

Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres is one of the greatest players in baseball history. He was an amazing outfielder. Gwynn led the National League in batting eight times, including four consecutive seasons beginning in 1994. He was a great contact hitter who rarely strikes out. He holds the National League record for most seasons leading the league in singles. Gwynn has 5 Gold Glove Awards playing outfield. His lifetime career average is an amazing .338.

Great hitter! Too bad he played for San Diego...Hall of fame here he comes!

One of the best hitters to ever play the game

Great hitter should have played in a big city on a winner wil be looked at as one that never really made his mark because of where he played.

Tony Gwynn has always been one of the best representatives of major league baseball.

He does not belong anywhere close to this high on the list-- so I am giving him a terrible rating to move him down!

This is ludicrous to put Tony Gwynn in the 20 let alone the top 100 players of all time.

Another sweet swing and a goood man.

Best pure hitter since The Splendid Splinter.