Hitting a baseball is probably the hardest thing to do in sports. A good major league hitter is successful if he gets a hit only three times out of every ten at bats. This fact makes what Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres has accomplished even more remarkable. Eight times Gwynn has won the National League (NL) batting title--the second most titles in history--and he has hit over .300 for 15 consecutive seasons. In 1994 he batted .394, the highest average in the major leagues since 1941. A true student of the game, Gwynn is one of the best hitters of his generation.

Growing up

Brought up right

Anthony Keith Gwynn was born May 9, 1960, in Los Angeles, California. His mother's name is Vandella, and his father's name was Charles. The second oldest of three boys, Gwynn grew up in nearby Long Beach, California. He had a close and warm relationship with his...