This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2015
Tony Gwynn was not known as a power hitter. He was a slap hitter who collected 2,378 singles amongst his 3,141 career hits. But on rare occasions he did launch home runs and one of his most memorable came on June 26, 1997, when he hit an inside-the-park grand slam at Chavez Ravine against Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Mark Guthrie. With the teams deadlocked at 4-4 in the seventh inning, Gwynn walked to the plate with the bases loaded, no outs and hit his jaw-dropping inside-the-park homer to the left field corner. This lot includes the very ball that Gwynn rapped past the diving Dodgers’ outfielder Brett Butler to put the Padres on top, 8-4. San Diego eventually won the game, 9-7. The official National League (Coleman) baseball shows good wear and has hand-written text on one of the side panels calling out the momentous feat: “Inside the Park Grand Slam against LA Guthrie 6-26-97.”
Includes Letter of Authenticity from the Gwynn Family.
A portion of the proceeds generated by the Tony Gwynn Collection will be donated to the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation. The TAG Foundation is a non-profit, 5013(c) charity dedicated to creating and supporting programs that enhance opportunities for youth to become healthy, educated, and productive citizens. The TAG Foundation was organized in San Diego in 1995 by Tony’s wife, Alicia. For more information, visit www.tagwynn2.org.