Here then is more stunning convergence of royalty from the world's of baseball and pop music, artifacts signed by the country and pop music superstar Garth Brooks and gifted to his friend, the Hall of Famer Tony Gywnn, the man who came to embody his sport and the values of family and community in a fashion very similar to that of his longtime friend.
Brooks also has a well-known connection to baseball aside from his friendship with Gwynn, having worked to promote his Touch'em All Foundation with Major League Baseball with a short career in baseball that included signing with Gwynn's Padres in spring training in 1998 and 1999 and later for another brief PR stint with the Mets and a 2004 sortie with the Royals. That would seem a substantial link to the national pastime for the man who is the second best-selling solo albums artist in the United States of all time, ahead of Elvis Presley (second to the Beatles) with 135 million units sold and one of the world's best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 190 million records (albums, singles, and video).
Some of those musical hits are nicely represented here with an imposing 30-inch-square display with full color photo of a very young Brooks matted in a 14-inch in diameter circle; photo has gold and black matting embellishments, as do seven Garth Brooks CD's matted to the left and bottom of the display. On the photo Brooks has signed his name with inscription: "Tony - I would love to mean to music what you mean to baseball - Love you Pal - God bless your family." Protected with plexiglass and neatly framed with black wood; all elements to be largely as-issued and problem-free.
For an avowed hitmaker like Brooks, it only seems right that he would have a Brooks model bat, and one is included here: black 34-inch Louisville Slugger, with silver engravings of Louisville Slugger, Powerized and the "Genuine Garth Brooks Louisville Slugger" on the barrel. Bat presents pristine and without blemish, essentially as-issued.
Final item in the lot is an Official National League Coleman baseball with mildly faded Brooks autograph and inscription to Gwynn's mother, all on the sweet spot: "Vendella - Sure love your boy - God bless." The ball comes in a plexiglass all-sided case and is as-issued and problem-free.
Includes Letter of Authenticity from the Gwynn Family.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.
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.