This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2015
This attractive 7-inch high Ray Kroc Press On Award trophy was presented to Tony Gwynn, the face of the San Diego Padres baseball franchise that Ray Kroc owned from 1974 to his death 10 years later. Kroc joined McDonald's in 1954 or 1955 and built it into the most successful fast-food operation in the world. Kroc was included in Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century, and amassed a fortune during his lifetime. He owned the San Diego Padres baseball team from 1974 until his death in 1984. Gwynn, appropriately dubbed "Mr. Padre," batted over .300 an NL-record 19 times, never hit below .309 in a full season and ended his sterling career with a .338 career average that ranks supreme among all post-WWII players. Mix that in with five Gold Gloves and the rest is inevitable: election to the Hall of Fame with the seventh-best voting percentage in history (97.61 percent).
The award is made of wood with angled presentation that features a gold-plated plaque with "Anthony Keith Gwynn" with engraved name of the award and the words "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence ..." The longer, complete version of the quote appears engraved at the back of the trophy. A metal 3 1/4-inch square black-and-white lithograph portrait of Kroc appears affixed to the front of the trophy. All elements appear to be largely as-issued and problem-free.
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.