Flashback: Hall of Famer Gwynn joins 3,000-hit club
The late great Tony Gwynn became the 22nd member of the 3,000-hit club on this date, Aug. 6, in 1999.
Gwynn, a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2007, joined the elite group with a first-inning single against Montreal Expos rookie right-hander Dan Smith at Olympic Stadium. And Gwynn didn't stop there -- he finished the game 4 for 5.
Making it even more special, Gwynn accomplished the feat on his mother's 64th birthday. And she was in attendance.
"To get 3,000 on my mom's birthday is a really special thing for me," Gwynn told reporters. "I was hugging her and telling her, 'Happy Birthday, Mom. This is for you.' "
The eight-time NL batting champion finished his 20-season major-league career -- all of which was spent with the Padres -- with 3,141 hits, good enough for 19th on the all-time hits list.
