Aztecs to honor Tony Gwynn as they start new season with heavy hearts

SAN DIEGO -- Eight months after Tony Gwynn died of cancer, it's time to play baseball again at San Diego State.

The mourning will never fully go away because of how beloved Gwynn was in his adopted hometown. He played basketball and baseball at SDSU, had a 20-year, Hall of Fame career with thePadres and then returned to his alma mater to coach the baseball team.

So it'll likely be a bittersweet atmosphere when the Aztecs honor Gwynn by retiring his No. 19 Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium before the first game of an opening-weekend series against Valparaiso.

Says Tony Gwynn Jr.: ''It'll be a little tough. It's a celebration as much as anything. We want to try to take it such.''