Tony Gwynn, Tobacco, and The Code

Many young athletes may not know Tony Gwynn, but it is important to remember him. Why? Because he was a great baseball player, but more importantly, because he was a great person. He went to college in San Diego, then played his entire career for the San Diego Padres. He was a great symbol, like Kirby Puckett in Minnesota, of an athlete who represented the highest personal and team values, a person loved and respected by all. A person who never sought the limelight, but cared for everyone and treated everyone the same. He was the embodiment of the Code for Living. Ask your team: who are the role models we see today who are like Tony? But Tony died of cancer from chewing tobacco. Why chewing tobacco has been such a part of the baseball culture we do not know. But Tony would want us all to learn from his mistake. What can we do to help eliminate tobacco products from our young people? What can we do to improve the care we take of our bodies?