Tony Gwynn, "A hero for our time, er, town."

Remarks from San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer at a free public ceremony honoring deceased Padres star Tony Gwynn, Petco Park, June 26.

"Tony Gwynn was a consummate gentleman, a team player to the end. His one Major League Record — most five-hit games in a season — he was willing to share with no less than four other players. He also shared his National League record of eight battling titles with Honus Wagner, and his record of seven seasons leading the National League in hits with Pete Rose. From the very beginning, he refused to hog the spotlight: he didn't win Rookie of the Year in 1982, and he never won an MVP award any year after that. He finished at #19 on the all-time hits list, and #17 on the all-time batting average list. He never won a World Series, but he had respect for the game, unlike, say, Barry 'Juicebox' Bonds, who did what he did to the home-run record books. And the game understood that, making Gwynn a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer."

"Tony Gwynn: just below first in the record books, but first in our hearts. Not the best, but pretty darn good. Just like us."