‘Amazing Grace’ for Tony Gwynn: Petco Park Memorial Service

Photos by Chris Stone

“Amazing Grace” was sung — along with the San Diego State fight song. Doves were released, and so was a flood of tears.

An estimated 23,000 fans packed Petco Park on Thursday night to remember Mr. Padre — Tony Gwynn — who died June 16 at age 54.

With broadcaster Ted Leitner as emcee, a right-field ceremony saw celebrities of politics and sports pay their final respects to the Hall of Fame slugger who made San Diego proud. Mayor Kevin Faulconer mourned along with Steve Garvey. Fellow Padres great Trevor Hoffman spoke along with Mr. October — Reggie Jackson. Father Joe Carroll didn’t speak, but former Gwynn teammate Damian Jackson did.

John Boggs talked about his honor of being Gwynn’s agent, and new SDSU baseball coach Mark Martinez spoke, along with county Supervisor Ron Roberts.

The Padres have posted a 90-minute video of the tribute.

Thousands of fans streamed through the gates before the 7:19 p.m. start as if ready for a championship game. Hot dogs and popcorn were sold, but no beer. Soulful music mixed with echoes of Gwynn’s laugh brought tears and more laughter to those who gathered a final time to chant “Tony, Tony, Tony.”

Gwynn was the head baseball coach at San Diego State at the time of his death following a long battle with cancer. The eight-time National League batting champion and right-fielder blamed his salivary gland cancer on his career-long habit of chewing tobacco.

Since his death, several major league players have sworn off smokeless tobacco products, including former Aztecs Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals and Addison Reed of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former teammates and opponents, Major League Baseball officials and San Diego civic leaders have praised Gwynn’s talent and character, while hundreds of fans have left flowers, balloons, pictures, notes and memorabilia at the base of a statue of the prolific hitter in Petco Park.

The night ended with more chants of “Tony, Tony, Tony.”

Fans stream into Petco Park for Tony Gwynn memorial.

Special edition of U-T San Diego at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fan at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Reggie Jackson at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Side screen display photos at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans in upper deck display banner at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Video tribute shows Gwynn as a child.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fan watches Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Family was seated at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Longtime Padres fan Lola Sherman watches a video tribute at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans laugh at stories told at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Trevow Hoffman was second to last speaker at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans brought signs at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Tears well in fan’s eyes at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Anisha Jones, Gwynn’s daughter, thanks fans at Petco Park memorial for her father.

Ted Leitner hugs Gwynn daughter Anisha Jones after she thanked the fans at Petco Park.

Stadium went dark and Tony Gwynn’s number was lit up at end of Petco Park ceremony.

“Amazing Grace” singer at end of Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Father Joe Carroll at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Former GM Kevin Towers (left) at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Embraces at at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Manager Bud Black at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Steve Garvey at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Trevor Hoffman at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Reggie Jackson (center) and Dick Enberg (right) at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Snacks were served at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Signs were displayed at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

The Padres estimated 23,000 attended Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans continued to leave items at Tony Gwynn statue.

Fans pose at Gwynn statue.

Sun sets behind Tony Gwynn statue at memorial at Petco Park.

Father and son watch Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fan carried sign at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Matching No. 19s at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans show emotion at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans show emotion at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans show emotion at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans dry tears at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fan brought cutout sign at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fan brought replica sign at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Broadcaster Ted Leitner was emcee at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Fans showed emotion at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.

Tony Gwynn Padres and Aztecs jerseys were displayed on the right-field stage.

Fans showed emotion at Tony Gwynn memorial at Petco Park.