Tony Gwynn Dead - San Diego Padres MLB Hall Of Fame Outfielder Dies From Cancer

Tony "Mr. Padre" Gwynn has died after fighting a battle with salivary gland cancer for many years. The legendary outfielder played his entire Major League Baseball career as a member of the San Diego Padres and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Gwynn was a 15-time MLB All-Star player with a 20-year career in San Diego, which included 3,141 hits and a .338 batting average.

"He was beloved by so many, especially the Hall of Fame family, for his kindness, graciousness and passion for the game," chairman of the board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement released this week. "Tony was one of baseball history's most consistent hitters and most affable personalities. He was an icon for San Diego Padres fans, never more evident than on Induction Day of 2007, when tens of thousands of Tony's most appreciative fans filled Cooperstown for his Hall of Fame speech. We extend our deepest sympathies to Alicia and the entire Gwynn family."

San Diego retired Gwynn's jersey, number 19, in 2004 and a statue of the player stands in Petco Park.

Gwynn's son, a current MLB player for the Philadelphia Phillies, took to Twitter to mourn his father and officially announce the legend's death.

Today I lost my Dad, my best friend and my mentor. I'm gonna miss u so much pops. I'm gonna do everything in my power to continue to...

— Tony Gwynn Jr. (@tonygwynnjr) June 16, 2014

Love u pops! — Tony Gwynn Jr. (@tonygwynnjr) June 16, 2014