Keith Olbermann Remembers Tony Gwynn [VIDEO]

Last night on Olbermann, host and namesake Keith Olbermann reflected on the passing of Tony Gwynn. You could tell in the roughly seven minute clip that Olbermann not only was a fan of Tony Gwynn’s, but also a friend.

He told of Gwynn’s laid back personality and how he was always excited about the little things that came along with the fame of being a professional ball player. Things like getting to meet Ted Williams or getting his name announced by legendary Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard.

Olbermann said that Gwynn told him it was an “honor” to meet him for the first time. Olbermann admitted he laughed when Gwynn had said it because he thought he was joking.

He wasn’t. That was Tony being Tony.

Watch Olbermann get choked up as he talks about his friend.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PXSVbLhyMY

And here are just some of the 19 incredible stats that Yahoo! put together after learning of Tony Gwynn’s passing.

  • For his career batting average to slip below .300, Gwynn would have needed to add 1,183 hitless at-bats to his total — roughly the equivalent of two full seasons.
  •  Gwynn had nine five-hit games in his career. Only Pete Rose had more, with 10. Gwynn also had 45 games with at least four hits. That puts him 10th on the all-time list.
  • • In 2,440 career games, Gwynn had only 34 multi-strikeout games. So, the odds were better that Gwynn would get four hits than striking out twice. Let that sink in.
  • Gwynn’s 434 career strikeouts are an amazing mark for a player who had 10,232 career plate appearances. Paul Waner is the only member of the 3,000 hit club to do better. He struck out 376 times in 10,766 plate appearances from 1926-1945. (Via ESPN Stats & Info)
  • For comparison’s sake: Adam Dunn has struck out 486 times since the start of 2012. Mark Reynolds struck out exactly 434 times in 2009 and 2010.
  • Neither Pedro Martinez nor Greg Maddux ever struck him out. Maddux faced Gwynn 107 times and Gwynn hit .415 off Maddux.

h/t @z4willy

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