The Unbeatable Tony Gwynn

Of the thousands and thousands of cards that have crossed my path over the past three decades in the hobby — one stands out to me.

It’s not, by any means, the most valuable, the most coveted, nor would too many others consider it the crown jewel of their collection.

But for me, it was the one card that set me on my path in the hobby.

I guess you could say I started collecting cards beginning with packs of 1979 Topps baseball my mom would pick up for me with every trip to the 7-11 by our house.

But truthfully, I didn’t really start collecting until a few years later, when my Little League baseball coach told me about a young player in San Diego named Tony Gwynn.

I read everything I could on Gwynn, trying to learn from him, mimic his work ethic and attention to detail for the game.

And most of all, my baseball card collecting had a new focus, a direction, a purpose.

‘83 Topps is still my favorite set

I remember going through pack after pack or 1983 Topps, Fleer and Donruss baseball, gathering up as many Gwynn rookie cards as I could possible get my hands on.

I remember trading with friends, sending over Cal Ripken rookies, Detroit Tigers cards, whatever it took to add to my Gwynn collection.

I got a binder, compete with a dozen or so plastic pages, for my cards so I could keep them in as good of condition as possible.

I added another binder eventually, and before long, the Gwynn collection was complimented with Don Mattingly, Doc Gooden and Eddie Murray collections.

I pitched and played first base on my team, so naturally, I gravitated towards the game’s top players at that position, although I secretly yearned to play the outfield like Tony Gwynn.

With my speed (or lack thereof) and size ( I was almost 6-feet-tall, 200 pounds, in the sixth grade), first base seemed a much better fit for me.

It’ll always be the card that means the most to me.

I honestly don’t know just how many 1983 Topps Gwynn RC I had, but it was in the dozens, for sure.

And even after I started doing card shows as a dealer, there was always a stack of Gwynn rookies tucked away somewhere in the showcases, and I rarely let one get by me if someone offered to sell us one.

Nowadays, the collection has certainly dwindled, and currently I only have a couple left, both Topps — a PSA 10 I picked up years ago, and a PSA 9 I got in a trade about a year ago.

A couple of years ago I sent a bunch of them off to PSA for grading, and most came back PSA 7’s or 8’s, which is expected. They were sold off eventually, and finding the balance between business and pleasure meant they had to move to other Gwynn collectors to enjoy.

I think we all have our own version of the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn, don’t we?

What was that one card that started it all for you?

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