SDSU’s Tony Gwynn Stadium dedicated 25 years ago
Twenty-five years ago, San Diego State University formally dedicated Tony Gwynn Stadium, a 3,000-seat baseball facility named for the Aztec standout and eight-time National League batting champion.
Then-San Diego Padres owner John Moores, who funded the construction, insisted that the stadium be named for Gwynn.
After retiring from his 20-year major league baseball career with the Padres, the legendary player returned in 2002 to San Diego State to coach the baseball team in the stadium named after him.
In his second season at SDSU, Gwynn would lead the Aztecs to the 2004 Mountain West Conference regular-season title and win the league’s Coach of the Year award. Gwynn coached the Aztecs from 2003 until his death of cancer in 2014 at age 54.
The work of welders and plumbers and electricians is all but finished. Today, San Diego State formally dedicates Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Ceremonies are to begin at 12:30, when SDSU officially thanks many of those responsible for its state-of-the-art baseball facility. Afterward, SDSU plays New Mexico in the second game of a three-game WAC series.
The loudest ovation may be for Padres owner John Moores and his wife, Becky. The Mooreses originally gave the university $3 million for the project, but that gift grew to $4 million before construction was completed.
Other local businessmen to be recognized for their contributions are Dennis Wise and Ron Fowler.
In addition, SDSU athletic director Rick Bay said the university contributed nearly $1.5 million for infrastructure surrounding the stadium.
The facility seats 3,000 (expandable to 3,500 with bleacher seating) and is named for Gwynn, the former SDSU standout and seven-time National League batting champion of the Padres, who is scheduled to attend the ceremony.
Gwynn played for the Aztecs from 1979-81 and had a career batting average of .389, the best for any SDSU player since the school gained Division I status in 1969.
Members of Charlie Smith’s family will also be in attendance. Smith coached the Aztecs from 1933-64 and the playing field at Tony Gwynn Stadium remains named in his honor.
The Aztecs have been playing in Tony Gwynn Stadium this season. Dedication originally was scheduled for February but was postponed because of construction delays.