I shocked today to hear of the death of retired major league baseball player Tony Gwynn. Tony Gwynn was only 54 years old. For those who are not baseball fans, Tony might have been the purist hitter in baseball since Ted Williams. He retired with .338 batting average. Tony Gwynn spent his entire career with one team, The San Diego Padres. That is a rarity in the days of free agency. Tony Gwynn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, the first year he was eligible. After retiring from the Padres, Tony Gwynn returned to his alma mater, San Diego State University, as head baseball coach. He was on a medical leave of absence at the time of his death.
Tony Gwynn died of cancer, but if you read the fine print the details come into focus. Tony Gwynn had mouth cancer brought on by the use of smokeless tobacco during this playing days. Those who covered the sport report that it was rare to interview him without the familiar chew in his mouth. He had numerous surgeries to remove growths from his mouth during his playing days. He was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2011. The NCAA, along with minor league baseball, has banned the use of smokeless tobacco. Major League Baseball has not. Maybe it's time.
There is a lesson here for all of us when it comes to at-risk behavior. Tobacco in any form, including smokeless, is a deadly habit. The abuse of alcohol and other drugs is dangerous. The list could go on, but the point is there is a lesson to be learned here. The decisions we make can come back to haunt us. Tony Gwynn's story is worth telling. Share it with the young people in your life, and talk about the risks involved. Better than that, model the behavior yourself. If you are still a smoker; Quit! Nineteen years ago I did.
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