Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn died at age 54

The baseball Hall of Famer, Tony Gwynn, died on Monday at age 54. He had salivary gland cancer.

Gwynn was an outfielder for 20 years with the San Diego Padres. To fans, he was known as “Mr. Padre.”

Gwynn admitted that he had used chewing tobacco for years, and that was probably the reason for the cancer. He played his entire career with the San Diego Padres, and retired in September 2004. He was a graduate of San Diego State, where he later became a coach, according to the Associated Press. He was on medical leave from his position.

In August 2010 and February 2012, he entered the hospital to have oral surgery. The surgery in 2012 involved moving a facial nerve in an effort to remove a tumor.

His son, Tony Gwynn Jr., 31, Gwynn Jr. toldUT San Diego, “It’s been probably the toughest season I’ve had in professional ball. The only other season I can think of that was this tough was when we first found out he had cancer. That was difficult.”

Gwynn is also survived by a daughter, Anisha.