10 years after fathers passing, Tony Gwynn Jr. reflects on super special Philly ovation | Phillies Nation [Video]

Tony Gwynn Jr. took note of the date as he arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

This past Sunday, June 16, was Father’s Day, but also marked 10 years since Gwynn’s father, Tony Gwynn Sr., died of salivary glad cancer at the age of 54.

“It was a weird day yesterday, to say the least,” Gwynn Jr. said on Monday. “It was Father’s Day. My family was letting me know how grateful they are, and not having my father here to celebrate Father’s Day was tough.”

The elder Gwynn was one of the best pure hitters in baseball history, a first ballot Hall of Famer and the beloved face of the San Diego Padres for 20 seasons. He served as a role model for his son, who went on to play eight seasons in the big leagues as an outfielder, wrapping up his career in Philly in 2014.

Gwynn Jr. …