Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn dies at 54

Former San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gywnn passed away Monday at the age of 54, Major League Baseball announced.

Gwynn was reportedly placed on medical leave from his coaching job at San Diego State University on March 24 while recovering from cancer treatment. The Hall of Famer was treated for mouth cancer in 2010 and had a tumor removed from his cheek in 2012. 

After his leave of absence in March, Gwynn said he was "doing good," according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. A report Sunday suggested his condition had worsened.

His son and Philadephia Phillies outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. offered this grave assessment of his father's well-being in an interview with Comcast SportsNet published on Father's Day.

When I left for spring training he was in a good spot, and now he’s not in that same spot, so from that standpoint I guess it has worsened. But in the big scheme of things, which is getting healthy so he can do the things he wants to do, I see light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t say that he does, but then again he’s the one going through this, and it’s tough on him.

Gwynn spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, finishing with 3,141 career hits, good for 18th all-time. The 15-time All-Star won eight batting titles and five Gold Glove awards, placing inside the top-10 MVP voting in seven seasons.

Considered one of the greatest hitters of his generation, Gwynn struck out 434 times during his career, the second fewest of any member of the 3,000-hit club, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement:

For more than 30 years, Tony Gwynn was a source of universal goodwill in the National Pastime, and he will be deeply missed by the many people he touched.  On behalf of all of our Clubs, I extend my deepest condolences to Tony’s wife Alicia, their son Tony Jr. of the Phillies, their daughter Anisha, the Padres franchise, his fans in San Diego and his many admirers throughout Baseball.