( CNN ) -- Tony Gwynn , a Hall of Fame outfielder who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the San Diego Padres , has died after a multiyear battle with salivary gland cancer . He was 54 . `` Major League Baseball today mourns the tragic loss of Tony Gwynn , the greatest Padre ever and one of the most accomplished hitters that our game has ever known , whose all-around excellence on the field was surpassed by his exuberant personality and genial disposition in life , '' MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement . Gwynn -- known for slapping singles between third base and shortstop in his 20-year career with the Padres -- had 3,141 hits and a .338 batting average . He also was a 15-time All-Star . In 2007 , Gwynn was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with Cal Ripken . `` He was beloved by so many , especially the Hall of Fame family , for his kindness , graciousness and passion for the game , '' Jane Forbes Clark , chairman of the board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum , said in a statement . `` Tony was one of baseball history 's most consistent hitters and most affable personalities . He was an icon for San Diego Padres fans , never more evident than on Induction Day of 2007 , when tens of thousands of Tony 's most appreciative fans filled Cooperstown for his Hall of Fame speech . We extend our deepest sympathies to Alicia and the entire Gwynn family . '' `` I am deeply saddened to learn that Tony Gwynn has lost his courageous battle against cancer , '' Tony Clark , executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association , said in a statement . `` Since his diagnosis , Tony displayed the same tenacity and drive in his fight against this horrible disease that he brought to the plate in every at bat of his Hall of Fame career . '' Gwynn was known as `` Mr. Padre '' during and after his career in the majors . The team retired his No . 19 jersey in September 2004 at Petco Park . In the spring of 2005 , the street on which the stadium is located was named Tony Gwynn Drive in his honor . There 's also a statue of Gwynn at Petco Park , which was unveiled in 2007 . After Gwynn retired from the Padres in 2001 , he became the head baseball coach for San Diego State University , his alma mater . He was diagnosed with cancer almost a decade later . In March , Gwynn took a medical leave of absence while undergoing cancer treatment , but he had recently signed a one-year extension with the Aztecs . San Diego State tweeted Monday , `` Our hearts are heavy today . RIP Tony Gwynn . Thoughts to the entire Gwynn family and SDSU Baseball family . '' As a collegiate baseball player , Gwynn was an All-American at San Diego State . He also played basketball while growing up in Long Beach and arrived at San Diego State as a highly recruited point guard in 1977 . He played basketball for the Aztecs for four seasons and baseball for three seasons , garnering all-Western Athletic Conference honors in both sports . According to San Diego State 's athletics website , Gwynn remains the only athlete in WAC history to be honored as an all-conference performer in two sports . Baseball still runs in the Gwynn family . Gwynn 's son , Tony Gwynn Jr. , followed in his father 's footsteps and currently is an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies . `` Today I lost my Dad , my best friend and my mentor , '' Gwynn Jr. tweeted on Monday . `` I 'm gon na miss u so much pops . I 'm gon na do everything in my power to continue to ... Make u proud ! '' Gwynn died surrounded by family at Pomerado Hospital in Poway , California . People we lost in 2014 . Tony Gwynn and a habit all too common in baseball . Opinion : The joy of Tony Gwynn .
Gwynn died at 54 after a long battle with salivary gland cancer . He was a 15-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 . Hall of Fame chair recalls his `` kindness , graciousness and passion for the game '' His son , also an MLB outfielder , tweets , `` Today I lost my Dad , my best friend and my mentor ''