Gwynn statue unveiled at Petco Park

SAN DIEGO — It’s been a busy few days of unveilings for Tony Gwynn — first the Wheaties box, then the bronze statue.

Eight days before his induction at Cooperstown, Gwynn watched Saturday evening as a larger-than-life statue of his likeness was unveiled on a grassy knoll just beyond the outfield wall at Petco Park.

Gwynn admired the 9 1/2-foot statue, which shows the former star swinging. The base bears the inscription “Tony Gwynn, Mr. Padre” on the front and a quote from his late father, Charles, on the back: “If you work hard, good things will happen.”

Gwynn, who spent his entire 20-season career with the Padres, will enter into the Hall of Fame a week from Sunday.

“To be the first guy, the first statue out here in Petco Park, I’m thrilled to death to be a part of it.” Gwynn said.

The Gwynn statue was crafted by William Behrends, who also sculpted the statues of Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal outside the San Francisco Giants’ ballpark.