Tony Gwynn's Widow Discusses Legacy Of Padres Great

The All-Star game in San Diego tomorrow sure to bring about memories. 1994 he raced around the basis to score the winning home run for the National League. A tribute to Tony Gwynn has just opened an unusual study in San Diego. AleSmith brewing company is displaying more than 300 pieces of memorabilia collected by his widow. Alicia Gwynn spoke about the Museum with guest host Allison St. John. It is returning to Petco Park. What kind of memories of Tony Quinn -- Tony Gwynn will this game sparking you? I think that the fun, the excitement of being voted in order ask to come, the excitement of seeing all of the other players and their wives and the other families was really the excitement for us. Being back in your own family, the bigger family. Absolutely. Let's talk about the Museum that has just opened an L Smith. Yep been intimately involved in putting it together. Is it mostly items that you have had in your home that are going to be in this exhibit? So far all of the items that I've had in the exhibit that I say, even have his Little League stuff all the way up until the end of his career. How does it feel to be putting this together. What does it mean for you to be opening it now? At the same time, it is excitement but it is also emotional. It is great memories. I smile sometimes about certain awards he won, like his first batting title award in Walla Walla, Washington. Give us some examples of some of the things that everybody will be able to see in this exhibit. Everybody will get to see some of his Little League trophies, some of his high school trophies. They will get to see his first major league award ever. He had a lot of charitable awards that he had which was more significant to him then sometimes they wore to one on the field. So the unique thing about Tony Gwynn was that he was so loyal to San Diego. Do you feel like San Diego -- this is a way of reminding San Diego F his presence for years to come? Absolutely. This is a way of keeping his legacy alive. It is a way of letting the fans know how we appreciate them, showing them how they supported him to get some of the awards. Did you get a lot of help from the fans and putting the exhibit together? We have so many fans that have things from Tony when he first started his career that. How important is the Museum to honor and two years later? It is the most important thing for my family and I. He keeps his legacy alive and it shows -- Did he ever waver in terms of thinking he may take a position at another time? How did you talk about his loyalty to San Diego? I remember there was maybe 15 minutes out of the day when he had a disagreement with management and he said maybe I should go someplace else. We talked on the phone on his way home and he said you know what, he said I could never do that because the fans have been so good to me. These people have supported me. He said they have been good to me. Is that I'm definitely not going to leave and do them that way. He said I'm thinking about the fans. He said I love the city. I love the people. I want to ask you about the lawsuit that the family has filed. Tony Gwynn died as a lawsuit -- result of the chewing tobacco and there is a suit been filed against the company. Can you give us an update on how that lawsuit is doing? Basses not to talk about it. I don't really know that much about it. How much do you think this will affect his legacy the fact that he is taking a stand to increase awareness of the dangers of chewing tobacco and how it has affected him? I hope that it will have a great impact on awareness. Really let the people know what tobacco can do to you. We really want to reach out to the youth because they are starting the staff at an early age can we want to reach out to the youth and let them know that you need to be aware of the consequences that could happen with tobacco. You lived with him for 33 years. You must have seen how it affected him and how he tried to break away from it. Absolutely. It is not an easy thing. You educate so that people can make their choice. You're hoping they make the right choice. Since his death, what has been the thing that has been in some ways perhaps most important for you to feel like you are in touch with him. Is his legacy a way to make you feel more connected? Absolutely. There is never a day that goes by that I don't feel like he is talking to me. I can hear his voice. You can do this. You can do this. You carry on. That is what he told me before he passed. Do you feel personally responsible to be promoting his legacy? I do. I think it is important and I feel like I owe that to him. Tony was a very good husband and a very good father. He took very good care of me. He had a relationship with Dale Smith where the Museum is going to be. Tell us a little bit about that. He and Peter Zion decided that they would do a beer. He said he liked a beer that was not so hoppy. They started doing the ingredients together. He would come and say, D1 it this way? He said I like the edge a little bit less. Tony really liked it and he wanted it to be sold around the world. You will be really happy that this memorabilia was right there. We be attending the All-Star game yourself? I will be. And the rest of your family? Can we expect to see in the stands? Yes, you will. Thank you so much for the work they have done and for the presence that you have maintained here in San Diego. Thank you. My pleasure. Thank you for listening.