MLB HIT HARD AGAIN: GWYNN TO END CAREER.

Byline: Bob Keisser Staff Writer

Tony Gwynn never has flinched at a fastball, curve or slider. But the R word - retirement - definitely caught him looking.

Less than two years after becoming one of just 24 men with 3,000 hits in a career, the former Long Beach Poly standout has apparently decided to retire. Last week, Gwynn said he would retire at the end of the season if that's what it took to become the new head baseball coach at his college alma mater, San Diego State.

Wednesday, Gwynn, 41, told USA Today's Baseball Weekly he will soon announce that the 2001 season will be his last. Gwynn and the Padres were in Denver last night, and sources said a news conference is imminent.

``I knew this would be my last year before the year started,'' Gwynn told the baseball magazine. ``It was predetermined. No matter what I did this year, I knew it would be my last. I'll have a press conference to get it off my chest, and then I'll be at peace.

``I never thought retiring would be so difficult, but everyone wants to get into your own business, trying to tell you what to do.''

Gwynn has been buffeted with questions about retirement the last two seasons, mostly because of knee and leg problems that limited him to 36 games in 2000 and 16 in 2001. He's currently on the disabled list with a pulled left hamstring. His interest in the Aztecs coaching job and Cal Ripken's recent decision to retire begged the question as well.

Padres manager Bruce Bochy recently said Gwynn likely would return as a pinch-hitter when he's healthy.

``I never thought I would think about retirement as much as I have,'' Gwynn said last week when the Padres were in Los Angeles. ``You can't help but think about it when people are always bringing it up. From a numbers standpoint, I've accomplished just about everything I could want. So now it's just a matter of getting healthy again so I can help the team.''

Gwynn and the Padres haggled over a contract in the offseason and the outfielder considered free agent offers from other teams before agreeing to an incentive-friendly one-year contract that defers part of his $2 million base salary.

By staying with Padres, Gwynn becomes one of just 17 players in major-league history to spend 20 or more seasons with just one club. To Gwynn, that accomplishment ranks right alongside his 3,000th hit and career .338 average.

``When I was growing up, guys stayed with their teams,'' Gwynn said. ``It's something I always thought was important, and I'm very proud of that.''

When and if 2001 is the end for Gwynn, he will retire with an array of accomplishments that put him on the Hall of Fame's top shelf.

He is one of 24 players with 3,000 hits. He currently stands 16th all- time with 3,124, and needs just 31 more to move to No. 12. Only two contemporaries, Paul Molitor (8th, 3,319) and Eddie Murray (11th, 3,255), would have more.

If he can keep his 2001 average above .300, and he's currently at .333, he will retire with 19 consecutive seasons over .300, a National League record and second on the all-time list to Ty Cobb's 23.

His current career average of .338 is 18th on baseball's all-time list, and every name above his on the list played in another generation. Ted Williams, who retired in 1960, is the closest time-wise. Gwynn's .394 average in the strike-shortened 1994 season is the closest anyone has come to batting .400 since Williams hit .406 in 1941.

Gwynn stands eighth all-time in singles (2,369) and needs five doubles to make the all-time Top 20. He's had five 200-hit seasons, won five Gold Glove Awards and won eight NL batting titles, which ties him for the NL record with Honus Wagner, trailing only Cobb's 12.

TONY GWYNN

Here's a look at some of the career highlights for the San Diego Padres' Gwynn, who is expected to announce today that he will retire at the end of the season:

-- Eight career batting titles, tied with Honus Wagner and second only to Ty Cobb 

--Has .338 career batting average in 20 seasons, ranking 18th all time

-- Has hit .300 or better for 18 consecutive seasons, second to Ty Cobb

-- Has 3,124 career hits, ranking him 16th on all-time list

-- Has highest single-season average since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. Gwynn hit .394 in 1994.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) GWYNN

(2) San Diego outfielder Tony Gwynn said in an interview he plans to make this season the last of his Hall of Fame career.

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Box: TONY GWYNN (see text)