Ron Gant was in camp in 2002 on a minor league deal hoping to earn some kind of role with the Padres. By the time, the 37-year-old veteran homered, tripled and drove in a season-high four runs on this date — Aug. 8 — he’d evolved into something quite a bit more.
“I’ve talked a lot about Gant,” Padres manager Bruce Bochy told the Union-Tribune after Gant’s walk-off, three-run homer beat the Phillies at Qualcomm Stadium. “He’s a ballplayer. He plays the game right. He’s clutch. He’s a winner. He’s got no fear. He’s in tremendous shape. And he does a lot of things.