SAN DIEGO -- Rangers ace Cole Hamels grew up here, close enough to late Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn that he constantly saw him cruise by in that indelible, pearl white, 1970 Porsche 911 that he loved so much. Hamels later played for Rancho Bernardo High School, rivals with nearby Poway, where Tony Gwynn Jr. played. And every time the two programs faced off, there was the elder Gwynn, finding a spot somewhere beyond the outfield fence so that he wouldn't be bothered.
"It was kind of cool to know that Tony Gwynn was watching your game, even though he's watching his son," Hamels said.