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SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- On the day San Diego fans said good-bye to Tony Gwynn, teammate Rickey Henderson shared the spotlight. Henderson became the 25th player in major league history to record 3,000 hits with a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning of the Padres' 14-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies. "It was very sweet, especially doing it on Tony's big day," Henderson said. "I didn't want to play becuase it was Tony's day, but he really wanted to be here if I could get the hit. The last two days we came out early for BP to work on some technique so I would get it." The outcome hardly mattered as the afternoon belonged to the two fellow future Hall-of-Famers. The 41-year-old Gwynn is retiring after 20 seasons to become the baseball coach at his alma mater, San Diego State University. "My whole approach today was like it's been for the last four months -- just go out and have fun," Gwynn said. "I just had a feeling it was going to be one of those days because everyone who came up to me today was crying. I mean everyone. And it made it really hard. And I wanted to have fun. It's like Cal (Ripken) was talking about, it's a celebration." The greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history, Henderson blooped the first pitch from John Thomson into right field to tie the late Roberto Clemente on the all-time hit list. "My first hit was a blooper to right field as well, so I flashed back after this hit to my very first hit in 1979," Henderson said. With his traditional swagger, the 42-year-old Henderson cruised into second base and was mobbed by his teammates. He was presented with a plaque and removed from the game in the top of the second inning to a standing ovation. Henderson turns 43 on Christmas but has no plans to retire. Already the all-time leader in stolen bases and walks, he broke Ty Cobb's record for runs scored when he homered Thursday. "I still enjoy the game and I still love the game," Henderson said. "The game has been good to me. I am definitely coming back next year." Following the game, Bob Costas emceed a 60-minute ceremony honoring Gwynn, also a member of the 3,000-hit club. Like Baltimore's Cal Ripken, who played his final game Saturday, Gwynn spent his entire career with the same team. "I am happy to have played 20 years, happy to have played them all here in San Diego," Gwynn said. When Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played in 1995, he jogged around the field at Camden Yards. Gwynn took a more leisurely approach on his day. "I saw Cal jog around when he broke his record, but I thought I'd just walk around," Gwynn said. "And it was really nice. The fans were very friendly and they all said that they're going to support San Diego State, which I really appreciate." Among those on hand were all the former players in the Padres' lineup for Gwynn's first game on July 13, 1982. His current teammates presented him a motorcycle. Anthony Gwynn Jr., a junior on the San Diego State baseball team, was stationed in center field during the ceremony. "So much happened today," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "Rickey getting his 3000th hit on the last day. It was a packed house, everyone was pulling for him. And Tony pinch-hitting. The ceremony ... it's a day I'll never forget." Relegated to pinch-hitting duties in his final season, Gwynn was not physically able to start Sunday's game because of a sore knee. Gwynn pinch-hit in the ninth and grounded out to shortstop on the first pitch of his final major league at-bat. He ended his career with 3,140 hits, 16th on the all-time list and two behind Robin Yount. "I'm no longer a playing player, I'm a retired player," Gwynn said. "And actually it feels pretty good. It feels just about like I thought it would. I knew I'd be tired and emotionally drained, which I am. But like I said, I'm at peace. I'm at peace with the decision I've made. It's time to move on, it's time to turn the page and go on to the next one." The Rockies erased a 3-2 deficit with eight runs in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a pair of two-run homers by Jacob Cruz and Juan Uribe, who also belted a three-run shot in the ninth. Thomson (4-5) earned the win in Gwynn's final game, allowing three runs and seven hits over seven innings with no walks and a career-high 12 strikeouts. The righthander ended the season with a personal four-game winning streak. Rookie Brian Lawrence (5-5) suffered the loss, yielding seven runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. Henderson scored on Phil Nevin's RBI single in the bottom of the first to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. San Diego stretched its lead to 3-0 in the third on Damian Jackson's RBI triple and Lawrence's sacrifice fly. But the Rockies closed to 3-2 on Juan Pierre's two-run blast in the third. Perhaps overwhelmed by the occasion, the Padres committed four errors. "We didn't make the playoffs or the postseason, but it was a fun year," Henderson said. "The guys on this team play hard every day, which is the way to play the game. I love playing for Bruce Bochy. He is one of the best managers I have ever played for."
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