Tony Gwynn recorded the 2,431st hit of his Hall of Fame career on May 1, 1996, against the San Francisco Giants, collecting the milestone hit off right-hander Mark Gardner during the early weeks of a season that ended with the Padres capturing the National League West title.

Signed by Tony Gwynn and preserved in his personal collection, this Rawlings commemorative baseball is marked with the date, opponent, and career hit total to recognize that achievement. Rather than being the baseball used during the game, it was created as a commemorative keepsake celebrating the milestone and represents an early stop on Gwynn's march toward 3,000 career hits during one of the Padres' most successful seasons of the decade.

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Disclaimer: This is a commemorative baseball signed by Tony Gwynn from his personal collection and is not the actual game-used baseball from Tony Gwynn's 2,431st career hit. Condition may vary slightly from photos, with unique marks that highlight the item's authenticity as a career artifact. This item features a Silver OVD, indicating that a TRuEST™ authenticator was not on-site to witness the signing. However, its provenance is verified through the Tony Gwynn Estate, ensuring its authenticity as a personally signed piece.