George Brett To Quit Chewing Tobacco Because Of Tony Gwynn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  One of Major League Baseball's all-time greatest hitters, players, and people in Tony Gwynn lost his battle with cancer on Monday, passing away at the age of 54. Another one of baseball's best hitters, George Brett, talked about his admiration for Gwynn on Tuesday.

"I just played against him in a few all-star games, never really played against him in Spring Training," Brett told Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show. "I just admired him from afar, the things he was able to accomplish."

Gwynn said in 2010 the cancer is related to him chewing tobacco, something he did throughout his career.

"I'm a guy that chews tobacco still," Brett admitted. "So, I'm making it a point right now -- it's hit too close to home -- I'm going to quit. I know one of my kids dips. He doesn't do it around me, but I've heard rumors that he does, so I'm going to have a talk with him when I get home tomorrow and just say, 'Hey, look it's a tough thing to do but we both gotta quit. I'll quit, you quit.'"

"So, he's going to make an impact on me -- he made an impact on me already, not only as a great baseball player, but for something that he did and now I'm going to stop doing it because it took his life."

Brett and former Phillies great, Mike Schmidt, constantly battle for the title 'best third baseman ever'. Brett explains that him and Schmidt actually became very close friends.

"Mike is a great friend of mine," Brett said. "I didn't know Mike all that well, played against him obviously in the '80 World Series where he was victorious and we lost. I played against him in Spring Training every year when we were playing because we were both in Florida, and I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for him."

Brett says Schmidt came to his Hall Of Fame ceremony in 1999 where they made a pact to come back every year after.

"Not only do we come back every year, but we're on the phone constantly," Brett explained. "Otherwise, I've become good friends. When we have a function to go to, say at six o'clock, he'll say I'll meet you in the bar at 5:30. Then he calls me at 5:25, 'Come on, I'm already down here, let's go!'

Listen to George Brett on the WIP Morning Show below:

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