SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The eighth National League batting title for Tony Gwynn was nice. The visit from Willie Mays was special.
"When people who have been in the game, played the game, come over and congratulate you, it makes you feel good," said Gwynn, who wrapped up his latest batting crown Sunday while sitting out the San Diego Padres' 5-3 victory over the playoff-bound San Francisco Giants.
Gwynn said he felt honored when Mays, the former Giants great, came by the Padres' locker room to congratulate him on his season. Even as he was being interviewed, Giants vice president Bob Quinn visited, telling Gwynn he liked the way he played the game.
"But I can never look at myself as being anything more than just a baseball player," said Gwynn. "Because of some of things I've accomplished, it's put me in select company. But Ted Williams? Stan Musial? I can't put myself in that category as a player. Look, I just love to play. I just play."
He didn't have to play Sunday because the Padres wanted to give younger players some time on the field in a finale rendered meaningless by the Giants' NL West clinching 6-1 victory over the Padres on Saturday.
Colorado's Larry Walker, who dueled Gwynn for the hitting title for most of the year, also sat out the Rockies' last game.
Gwynn finished at .372 this season, six points ahead of Walker.
"I feel like I've earned it," Gwynn said. "I had to battle this year. Larry Walker gave me all he could give me. It's nice to know you're up there."
The only player to win more than eight batting titles is Ty Cobb, who had 12 in the AL.
"It's hard to imagine," said San Diego manager Bruce Bochy. "He just continues to amaze you. Eight batting titles. To win one is a tremendous accomplishment. He's going to go down as one of the greatest hitters of all-time."
Gwynn, whose club-record 220 hits led the majors, said he felt he had his best overall season in 15 years in the big leagues. The down side was the Padres' fall to last-place after winning the NL West last year.
"It's kind of gratifying to know that even though you weren't winning you were still able to go out and do your job and do what you're supposed to do," said Gwynn, who set personal highs in homers (17), RBIs (119), extra-base hits (68), and total bases (324). .
"But it's about winning. Seeing the Giants jump around on the field (Saturday), you know exchanging high-fives, seeing the fans go bonkers. That's what it's all about. I'm not going to get that kind of ovation for winning a batting title, I'll tell you that."
Still, Gwynn's latest title likely won't be his last. He said he plans to keep playing for at least several more seasons.
"I'm going to play three more years," he said. "I'll be 40. I haven't looked past that. I still love it. I still have a lot of enthusiasm for it. As long as that's there, I'll continue to play.
"But I feel I'm in my prime and there are not many guys that can say that at 37."