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San Diego Padres
Baseball Team History |
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The San Diego Padres are
a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. The Padres
got their name from the Pacific Coast League (PLC) team which arrived
in San Diego in 1936. That minor league franchise won the PCL title
in 1937, led by then-18-year-old San Diegan Ted Williams. The San
Diego Padres play in the Western Division of the National League.
The Padres were founded in 1969 as an expansion of the National League
(NL). Despite initial excitement and a new playing field at San Diego,
now Qualcomm Stadium, the team struggled, finishing in last place
in each of its first six seasons. The Padres home ballpark is Petco
park, between 1969-2003 they played in Qualcomm Stadium or Jack Murphy
Stadium and the uniform colors are navy blue, "sand" (khaki),
and white. The logo design for the Padres is gold "SAN DIEGO"
in small capitals and large, stylized white "Padres" superimposed
over an outline of home plate; blue background with wave design in
bottom half of home plate. In 1974, with the team on the brink of
relocating to Washington, D.C., Ray A. Kroc (founder of McDonald's
restaurants) purchased the Padres and kept them in San Diego. The
San Diego Padres won their first National League Pennant in 1984,
unfortunately their owner Ray A. Kroc died before he could see the
success of his team. His wife, Joan, assumed control of the team until
selling it in 1990. In 1976, the Padres won 73 games; pitcher Randy
Jones received the NL Cy Young Award. In 1978 first-year manager Roger
Craig guided the Padres to their first winning season with a 84-78
win-loss record. The Padres were positioned in the lower half of their
division from 1993 to 1995. In 1996, veteran third baseman Ken Caminiti
was named NL most valuable player (MVP). In 1998 the Padres won 98
games and also the National League (NL) pennant. Bruce Bochy who guided
the team from 1995 to 2000, has a record of 485-469. He was named
National League (NL) Manager of the year in 1996. Among the current
players, David Lee Wells, born on May 20, 1963 is a pitcher with the
San Diego Padres. During 2003 season, David made a career record of
200-128, including a 137-75 mark since 1995. San Diego Padres won
three Division titles in 1984, 1996 and 1998; they won two National
League pennants in 1984 and 1998. Famous players such as Randy Jones,
Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, and Trevor Hoffman, have had
little effect on the San Diego Padres, going to the playoffs only
three times during their Major League tenure. San Diego Padres have
had a few Players honored by being inducted into the Hall of Fame,
Gaylord Perry, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Rollie Fingers and Willie
McCovey. The following numbers have been retired by the San Diego
Padres, #19 belonging to Tony Gwynn, #31 worn by Dave Winfield, #6
belonging to Steve Garvey, #35 worn by Randy Jones and #42 belonging
to Jackie Robinson, which has also been retired throughout baseball.
The Padres enjoyed a 23-game turnaround in 2004 to make a run at the
playoffs in their inaugural season at PETCO Park. Despite an 87-65
mark, the Padres fell short in the division and the Wild Card race
but remained competitive until the season's final weekend.
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