San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times. As of 2012, they have had 13 winning seasons in franchise history. They and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are the only MLB California teams to originate in California; the Dodgers and Giants are originally from New York, and the Athletics are originally from Philadelphia.

As of June 1, 2012, the Padres are the only team in MLB to never record a no-hitter. They are also one of two teams, along with the Miami Marlins, in Major League Baseball history to never have a player hit for the cycle.

Minor league team
The Padres adopted their name from the Pacific Coast League team which arrived in San Diego in 1936. That minor league franchise won the PCL title in 1937, led by 18-year-old Ted Williams, the future Hall-of-Famer who was a native of San Diego. The team's name, Spanish for "fathers", refers to the Spanish Franciscan friars who founded San Diego in 1769.

Major League Padres
In 1969, the San Diego Padres joined the ranks of Major League Baseball as one of four new expansion teams, along with the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals), the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots (now the Milwaukee Brewers). Their original owner was C. Arnholt Smith, a prominent San Diego businessman and former owner of the PCL Padres whose interests included banking, tuna fishing, hotels, real estate and an airline. Despite initial excitement, the guidance of longtime baseball executives, Eddie Leishman and Buzzie Bavasi as well as a new playing field, the team struggled; the Padres finished in last place in each of its first six seasons in the NL West, losing 100 games or more four times. One of the few bright spots on the team during the early years was first baseman and slugger Nate Colbert, an expansion draftee from the Houston Astros and still the Padres' career leader in home runs.

The team's fortunes gradually improved as they won 5 National League West titles and reached the World Series twice, in 1984 and in 1998 but lost both times. The Padres main draw during the 80s and 90s was Tony Gwynn, who won a number of league batting titles. They moved into their current stadium, Petco Park, in 2004.

Spring training
The team has played its spring training games at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona since 1994. They share the stadium with the Seattle Mariners.

From 1969 to 1993, the Padres held Spring Training in Yuma, Arizona at Desert Sun Stadium. Due to the short driving distance and direct highway route (170 miles, all on Interstate 8), Yuma was very popular with Padres fans, and many fans would travel by car from San Diego for Spring Training games. The move from Yuma to Peoria was very controversial, but was defended by the team as a reflection on the low quality of facilities in Yuma and the long travel necessary to play against other Arizona-based Spring Training teams (whose sites were all in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, both rather far from Yuma).

Logos and colors
The San Diego Padres have used six different logos and four different color combinations throughout their history. The original team colors were a garish brown and gold. Their first logo depicts a friar swinging a bat with Padres written at the top while standing in a sun-like figure with San Diego Padres on the exterior of it. The "Swinging Friar" has popped up on the uniform on and off ever since (he is currently on the left sleeve of the navy alternate jersey) although the head of the friar has been tweaked from the original in recent years, and it is currently the mascot of the team.

In 1985, the Padres switched to using a script-like logo in which Padres was written sloped up. That would later become a script logo for the Padres. The team's colors were changed to brown and orange and remained this way through the 1990 season.

In 1989, the Padres took the scripted Padres logo that was used from 1985 to 1988 and put it in a tan ring that read "San Diego Baseball Club" with a striped center. In 1991, the logo was changed to a silver ring with the Padres script changed from brown to blue. The logo only lasted one year, as the Padres changed their logo for the third time in three years, again by switching colors of the ring. The logo became a white ring with fewer stripes in the center and a darker blue Padres script with orange shadows. In 1991, the team's colors were also changed, to a combination of orange and navy blue.

The logo was completely changed when the team changed stadiums between the 2003 and 2004 seasons, as the logo now looks like home plate at a baseball field with San Diego written in sand font at the top right corner and the Padres new script written completely across the center. Waves finish the bottom of the plate. Navy remains but a sandy beige replaces orange as a secondary color. The team's colors were also changed, to navy blue and sand brown. The San Diego has been removed from the top right corner of the logo for the 2011 season, and the away uniform changed from sand to gray.

For the 2012 season the Padres unveiled a new primary logo, featuring the cap logo inside a navy blue circle with the words "San Diego Padres Baseball Club" adorning the outer circle. The "swinging friar" logo was recolored to the current colors of navy blue and white. Another secondary logo features the Padres script carried over from the previous year's logo below the depiction of Petco Park in sand and above the year of the team's first season (EST. 1969). The blue and sand version will be used in the home uniforms, with the blue and white version to be used on the away and alternate uniforms.

Military appreciation
Starting in 1996 the Padres became the first national sports team to have an annual military appreciation event. Following in 2000 the Padres began wearing a camouflage, to honor the military; the jersey has since gone through three different versions. Starting in 2008, during every Sunday home games, the Padres wear camouflage jerseys. They also wear these uniforms on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Beginning in 2011, the Padres have changed the camouflage design to a more modern "digital" design, using the MARPAT design after receiving permission from then-Commandant Conway, and dropped the green from the lettering and logo of the jersey. Green has been replaced by a sand-olive color (also in the cap worn with the jersey). Since 1995 Marine Recruits from the nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot often visit the games en masse, in uniform, often filling entire sections in the upper deck. When they are present, the team commemorates this with a special Fourth Inning Stretch featuring the Marine Hymn. over sixty thousand marine recruits have been hosted by the Padres. This is part of an extensive military outreach program, which also includes a series of Military Appreciation Night games, and game tapes mailed to deployed United States Navy ships of the Pacific Fleet for onboard viewing (a large portion of the Pacific Fleet is homeported in San Diego).

The San Diego area is home to a number of military installations, including several Navy and Coast Guard bases centered on San Diego Bay, the Navy fighter base at Miramar (former home of the "Top Gun" training program), and the Marine Corps training ground at Camp Pendleton. About 5 percent of all civilian jobs in the county are military-related.

Mascot
The "Swinging Friar" is currently the mascot of the team. Some in the past have confused The Famous Chicken as the mascot of the Padres. Although he does make appearances occasionally at San Diego sporting events, he has never been the official mascot of any San Diego sports team.

Quick facts



 * Founded: 1969 (National League expansion)
 * Current uniform colors: Dark blue, Sand, and White
 * Logo design: White interlocking 'S' and 'D'
 * Hometown Hero: Tony Gwynn
 * Nicknames: The Friars, the "Pads" (pronounced as "Pods")
 * Most winning season: (1998) 98–64. Western Division Title and National League Pennant Winners.
 * Most losing season: (1969) 52–110
 * Local television: Fox Sports San Diego.
 * TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Mark Grant, Tony Gwynn (occasionally), Mark Neely (substitute).
 * Local radio: 1090 AM XX 1090 (pronounced "Double X"), La Poderosa 860 AM (en español).
 * Radio announcers: Ted Leitner, Andy Masur, Jerry Coleman (home day games).
 * Spring training facility: Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria, AZ
 * Rivals: Arizona Diamondbacks (Division), Colorado Rockies (Division), Los Angeles Dodgers (Division, geographical), San Francisco Giants (Division), St. Louis Cardinals (Post-Season), Seattle Mariners (Inter-league)

Baseball Hall of Famers
The following elected members of the Baseball Hall of Fame played and/or managed for the Padres. Gwynn, Winfield, Fingers, Gossage, Randy Jones, and Graig Nettles (3B, 1984–1987) are also members of the San Diego Hall of Champions, which is open to athletes native to the San Diego area (such as Gwynn and Nettles) as well as to those who played for San Diego teams.

Ford C. Frick Award recipients (broadcasters)
Names in bold received the award based primarily on their work as Padres broadcasters.


 * Jerry Coleman

* Played as Padres

Retired numbers
The Padres have retired six numbers. Five were in honor of Padre players and one was Jackie Robinson's number 42, which was retired by all of Major League Baseball.

The retired numbers are displayed in center field atop the batter's eye wall. They are free standing and mounted on poles. During the 2004 season, the first season in PETCO Park, there were only four retired numbers displayed. Gwynn's number 19 was not yet officially retired until late in the season and was added the following winter. Trevor Hoffman's number 51 was retired on August 21, 2011.

The Padres also have a "star on the wall" in honor of broadcaster Jerry Coleman, in reference to his trademark phrase "Oh Doctor! You can hang a star on that baby!" Nearby the initials of former owner Ray Kroc are also displayed. Both the star and the initials are painted in gold on the front of the pressbox down the right field line accompanied by the name of the person in white.

Team Hall of Fame
People inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame which was founded in 1999.
 * Buzzie Bavasi, Team President, 1969–1977. Inducted 2001.
 * Nate Colbert, 1B, 1969–1974. Inducted 1999.
 * Jerry Coleman, Manager, 1980, Announcer, 1972–1979, 1981–present. Inducted 2001.
 * Tony Gwynn, OF, 1982–2001. Inducted 2002.
 * Randy Jones, P, 1973–1980. Inducted 1999.
 * Ray Kroc, Owner, 1974–1984. Inducted 1999.
 * Dick Williams, Manager, 1982–1985. Inducted 2009.
 * Dave Winfield, OF, 1973–1980. Inducted 2000.

Championships
Florida Marlins Atlanta Braves Philadelphia Phillies St. Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Dodgers Arizona Diamondbacks San Francisco Giants Arizona Diamondbacks Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco Giants Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| National League Champions
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:
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 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 1998
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 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 1984
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 * colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| National League Western Division Champions
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 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 2005 & 2006
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 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 1998
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 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 1996
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by:
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 1984
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by:

Radio and television
As of 2008, the Padres' flagship radio stations were XEPRS 1090AM and XHPRS 105.7FM, collectively known as "XX 1090" (pronounced "Double X.") When XX was only on AM, the station was known as the "Mighty 1090." Ted Leitner is the primary play-by-play announcer, with Andy Masur working the middle innings of each game. Jerry Coleman, former Yankee second baseman and Padres manager and a Ford C. Frick Award-winning longtime broadcaster, no longer does play-by-play; however, he does work as a color commentator alongside Leitner and Masur, mostly during the middle part of the game. The games are also broadcast in Spanish on XEMO, "La Poderosa 860 AM", with Eduardo Ortega and Juan Angel Avila announcing. As of 2010, 105.7 has dropped the Padres broadcasts, and the games are now only broadcast on 1090AM.

Padres' games starting in 2012 will be televised by Fox Sports San Diego upon the start of the spring training sessions. Prior to that, games were televised mostly on 4SD, a cable-only channel controlled by Cox Communications. Dick Enberg currently serves as play-by-play announcer, and Mark Grant is the primary color commentator (with Tony Gwynn providing commentary for select telecasts). Previously, Matt Vasgersian was the play-by-play announcer from 2002 to 2008. In 2006, the booth played host to a controversial guest appearance by Rick Sutcliffe, who had been Grant's predecessor before joining ESPN. Sutcliffe appeared to be drunk and discussed topics other than baseball, even when Vasgersian tried to redirect the subject. After the appearance, ESPN suspended Sutcliffe for a week. For the 2009 season, Vasgersian left the Padres to join the MLB Network and was replaced by veteran minor league announcer Mark Neely, who for the previous 13 years had been the voice of the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. Neely will continue to serve as a pre- and postgame reporter for the new channel, and called play-by-play on a substitute basis when Enberg had network commitments with both ESPN or CBS Sports. 4SD's contract with the Padres expired after the 2011 season.

Spanish language telecasts of Sunday games are seen XHAS-TV channel 33. Until September 2007, Friday and Saturday Spanish games were seen on KBOP-CA channel 43, until that station changed to an all-infomercial format. This makes XHAS the only over-the-air-television station carrying Padres baseball. English-language Padres over-the-air broadcasts aired over the years on XETV, KCST, KUSI, KFMB-TV and KSWB-TV.

John Demott was the Padres' first public address announcer when the team began in 1969. By the late 1970s Bruce Binkowski had taken over as PA announcer, and became the longest-serving public address announcer in the team's history, remaining until the end of the 1999 season. First DeMott and then Binkowski also were responsible with PA announcing duties for the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego State University Aztecs, both of which were joint tenants at Qualcomm Stadium with the Padres until the Padres moved into Petco Park. The current PA announcer is Frank Anthony, a radio host with 105.7 The Walrus.

Education/MBA program

 * The San Diego Padres established The Padres Scholars program, the first of its kind among professional sports. Originally each Padres scholar was selected as a seventh grader and received a $5,000 scholarship after graduation from High School to go towards higher education. This program has reached 389 students from its establishment in 1995 to now. Over the past few years the program has undergone a few changes to be effective an education standpoint. This program focuses on creating a close relationship between the chosen scholars and the team. As of 2011, 3 high school seniors will be chosen to receive a $30,000 scholarship to be awarded through the course of their higher education. Conditions are held in order to maintain this prestigious award, maintaining contact with the Padres providing proof of good academic standing.


 * The San Diego Padres are the sponsors of and heavily involved in most aspects of the Sports Business Management MBA degree program offered in conjunction with San Diego State University's College of Business Administration. SDSU's Sports MBA is the only program of its kind created in partnership with a professional sports franchise. The curriculum focuses on the entire sports business industry, not just baseball. The program includes an internship. Members of Padres senior management regularly participate, including work with the development and continued coordination of SDSU's International Case Competition, which annually attracts participation from top business schools.