History of the San Diego Padres

Lore & Background

The Padres adopted their name from the Pacific Coast League team that arrived in San Diego in 1936. That minor league franchise won the PCL title in 1937, though contrary to popular belief, Ted Williams did not play for the Padres that season—he was with the Boston Red Sox' minor league affiliate in Minneapolis. Williams suited up for San Diego in 1936 and 1938. The team initially played at Lane Field near San Diego Harbor before moving to Westgate Park in Mission Valley, and finally to San Diego Stadium for the PCL squad's last season in 1968. In 1969, the San Diego Padres joined MLB as one of four expansion teams, along with the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, and Seattle Pilots. Their original owner was C. Arnholt Smith, a prominent San Diego businessman whose interests included banking, tuna fishing, hotels, real estate, and an airline. Despite initial excitement and the guidance of longtime baseball executives Eddie Leishman, Doc Mattei, and Buzzie Bavasi, the team struggled, finishing in last place in each of their first six seasons in the NL West and losing 100 games or more four times. One of the few bright spots during the early years was first baseman Nate Colbert, an expansion draftee from the Houston Astros who held the Padres' career home run record for nearly 50 years. Before the 1974 season, the Padres were nearly sold to Joseph Danzansky, who planned to move the franchise to Washington, D.C., and rename it either the Washington Stars or the Washington Nationals. Topps printed two sets of baseball cards for the team that year, one with 'San Diego' and 'Padres' and another with 'Washington' and 'Nat'l Lea.' However, the sale became tied up in lawsuits, and Smith instead sold the team to McDonald's co-founder Ray Kroc for $12 million. Kroc was well-financed and committed to keeping the Padres in San Diego. In his first home game as owner in 1974, Kroc grabbed the public address microphone and apologized to fans for the team's poor performance, saying, 'I have never seen such stupid ballplaying in my life.' The 1975 season was the first in which the Padres did not finish in the NL West cellar, finishing fourth. The team featured star outfielder Dave Winfield, who joined the Padres in 1973 from the University of Minnesota without having played a single minor league game. Winfield helped the team out of the basement in 1975 under manager John M

Reader's Guide

The San Diego Padres entered Major League Baseball in 1969 as an expansion franchise, one of four new teams that year. Their early history was marked by prolonged struggles, including six consecutive last-place finishes in the NL West and four seasons with 100 or more losses. Despite this, the team produced notable individual achievements, such as Nate Colbert's five-home-run doubleheader and Randy Jones' Cy Young Award in 1976. The franchise was nearly relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1974 before being purchased by Ray Kroc, who ensured the team remained in San Diego. The Padres' first winning season came in 1978, and their first division title and National League pennant followed in 1984. That postseason run, which included a dramatic comeback against the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS, remains a defining moment in the team's history. The Padres also contributed to baseball lore through players like Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, and Tony Gwynn, the latter of whom would go on to win eight batting titles. The team's early decades illustrate the challenges of building a competitive franchise from expansion and the importance of committed ownership in sustaining a major league club in a smaller market.

Did You Know?

• The Padres' name came from a Pacific Coast League minor league team that arrived in San Diego in 1936.
• Nate Colbert hit five home runs in a doubleheader, a feat shared only with Stan Musial, and collected 13 RBIs in that doubleheader, still a major league record.
• Dave Winfield joined the Padres in 1973 directly from the University of Minnesota without playing a single minor league game.
• In 1974, Topps printed two sets of baseball cards for the Padres, one with 'San Diego' and one with 'Washington' and 'Nat'l Lea,' due to the planned relocation.