1996 NL West Title

Lore & Background

In 1976, Randy Jones achieved the first Cy Young Award for the Padres. In the 1980s, Tony Gwynn became a major star, winning eight National League batting titles. Under manager Dick Williams, the Padres clinched their first NL pennant, only to lose to the Detroit Tigers in the 1984 World Series in 5 games. In 1995, Kevin Towers became general manager; under his lead, Ken Caminiti became the first Padres player to win the MVP Award. The Padres achieved their second NL pennant alongside Trevor Hoffman, only to be swept by the New York Yankees in the 1998 World Series.

Reader's Guide

The Padres are owned by José E. Feliciano & Kwanza Jones, who have owned the team starting in 2026. The team has won two NL pennants, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both years; they are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers as the oldest teams never to have won the World Series. As of the 2025 season, the Padres have had 19 winning seasons in franchise history. Despite reaching the postseason six times from 2005 to 2025, the team has yet to return to the World Series. From 1969 through 2025, the Padres have an overall record of ().

Did You Know?

• The Padres were one of four expansion teams in 1969, along with the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, and Seattle Pilots.
• On August 20, 2020, the Padres became the first team in MLB history to hit a grand slam in four consecutive games.
• Joe Musgrove threw the Padres' first no-hitter on April 9, 2021, ending the longest no-hit drought by a team in MLB history.
• Dylan Cease threw a no-hitter against the Nationals on July 25, 2024.