The 1998 Padres' Collapse vs. Braves

Lore & Background

In 1998, the Padres had their most wins in franchise history with 98, won the NL West again, and won the National League pennant for the first time since 1984, but had the misfortunate of facing the 114-win New York Yankees in the World Series. As a result, they were swept in four games. To date, 1998 represents San Diego's last World Series appearance.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Turner Field was thick with humidity and tension as the ninth inning of Game 6 began. The Padres needed just one run, perhaps two, to force a winner-take-all finale in San Diego. But as the Braves' pitchers took the mound, the silence from the visiting fans grew heavier. Every pitch felt like an eternity, every strikeout a step closer to oblivion. When the final out was recorded, the realization hit with the weight of a collapsing stadium: the dream had ended not with a bang, but with a whimper in the South.

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Did You Know?

• The Dodgers lead the regular season series 532–431–1 as of the 2024 season.
• The Dodgers have won 5 World Series championships since the Padres came into existence in 1969.
• The Padres are still yet to win a title, coming closest in 1984 (losing 4 games to 1 against the Detroit Tigers) and 1998 (being swept by the New York Yankees).