San Diego Padres History and Information
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 then-18-year-old San Diegan Ted Williams.In 1969, San Diego joined the ranks of Major League Baseball as one of four new expansion teams. 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.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. He died just before he could see his team win their first National League pennant (after dramatically rallying from a 2-0 deficit against the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS) in 1984. His wife, Joan, assumed control of the team until selling it in 1990.The San Diego Chicken began performing for the team in 1974. Currently, their team mascot is the Swinging Friar.Despite featuring such notable players as Randy Jones, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, and Trevor Hoffman, the Padres have had limited success, going to the playoffs only three times during their Major League tenure. The team marked its 36th year on a new playing field, PETCO Park, in 2004.Country western singer Garth Brooks once tried out for the Padres, but was cut in spring training.Jerry Coleman, former second-baseman for the New York Yankees in the 1950s, has been the Padres' play-by-play announcer since 1972, except in one year (1980) in which Coleman managed the team. Coleman is famous for his phrases "Oh Doctor!" and "Hang a star on that one!". In 2005, Coleman reduced his broadcast role, allowing longtime partner Ted Leitner to be the Padres' primary announcer. Coleman is also the 2005 recipient of the Ford Frick award and has been inducted into the broadcaster's wing of the Baseball Hall Of Fame
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