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Updates

(San Diego Padres)

(San Diego Padres)

2023 Season

Season Recap: Few teams in baseball began 2023 with higher hopes or more talent than the Padres. After finishing 82–80 and out of the playoff picture, no team was a greater disappointment. San Diego’s big bats did not produce enough runs, while the club’s pitching was only so-so until the season’s final month. Juan Soto led the offense with 35 homers and 109 RBIs, and also drew 132 walks to lead the league. Blake Snell nearly pitched the Padres into the playoffs in September and finished tied for the team lead in victories with Michael Wacha, who was a nice surprise after signing as a free agent. Josh Hader was excellent as the team’s closer.

August 14, 2023: Yu Darvish struck out Ramon Urias of the Orioles to pass Hideo Nomo as the all-time leader in strikeouts by a pitcher born in Japan.

August 2, 2023: Fernando Tatis Jr. launched the 100th home run of his career in just his 362nd game. Only three other players in history: Ryan Howard, Pete Alonso, and Gary Sanchez: reached 100 in fewer games.

April 29, 2023: The Padres and Giants met in the thin air of Mexico City and tied a record when 10 different players hit a total of 11 home runs. San Diego won, 16–11 and slugged six of those homers, including two by Manny Machado.

Season Preview: The Padres were picked by many to finish first last season and lost more than half of their games. They are picked to win the NL West again this year, but they are better prepared for the challenges they are likely to face. Having Juan Soto for 162 games is a start. He will form a powerhouse lineup with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and newcomer Xander Bogaerts. They lead a supporting cast that includes Jake Cronenworth, Trent Grisham, Austin Nola, and Nelson Cruz. The team has an awesome bullpen but might be short a top-notch starter to go with Yu Darvish and Blake Snell. If that is the case, the Padres have shown they are not afraid to spend whatever it takes to fill a need.

2022 Season

Season Recap: The Padres overcame the injury and suspension that kept Fernando Tatis Jr. off the field to win 89 games and reach the NLCS with unexpected playoff victories over the Mets and Dodgers. Manny Machado had an MVP-quality season and provided great leadership to a team that added Juan Soto and Josh Hader for the final two months. Yu Darvish led the pitching staff with 16 wins and 197 strikeouts, while little-known Jake Cronenworth, Jurickson Profar, and Ha-Seong Kim played important roles in the team’s offense.

Season Preview: An off-season injury to shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. created a dark cloud over the Padres heading into 2022. But his replacements, Ha-seong Kim and C.J. Abrams, have tons of talent and could generate enough excitement to keep the team in contention until Tatis returns. Yu Darvish is a solid number-one starting pitcher, and MacKenzie Gore should come up from the minors this year to help the club—but there are question marks in the bullpen. San Diego’s lineup added some pop in Luke Voit and its pitching improved with the arrival of Sean Manaea, but it will be a great challenge to compete with the Dodgers and Giants for the NL West crown this year. 

2021 Season

Season Recap: Many experts picked the Padres to finish in first place, but after a strong start the team had a disastrous September and ended up with a losing record. Fernando Tatis Jr. played through injuries and led the NL with 42 homers, but veterans Eric Hosmer, Tommy Pham, Blake Snell, and Yu Darvish fell short of their usual numbers. Mark Melancon led the majors with 39 saves at the age of 36. Going forward, the team will have to rely more on its talented youngsters—including Trent Grisham, Ryan Weathers, and Chris Paddack—to rise to the top of the standings.

June 21, 2021: Yu Darvish struck out the 1,500th batter of his career against the Dodgers, in his 197th game. He was the first pitcher with 1,500 strikeouts in fewer that 200 games.

April 9, 2021: Joe Musgrove defeated the Texas Rangers without allowing a hit. It was the first no-hitter in Padres team history.

Season Preview: The race for the NL West crown could determine the champion of baseball in 2021. The Padres loaded up on talent during the off-season, adding pitchers Blake Snell and Yu Darvish to an already-excellent staff. Fernando Tatis Jr. looks ready to become the best shortstop in the game, while veteran teammates Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer provide the leadership needed for San Diego to win 100-plus games.

2020 Season

Season Recap: The Padres were one of the most entertaining teams in baseball in 2020. Their breakout star was 21-year-old Fernando Tatis Jr., who led the club in home runs, stolen bases and runs scored. Veteran Manny Machado, newcomer Trent Grisham, and rookie Jake Croneworth also turned in excellent seasons. Zach Davies and Dinelson Lamet led the starting pitchers, while Trevor Rosenthal took charge of the bullpen after a late-season trade from the Royals. Many thought the Padres might go all the way, but they were swept by the Dodgers in the Division Series.

September 2, 2020: Fernando Tatis Jr. was named NL Player of the Month for July/August. He is the ninth different Padre to win the award. The first was Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, in 1978.

Season Preview: Years of collecting super prospects should finally pay off for the Padres in 2020. They have some of the best young stars in the game, including Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Francisco Mejia, Trent Grisham, Cal Quantrill, and Chris Paddack. San Diego fans will be watching closely to see if their team can pull together during the short 60-game season.

2019 Season

Season Recap: Thanks to an endless string of injuries, the Padres were able to give their young players lots of time to prove themselves. Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Urias, Franmil Reyes and Francisco Mejia took big step forward, as did pitchers Eric Lauer, Chris Paddack, and Joey Lucchesi. Veterans Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer, Greg Garcia, Hunter Renfroe and Kirby Yates gave San Diego solid leadership.

Season Preview: The Padres made big news when they signed Manny Machado to be the centerpiece of a young and improving team. San Diego fans are hoping that Manuel Margot, Luis Urias, and Francisco Mejia are ready for primetime—and that two or three of their starting pitchers can take a big step forward in 2019.

February 21, 2019: San Diego fans had something to celebrate in the day before spring training when the team announced it had signed superstar Manny Machado to a 10-year contract. The $300 million free-agent deal was the largest in the history of American team sports.

2018 Season

Season Recap: The Padres played better than their 65–97 record. Several top prospects, entering their prime years, got valuable experience—including Luis Urias, Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe, Franmil Reyes, Eric Lauer and Francisco Mejia. Eric Hosmer did his job as a veteran leader and Christian Villanueva showed signs of becoming an elite slugger.

Season Preview: The Padres have been collecting young outfielders for several years, and it sure looks like they are all getting good at the same time. That gives the offense great depth in 2018 and maybe some players to trade in the near future. Eric Hosmer joined San Diego after a great career with the Royals, and the bullpen looks strong. The team’s weakness is its starting staff. The Padres have some live arms, but lack a future top-of-the-line starter.

2017 Season

Season Recap: San Diego let its young players play, and they did a nice job. Manuel Margot, Jose Pirela, Hunter Renfroe, Austin Hedges, Jose Torres, and Denilson Lamet all proved they were ready for the majors. The team lost 91 games, but with more talent coming up from the minors, the future looks bright.

July 11, 2017: Reliever Brad Hand was a member of the 2017 All-Star squad. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning and struck out Robinson Cano.

2016 Season

November 1, 2016: San Diego hoped its veterans would keep the team in the division race until help arrived from the minors. That did not happen, but fans did get a preview of the team’s 2017 batting order. Will Myers had an All-Star season, Travis Jankowski stole 30 bases, and top prospects Austin Hedges, Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot got a taste of big-league action.

October 5, 2016: San Diego got power from unexpected players, including Wil Myers, Ryan Schimpf, Alex Dickerson, and Adam Rosales. Outfielders Travis Jankowski, Manuel Margot, and Hunter Renfroe also looked good for the Padres. It was the pitching that fell short of expectations. No pitcher won more than 9 games, and injuries and trades ruined the staff.

2015 Season

October 14, 2015: San Diego’s investment in stars over the winter did not pay off during the summer. Outfielders Justin Upton, Wil Myers, and Matt Kemp combined to hit just 57 home runs, and pitcher James Shield won just 13 times. The Padres won just 74 games.

April 5, 2015: The Padres had a busy off-season. They added four of the game’s best players in Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, and James Shields. They join a solid supporting cast that may have just enough talent to catch the division-favorite Dodgers in the NL West.

2014 Season

November 1, 2014: Hitting has been a challenge for the Padres for a long time, and 2014 was no exception. No player hit more than 15 homers and only one drive in more than 50 runs. San Diego’s strength was its pitching, with starters Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy, and Odrisamer Despaigne throwing well. Ross was the team’s best overall player, with 13 wins, a 2.81 ERA and 195 strikeouts.

March 31, 2014: San Diego’s pitching can be very stingy. The problem is that the Padres’ hitting doesn’t give the hurlers much support. This year could be different. A young and talented infield is entering its prime, and Will Venable seems ready to have an All-Star season. If the key players can stay healthy, San Diego has a chance to win a Wild Card.

2013 Season

October 1, 2013: The big story in San Diego for 2013 was Jedd Gyorko, He led the club in home runs and became the first rookie second baseman in history to lead his team in RBIs. Another good story was Will Venable, who had a breakout year in his sixth season with the Padres. The Padres finished in a third-place tie with the Giants, and will look to their young pitchers for a boost in 2014.

March 30, 2013: The Padres are building an excellent all-around team. Can they pass the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West? That will depend on key players like Chase Headley, Everth Cabrera, Andrew Cashner, and Huston Street. The Padres won’t give up many runs, so all they need to do is find ways to score.

2012 Season

October 3, 2012: They say that the Padres ballpark is hard on hitters, but someone forgot to tell Chase Headley. In the last two months of the season, he was unstoppable. Headley led the NL with 115 RBIs and was named Player of the Month in August and September. Everth Cabrera, who did not join the team until the middle of May, ended up leading the league with 44 stolen bases.

June 30, 2012: Switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal became the first player ever to hit homers righty and lefty for his first two big-league hits.

April, 2012: The Padres pulled off a huge trade with the Cincinnati Reds over the winter when they traded their ace, Mat Latos. In return, they received Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez, and Yasmani Grandal. All three could have a big impact on the Padres in 2012. The team also added slugger Carlos Quentin and closer Huston Street.

More Go-To Guys

After his playing career ended, Cito Gaston became the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays and guided them to two World Series titles. (Topps, Inc.)

When the Yankees said goodbye to Goose Gossage and Graig Nettles, New York fans had a queasy feeling that the pair would end up playing in a World Series for someone else. They were right. (Time Inc./Sports Illustrated)

This card came in an update set issued after the 1988 season. Andy Benes was one of the stars of the U.S. Olympic team that summer. (Topps, Inc.)

  • Cito Gaston — Outfielder
    Born: 3/17/1944
    Played for Team: 1969 to 1974
    Cito Gaston played all three outfield positions for the Padres in their early years. He was an All-Star in 1970, when he belted 29 homers and led the club with a .318 average and 93 RBIs.

  • Gene Richards — Outfielder
    Born: 9/29/1953
    Played for Team: 1977 to 1983
    Gene Richards was the first chosen in the 1975 player draft. His blazing speed made him one of the league’s most exciting stars. Before Tony Gwynn joined the club, Richards had the highest lifetime batting average in team history.

  • Eric Show — Pitcher
    Born: 5/19/1956
    Died: 3/16/1994
    Played for Team: 1981 to 1990
    Eric Show was the Padres’ top pitcher in 1984, leading the team in wins and innings pitched. In all, Show won 100 games for San Diego—still the most in team history.

  • Terry Kennedy — Catcher
    Born: 6/4/1956
    Played for Team: 1981 to 1986
    Terry Kennedy was an All-Star three times for the Padres and helped them win their first pennant in 1984. In 1982, Kennedy had 42 doubles—one of the highest totals ever for a catcher.

  • Garry Templeton — Shortstop
    Born: 3/24/1956
    Played for Team: 1982 to 1991
    Garry Templeton was the Padres’ everyday shortstop for eight years in a row. He batted over .300 for San Diego in the 1984 playoffs and World Series, and was an All-Star in 1985.

  • Goose Gossage — Pitcher
    Born: 7/5/1951
    Played for Team: 1984 to 1987
    Goose Gossage was the closer for the pennant-winning team in 1984. He was an All-Star that season and again in 1985. Gossage saved 83 games in four years in San Diego.

  • Benito Santiago — Catcher
    Born: 3/9/1965
    Played for Team: 1986 to 1992
    Benito Santiago’s arm was so strong he could throw out baserunners from his knees. Santiago was named Rookie of the Year in 1987 and represented the Padres in the All-Star Game each year from 1989 to 1992.

  • Roberto Alomar — Second Baseman
    Born: 2/5/1968
    Played for Team: 1988 to 1990
    Roberto Alomar began his Hall of Fame career as a Padre. He was one of the NL’s top rookies in 1988 and played in the All-Star Game in 1990, his final year in San Diego. Alomar stole 90 bases in his three seasons with the Padres.

  • Andy Benes — Pitcher
    Born: 8/11/1989
    Played for Team: 1989 to 1995
    The Padres made Andy Benes the first overall pick in the 1988 draft. He was an All-Star in 1993 and led the NL in strikeouts in 1994.

  • Fernando Tatis Jr. — Shortstop
    Born: 1/2/1999
    First Season with Team: 2019
    From the moment he joined the Padres as a 20-year-old rookie, Fernando Tatis Jr. has been one of the most exciting players in baseball. His dynamite bat and spectacular defense make him a human highlight show.

More Fun Facts

This is actually a 3-D card that lets you feel all the details of the picture. I donated several boxes to a school for blind children in New York, and they were a big hit. (Topps, Inc.)

  • WE WANT DAVE
    When Dave Winfield graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1973, he was drafted by the Padres, the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, and two pro basketball teams—the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Stars. He is one of only three athletes to be drafted by four different pro teams.

  • FAN-TASTIC
    The day before the 1978 All-Star Game in San Diego, the Padres invited fans to watch the players practice. More than 30,000 fans showed up. It was the beginning of today’s three-day All-Star festivities.

  • SECOND-HALF WONDER
    In 1988, Tony Gwynn won the batting title with a .313 average. It was an amazing achievement considering that, in July, his average was below .250.

  • STORMIN’ NORMAN
    Fred Norman won only nine games for the Padres in 1972. However, six of those victories were shutouts.

  • NO WAY, CLAY
    The Padres’ first manager, Preston Gomez, once took pitcher Clay Kirby out of a game after eight no-hit innings. The Padres were behind, and Gomez wanted to use a pinch-hitter instead of the weak-hitting Kirby when it was his turn to bat.

  • ONE HEAD, TWO CROWNS
    In 1992 Fred McGriff hit 35 homers for the Padres to lead the National League. Three years earlier, he had led the American League with 36 for the Blue Jays. He was the first player to do this since Sam Crawford in 1908!

League Leaders

Gary Sheffield was amazing in his two years with the Padres, but most fans forget that San Diego traded him for someone even more amazing: Trevor Hoffman. (Author’s Collection)

Gaylord Perry listed his two Cy Young Awards under his autograph. He won in 1972 with the Cleveland Indians and 1978 with the Padres. (Author’s Collection)

  • Home Runs
    1992 — Fred McGriff — 35
    1998 — Greg Vaughn — 50
    2021 — Fernando Tatis, Jr. — 42

  • Batting Average
    1984 — Tony Gwynn — .351
    1987 — Tony Gwynn — .370
    1988 — Tony Gwynn — .313
    1989 — Tony Gwynn — .336
    1992 — Gary Sheffield — .330
    1994 — Tony Gwynn — .394
    1995 — Tony Gwynn — .368
    1996 — Tony Gwynn — .353
    1997 — Tony Gwynn — .372

  • Runs Batted In
    1979 — Dave Winfield — 118
    2012 — Chase Headley — 115

  • Stolen Bases
    2012 — Everth Cabrera — 44

  • Wins
    1976 — Randy Jones — 22
    1978 — Gaylord Perry — 21
    2007 — Jake Peavy — 19

  • Strikeouts
    1994 — Andy Benes — 189
    2005 — Jake Peavy — 216
    2007 — Jake Peavy — 240

  • Earned Run Average
    1975 — Randy Jones — 2.24
    2004 — Jake Peavy — 2.27
    2007 — Jake Peavy — 2.54
    2023—Blake Snell—2.25

Padres in the World Series

YEAR OPPONENT RESULT
1984 Detroit Tigers Lost 4–1
1998 New York Yankees Lost 4–0

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