History of San Diego Padres in Timeline
The San Diego Padres, a Major League Baseball team in the National League West, are based in San Diego and play at Petco Park. Established in 1969, the team's name honors the Franciscan friars who founded Mission San Diego. Initially owned by businessman C. Arnholt Smith, the Padres are now owned by Peter Seidler's estate. Seidler acquired the team in 2012 and remained the owner until his passing in 2023.
1936: Pacific Coast League Team Arrives
The Pacific Coast League team arrived in San Diego in 1936, which would later inspire the name of the San Diego Padres.
1937: PCL Padres Win Championship
The minor league franchise, the PCL Padres, won the PCL title in 1937, led by 18-year-old Ted Williams.
1962: Swinging Friar Mascot Debuts
The Swinging Friar mascot, designed by Carlos Hadaway, made its first appearance on team programs for the Padres' 1962 home opener when the team was part of the Pacific Coast League.
1969: Padres Introduce First Logo
In 1969, the Padres unveiled their first logo featuring a friar swinging a bat within a sun-like figure, with "Padres" inscribed above and "San Diego Padres" on the exterior.
1969: John Demott Becomes Padres' First Public Address Announcer
John Demott had the distinction of being the first public address announcer for the San Diego Padres when the team was established in 1969.
1969: Padres' Inaugural Season
The San Diego Padres were established in 1969.
1969: San Diego Padres Founded
The San Diego Padres were founded in 1969 as an expansion franchise.
1969: Padres' Franchise Record Begins
The San Diego Padres' overall record from 1969 to 2024 is 4,127–4,717–2 (.467).
1969: Swinging Friar Mascot Joins Major League Baseball
The Swinging Friar mascot was retained when the Padres joined Major League Baseball in 1969.
1971: Padres' Uniform Change
The Padres changed their primary road uniform in 1971, opting for a tan uniform with the city name.
1972: Padres Introduce All-Gold Uniforms
The Padres made a significant change to their uniforms in 1972, switching to all-gold uniforms and pants for both home and away games.
1974: Ray Kroc Acquires the Padres
Ray Kroc became the owner of the San Diego Padres in 1974.
1974: Padres Revert to Traditional Uniforms
The Padres returned to wearing traditional uniforms in 1974, introducing a new home design with script "Padres" lettering.
1975: Randy Jones's All-Star Selection
Randy Jones was selected as an All-Star in 1975.
1976: Randy Jones Wins Cy Young Award
Randy Jones brought home the first Cy Young Award for the San Diego Padres in 1976.
1976: Padres Switch to Pullovers for Home Uniforms
In 1976, the Padres made further changes to their uniforms, adopting pullovers for their home uniform and a brown uniform top with gold sleeves and letters for road games.
1976: Randy Jones's All-Star and Cy Young Award Win
In 1976, Randy Jones earned his second All-Star selection and won the Padres' first Cy Young Award.
1978: Padres Introduce New Uniform Set with Swinging Friar Logo
The Padres debuted a new uniform set in 1978, featuring brown sleeves and gold letters on the home uniform and a gold alternate with brown sleeves and letters. The design included the full team name in a futuristic font and the swinging friar logo on the left sleeve.
1979: The Kid from Left Field Features the Padres
The San Diego Padres were featured in the 1979 NBC made-for-TV film "The Kid from Left Field," starring Gary Coleman.
1980: Padres Add Orange to Color Palette
The Padres incorporated orange into their color scheme in 1980, removing contrasting sleeves and chest numbers from their uniforms.
1984: Graig Nettles Joins the Padres
Graig Nettles joined the San Diego Padres in 1984.
1984: Steve Garvey's Walk-Off Home Run
In 1984, Steve Garvey hit a memorable walk-off home run in the NLCS.
1984: Padres Honor Ray Kroc on Uniform Sleeves
In 1984, the Padres added "RAK" to their left sleeve in tribute to Ray Kroc, the team's owner since 1974.
1984: Ray Kroc Honored at Qualcomm Stadium
Ray Kroc, the owner of the Padres since 1974, was honored in 1984 with his initials displayed on the press box.
1984: Steve Garvey's Memorable Home Run
Steve Garvey hit a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the 1984 National League Championship Series, securing his legacy with the Padres.
1984: Padres Win First NL Pennant
The San Diego Padres clinched their first National League pennant in 1984 but lost to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
1985: Padres Introduce Script-Like Logo
The Padres started using a script-like logo in 1985, featuring "Padres" written in an upward slope.
1986: Padres Return to Traditional Uniforms
In 1986, the San Diego Padres brought back their classic buttoned uniforms, designed by Sidjakov Berman & Gomez.
1987: Graig Nettles's Tenure with the Padres Ends
Graig Nettles's time with the San Diego Padres concluded in 1987.
1988: Steve Garvey's Number Retired
In 1988, the San Diego Padres retired Steve Garvey's number, sparking debate as he only played five seasons with the team.
1989: Padres' New Logo with Gray Ring
In 1989, the Padres updated their logo to include a gray ring around the scripted "Padres," reading "San Diego Baseball Club" with a striped center.
1990: End of Brown and Orange Color Scheme
The Padres' use of brown and orange as their primary colors ended in 1990.
1991: Padres Update Logo and Colors
The Padres updated their logo and team colors in 1991. The logo's ring became silver, the script turned blue, and the team adopted orange and navy blue as their new colors.
1995: Ken Caminiti Wins MVP Award
In 1995, Ken Caminiti became the first San Diego Padres player to win the MVP Award.
1995: Marine Recruits Begin Attending Padres Games
Starting in 1995, Marine recruits from the nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot began attending San Diego Padres games en masse during Military Appreciation Day, creating a unique and inspiring spectacle.
1996: Padres Pioneer Military Appreciation Event
In a groundbreaking move, the San Diego Padres became the first national sports team to hold an annual event specifically honoring the military in 1996.
1996: Padres Introduce New Uniforms with City Name
The San Diego Padres introduced new uniforms in 1996, featuring navy blue pinstripes at home and the city name in navy blue block letters on the road uniforms.
April 15, 1997: Jackie Robinson's No. 42 Retired by MLB
On April 15, 1997, MLB retired Jackie Robinson's No. 42 across all teams to honor the 50th anniversary of him breaking the baseball color line.
September 5, 1997: Andy Ashby's Near No-Hitter
On September 5, 1997, Andy Ashby came close to a no-hitter for the San Diego Padres, taking it into the ninth inning.
1997: Padres Debut Navy Blue Alternate Uniform
In 1997, the Padres unveiled a navy blue alternate uniform, featuring the team name in front with orange drop shadows and white piping.
1997: Qualcomm Stadium Expansion
Qualcomm Stadium underwent an expansion in 1997, leading to the temporary removal of Steve Garvey's number commemoration.
1998: Padres Remove Swinging Friar Logo from Alternate Uniform
The Padres removed the swinging friar logo from the left sleeve of their navy blue alternate uniform after the 1998 season.
1998: Padres Win Second NL Pennant
The San Diego Padres won their second National League pennant in 1998 but were swept by the New York Yankees in the World Series.
1999: Establishment of the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame
The San Diego Padres Hall of Fame was established in 1999.
1999: Bruce Binkowski's Tenure as Padres' PA Announcer Ends
Bruce Binkowski concluded his tenure as the longest-serving public address announcer in the San Diego Padres' history in 1999.
1999: Padres Add White Chest Numbers to Alternate Uniform
In 1999, the Padres added white chest numbers to their navy blue alternate uniform.
2000: Padres Introduce Camouflage Jerseys
Demonstrating their commitment to honoring the military, the Padres began wearing camouflage jerseys in 2000 as a tribute to the armed forces.
2000: Padres Remove Primary Logo from Alternate Uniform
The Padres removed their primary logo from the left sleeve of their navy blue alternate uniform after the 2000 season.
2001: Jerry Coleman Honored with "Star on the Wall"
Broadcaster Jerry Coleman was honored in 2001 with a "star on the wall" at Qualcomm Stadium, referencing his famous phrase.
2001: Dave Winfield's Hall of Fame Induction and Number Retirement
Dave Winfield was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and had his No. 31 retired by the Padres in 2001. He chose to be depicted wearing a Padres cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.
2001: Padres Introduce White Alternate Uniform and Retire Pinstriped Uniforms
The Padres introduced a white alternate home uniform in 2001 and retired their pinstriped uniforms after the season.
2001: Padres Bring Back Pinstripes
The Padres reintroduced pinstripes to their home jerseys in 2020 for the first time since 2001.
2002: Retired Numbers Moved to Outfield Fence
In 2002, the Padres relocated all retired numbers to the outfield fence at Qualcomm Stadium.
2003: Padres Change Logo and Colors
The San Diego Padres changed their logo and colors in 2003.
2004: Tony Gwynn's Number Retirement
The Padres retired No. 19 in 2004 to honor Tony Gwynn, widely regarded as the greatest Padres player, who had a 20-year career with the team and won a record eight NL batting titles.
2004: Padres Reintroduce Sand Color
The Padres reintroduced the sand color for their road jerseys in 2020, a noticeably darker shade than the one used from 2004 to 2010.
2004: Padres Reintroduce Wordmark Style
The Padres reintroduced the "San Diego" wordmark style on their road uniforms in 2017, a design previously used from 2004 to 2011.
2004: Padres Move into Petco Park
The Padres moved into their current stadium, Petco Park, in 2004.
2004: Padres Introduce New Stadium and Logo
The Padres opened a new stadium in 2004 and unveiled a new logo resembling home plate, featuring "San Diego" in a sand font and the team's script across the center. Navy blue and sandy beige became the team's new colors.
2004: Petco Park Opens
Petco Park, the current home of the San Diego Padres, opened in 2004.
2004: Frank Anthony Becomes PA Announcer at Petco Park
Frank Anthony served as the public address announcer at Petco Park from its opening in 2004.
April 2005: Padres Host Over 60,000 Marine Recruits
By April 2005, the San Diego Padres had hosted over 60,000 Marine recruits from the nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot at their games, demonstrating their ongoing support for the military.
2005: Start of a New Era
From 2005 to 2022, the San Diego Padres reached the postseason four times.
2006: Padres Games Begin Airing on XHPRS-FM
From 2006, Padres games were also broadcasted on XHPRS-FM 105.7.
September 2007: KBOP-CA Discontinues Spanish-Language Padres Broadcasts
In September 2007, KBOP-CA channel 43 ceased broadcasting San Diego Padres games in Spanish, leaving XHAS-TDT as the only over-the-air station carrying Padres baseball.
2008: Padres Expand Camouflage Jersey Tradition
The Padres expanded their tradition of wearing camouflage jerseys in 2008, making it a regular occurrence for every Sunday home game. This decision further solidified their commitment to honoring the military.
2009: Padres Simplify Logo
The Padres removed "San Diego" from their logo in 2009, simplifying the design.
2010: Padres Games Cease Airing on XHPRS-FM
Padres games were aired on XHPRS-FM 105.7 until 2010.
2010: Padres Bring Back Sand-Colored Road Jersey
The Padres reintroduced a sand-colored road jersey in 2020 for the first time since 2010.
2010: Trevor Hoffman Retires as MLB's Saves Leader
Trevor Hoffman retired from baseball in 2010, holding MLB's record for career saves with 601.
2011: Trevor Hoffman's Number Retirement
Trevor Hoffman's No. 51 was retired by the Padres in 2011, following his retirement from baseball in 2010 as MLB's all-time saves leader.
2011: Padres Reintroduce Wordmark Style
The Padres reintroduced the "San Diego" wordmark style on their road uniforms in 2017, a design previously used from 2004 to 2011.
2011: Padres Update Road Uniform and Retire Alternate Cap
The Padres changed their road uniform to a gray base in 2011 and retired their alternate navy cap after the season.
2011: Padres Update Camouflage Jersey Design
The Padres updated their camouflage jersey design to a more modern "digital" pattern in 2011, reflecting evolving military aesthetics.
2012: Fox Sports San Diego Acquires Padres' Broadcasting Rights
Fox Sports San Diego, later rebranded as Bally Sports San Diego, secured the broadcasting rights for the San Diego Padres in 2012, replacing Cox Cable's 4SD.
2012: Peter Seidler Becomes Owner
Peter Seidler became the owner of the San Diego Padres in 2012.
2012: Padres Introduce New Primary Logo and Uniform Updates
The Padres unveiled a new primary logo in 2012, featuring the cap logo within a navy blue circle and the words "San Diego Padres Baseball Club." They also added the "swinging friar" logo to the home uniform and introduced a secondary logo with the Padres script, a depiction of Petco Park, and "EST. 1969."
2013: Frank Anthony's Time as PA Announcer Concludes
Frank Anthony's time as the Padres' public address announcer ended in 2013.
April 19, 2014: Alex Miniak Becomes Padres' Public Address Announcer
On April 19, 2014, Alex Miniak was appointed as the new public address announcer for the San Diego Padres.
September 5, 2015: Ferrell Takes the Field Premieres at Petco Park
The HBO comedy/documentary "Ferrell Takes the Field," starring Will Ferrell and featuring the San Diego Padres, premiered at Petco Park on September 5, 2015.
2016: Padres Add Second Camouflage Jersey
In preparation for hosting the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the Padres added a second camouflage jersey to their uniform rotation, showcasing their commitment to honoring the military on this special occasion.
2016: Padres Adopt Navy Blue and Gold Color Scheme
The Padres adopted a navy blue and gold color scheme for the 2016 season, inspired by the All-Star Game logo. They introduced a brown and gold alternate uniform for Friday home games, paired with an updated gold-paneled brown cap.
2016: Padres Relocate Retired Numbers
The San Diego Padres relocated the display of their retired numbers in 2016. Originally placed atop the batter's eye in center field, the numbers were moved to Petco Park's entrance at Home Plate Plaza and the Ring of Honor on the upper deck façade.
2016: Pitch Features the Padres
The San Diego Padres were featured in the 2016 Fox television series "Pitch," starring Kylie Bunbury.
2016: Garvey's Home Run Ranked
The San Diego Union-Tribune ranked Steve Garvey's 1984 Game 4 home run as the No. 1 moment in San Diego sports history in 2016.
2017: Chargers Relocate to Los Angeles
The San Diego Chargers relocated to Los Angeles in 2017, leaving the Padres as the only major sports franchise in San Diego. This intensified the Padres' rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers and fueled animosity among San Diego fans towards Los Angeles sports.
2017: Entercom Acquires Padres' Radio Rights
Entercom acquired the radio broadcasting rights for the San Diego Padres in 2017.
2017: Padres Revert to Navy Blue and White, Update Jerseys
In 2017, the Padres returned to navy blue and white and introduced new jersey designs. The word "Padres" returned to the home uniform with a new script, while the road uniform featured the "San Diego" wordmark. The brown and gold alternate uniform from the previous year was retained.
January 2019: Padres Announce Return to Brown and Gold
The Padres announced in January 2019 that they would return to their original brown and gold colors for the 2020 season.
2019: Padres Continue Alternating Camouflage Jerseys
The Padres continued their practice of alternating between their navy and Marines-style camouflage jerseys through 2019, maintaining their commitment to honoring the military.
August 20, 2020: Padres Earn "Slam Diego Padres" Nickname
On August 20, 2020, the San Diego Padres made history by becoming the first MLB team to hit a grand slam in four consecutive games, earning them the nickname "Slam Diego Padres".
2020: Padres-Dodgers Rivalry Intensifies
The Padres and Dodgers experienced a surge in competition during the 2020s, further intensifying their rivalry. This was partly due to the close proximity of the two cities and the Padres' growth as a competitive team.
2020: Padres Introduce New Camouflage Jersey Colors
The Padres introduced new colors for their camouflage jerseys in 2020, opting for green and sand-olive options, both featuring the current Padres logo. This decision showcased their ongoing dedication to honoring the military.
2020: Padres Unveil Brown and Gold Uniforms
The Padres unveiled their new brown and gold uniforms on November 9, 2019, marking the return of pinstripes to the home jersey and a sand-colored road jersey.
April 9, 2021: Joe Musgrove Throws No-Hitter
Joe Musgrove achieved a historic no-hitter for the San Diego Padres on April 9, 2021, against the Texas Rangers, ending the longest no-hit drought for a team in MLB history.
2021: KWFN Becomes the Padres' Radio Broadcast Partner
Starting in the 2021 season, KWFN 97.3 The Fan became the radio broadcast partner for the San Diego Padres.
2022: End of Playoff Run
The Padres' four-year playoff run ended in 2022.
2022: Padres' Brown and Gold Uniforms Boost Merchandise Sales
The Padres' return to brown and gold uniforms led to increased merchandise sales, with the team ranking among the top 10 in MLB team merchandise sales at Lids during the 2022 season.
2022: Padres Introduce "City Connect" Uniforms
The Padres joined other MLB teams in wearing Nike's "City Connect" uniforms in 2022. The white uniform featured pink, mint green, and yellow accents, with "San Diego" in a graffiti style, paying homage to the San Diego–Tijuana bi-national metropolitan area.
2022: Padres Win NLDS Against Dodgers
In 2022, the San Diego Padres achieved a significant victory by winning the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This win marked a turning point in the rivalry, demonstrating the Padres' growing competitiveness.
May 2023: Padres' Broadcasting Rights Revert to the Team
In May 2023, the San Diego Padres' broadcasting rights reverted back to the team after Bally Sports San Diego, the previous rights holder, missed a payment. Subsequently, MLB took over the production of the team's regional broadcasts.
May 31, 2023: Padres' Regional Telecasts Transition to MLB's Local Media Department
As of May 31, 2023, the San Diego Padres' regional telecasts are produced by MLB's local media department and distributed through various platforms.
November 14, 2023: Peter Seidler's Passing
Peter Seidler, owner of the San Diego Padres since 2012, died on November 14, 2023, at 63.
November 2023: Peter Seidler Passes Away
Padres owner Peter Seidler passed away in November 2023.
2023: Padres Receive Special Permission to Continue Wearing Military Uniforms
Despite the implementation of the "4+1" uniform rule by MLB and Nike in 2023, the Padres received special permission to continue wearing their military uniforms. This exception highlighted the team's unique and long-standing commitment to honoring the armed forces.
2023: Peter Seidler Passes Away
Peter Seidler, the owner of the Padres since 2012, passed away in 2023.
March 23, 2024: Public Memorial for Peter Seidler
The Padres held a public memorial and celebration of life for team owner Peter Seidler on March 23, 2024, following his death in November 2023.
October 12, 2024: Padres Roster Update
The San Diego Padres updated their roster on October 12, 2024.
2024: Padres' Winning Seasons
As of 2024, the San Diego Padres had 18 winning seasons in franchise history.
2024: Dylan Cease Throws No-Hitter
In 2024, Dylan Cease, in his first year with the San Diego Padres, threw a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals on July 25th.
2024: Manny Machado Breaks Home Run Record
Manny Machado surpassed Nate Colbert's long-standing home run record for the San Diego Padres in 2024.
2024: Padres' Franchise Record Through 2024
The San Diego Padres' overall record from 1969 to 2024 is 4,127–4,717–2 (.467).