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'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.

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 Wins Cy Young Award

Randy Jones brought home the first Cy Young Award for the San Diego Padres in 1976.

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: 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: 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.

1999: Establishment of the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame

The San Diego Padres Hall of Fame was established in 1999.

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: Frank Anthony Becomes PA Announcer at Petco Park

Frank Anthony served as the public address announcer at Petco Park from its opening in 2004.

2004: Petco Park Opens

Petco Park, the current home of the San Diego Padres, opened in 2004.

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: 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: 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.

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: 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 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 Camouflage Jersey Design

The Padres updated their camouflage jersey design to a more modern "digital" pattern in 2011, reflecting evolving military aesthetics.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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.