Major League Baseball’s expansion in 1969 added four new teams to the league, including the San Diego Padres. The Padres, alongside the Montreal Expos, joined the National League, while the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots joined the American League. The Padres have occasionally made news headlines as being one of just a few MLB franchises yet to win the World Series, and have spent their entire existence in two parks.
Ballpark / Stadium – PETCO Park
After spending 1969 through the 2003 season at Qualcomm Stadium, which also went by the names Jack Murphy Stadium and San Diego Stadium, the Padres moved to PETCO Park. The park has a capacity of 42,524 and offers an impressive view of the city’s skyline. Other notable features include the grass berm beyond the outfield fence, numerous tributes to the armed forces and the brick facade of the Western Metal Supply Co. building.
Elusive World Series
Despite not being crowned as World Series champions, the Padres have earned a spot in the league final on two occasions — 1984 and 1998. The club also has five division titles to its name from the 1984, 1996, 1998, 2005 and 2006 seasons. The Padres are the last remaining team in the major leagues without a no-hitter to their credit, and are one of only two teams that hasn’t had a player hit for the cycle.
San Diego Padres Roster
Many of baseball’s all-time greats have held a spot on the Padres roster at one point. The club has two Baseball Hall of Fame members, Tony Gwynn and Dave Winfield, but several other hall of famers, including Roberto Alomar, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Goose Gossage, Willie McCovey, Greg Maddux, Gaylord Perry, Ozzie Smith and Dick Williams, spent time in San Diego. Notable Padres stars include Steve Garvey, Randy Jones and Trevor Hoffman.
Spring Training
The Padres Spring Training facility is the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, AZ. The club has Padres have played their Cactus League schedule at the park since 1994, sharing the facility with the Seattle Mariners. The ballpark, which can hold 12,882 fans, is one of five fields used by the Arizona Fall League. The Padres Minor League Baseball affiliates are the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, Double-A San Antonio Missions, Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm, Class-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, Short-Season A Eugene Emeralds and rookie league Arizona League Padres and Dominican Summer League Padres.
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