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For the minor league franchise in the Pacific Coast League, see: San Diego Padres (PCL) .
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They are in the Western Division of the National League.
- Founded: 1969 ( National League expansion)
- Home ballpark: PETCO Park ( 2004)
- Former home ballpark: Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium) ( 1969- 2003)
- Uniform colors: Navy blue, "sand" (khaki), and white
- Logo design: Gold "SAN DIEGO" in small capitals and large, stylized white "Padres" superimposed over an outline of home plate; blue background with wave design in bottom half of home plate.
- Wild Card titles won (0): none
- Division titles won (3): 1984, 1996, 1998
- National League pennants won (2): 1984, 1998
- World Series championships won (0): none
1 Franchise history
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 1937Events January January 1 Anastasio Somoza becomes President of Nicaragua January 11 The first issue of Look magazine goes on sale in the United States. January 19 Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours,, led by then-18-year-old San Diegan Ted WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams ( August 30, 1918 July 5, 2002), also called The Splendid Splinter Teddy Ballgame or The Kid was a Baseball Hall of Famer who spent 19 seasons, twice interrupted by military service, with the Boston Red Sox. Williams was a t.
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. KrocRay Arthur Kroc ( 5 October 1902- 14 January 1984) was founder of the McDonald's Corporation. Dubbed the Hamburger King Kroc was named on the TIME 100 list of the most influential builders and titans of industry in the world. McDonald's Kroc did not set o (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 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 will mark its 36th year in a new playing field, PETCO Park, in 2004.
2 Players of note
