San Diego Padres facts for kids

Quick facts for kids San Diego Padres
2026 San Diego Padres season
Established in 1969
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
National League (1969–present) West Division (1969–present)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	6 19 31 35 51 42
Colors
Brown, gold, white
Name
San Diego Padres (1969–present)
Other nicknames
The Pads The Friars Slam Diego Padres Slam Diego
Ballpark
Petco Park (2004–present) San Diego Stadium (1969–2003)
Major league titles
World Series titles (0)	None
NL Pennants (2)	1984 1998
West Division titles (5)	1984 1996 1998 2005 2006
Wild card berths (4)	2020 2022 2024 2025
Front office
Principal owner(s)	John Seidler
President of baseball operations	A. J. Preller
General manager	A. J. Preller
Manager	Craig Stammen
Mascot(s)	Swinging Friar

The San Diego Padres are a professional baseball team from San Diego, California. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) West Division. Their home games are played at Petco Park in downtown San Diego. The team started in 1969. They got their name from an older San Diego baseball team. "Padres" is Spanish for "fathers." This name honors the friars who founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá in 1769.

Over the years, the Padres have had many great players. Randy Jones won the team's first Cy Young Award in 1976. Tony Gwynn became a huge star in the 1980s, winning eight batting titles. The team won its first NL pennant in 1984 but lost the 1984 World Series. Later, Ken Caminiti won the MVP Award in 1996. The Padres won another NL pennant in 1998 but were swept in the 1998 World Series.

The Padres have won two NL pennants (in 1984 and 1998). They are one of the oldest teams that has not yet won a World Series. As of the 2025 season, the team has had 19 winning seasons. They have reached the postseason six times since 2005. The Padres' overall record from 1969 through 2025 is 4,217 wins, 4,789 losses, and 2 ties.

San Diego Padres Baseball Team

Team History and Milestones

Early Years and Growth

The Padres team name comes from an older Pacific Coast League (PCL) team. That team arrived in San Diego in 1936. In 1937, this minor league team won a championship. A young Ted Williams, who later became a Hall of Famer, led them.

In 1969, the Padres joined Major League Baseball (MLB). They were one of four new teams that year. In their first few seasons, the team had a tough time. They often finished in last place. However, Nate Colbert was a star player during these early years. He was the team's home run leader for a long time.

The team's performance slowly got better. They won five National League West titles. They reached the World Series twice, in 1984 and 1998. They moved into their current stadium, Petco Park, in 2004.

Memorable Moments

On August 20, 2020, the Padres made history. They hit a grand slam in four games in a row. This amazing feat earned them the nickname "Slam Diego Padres."

For a long time, the Padres were the only MLB team without a no-hitter. This changed on April 9, 2021. Joe Musgrove threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers. This ended the team's long wait. In 2024, Dylan Cease also threw a no-hitter for the Padres.

Peter Seidler, who owned the Padres since 2012, passed away in November 2023. In February 2025, John Seidler was approved as the team's new control person. In April 2026, a sale was finalized for the Padres to José E. Feliciano. On May 2, 2026, the Padres announced a sale to Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. This sale is awaiting final approval from MLB owners.

Postseason Adventures

The Padres have had many exciting postseason runs. They have reached the World Series twice. In 1984, they played against the Detroit Tigers. In 1998, they faced the New York Yankees. While they did not win the World Series, reaching it was a great achievement. The team has also made it to the National League Division Series and National League Championship Series multiple times.

1. ^↑ The wild-card round was first played in 2012 and expanded for the 2020 season. 
2. ^↑ The National League Division Series was first played in 1981 and added permanently in 1995. 

Honoring Great Players

The Padres celebrate their best players in several ways.

Baseball Hall of Famers

Many players and managers who were part of the Padres have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. These include legends like Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman, who are especially remembered for their time with the Padres.

Retired Jersey Numbers

Numbers retired by the Padres displayed in the Ring of Honor above the press box at Petco Park during the 2016 season

The Padres have retired six jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear these numbers. These numbers are displayed at Petco Park.

• Steve Garvey (No. 6): He was the first Padre to have his number retired in 1988. He hit a famous game-winning home run in the 1984 playoffs.
• Tony Gwynn (No. 19): His number was retired in 2004. Gwynn played his entire 20-year career with the Padres. He is considered the greatest Padres player ever.
• Dave Winfield (No. 31): His number was retired in 2001. Winfield played his first eight seasons in San Diego.
• Randy Jones (No. 35): His number was retired in 1997. He was a two-time All-Star and the team's first Cy Young Award winner.
• Trevor Hoffman (No. 51): His number was retired in 2011. He was MLB's career leader in saves when he retired.
• Jackie Robinson (No. 42): This number was retired throughout all of Major League Baseball in 1997. It honors Robinson for breaking the color barrier in baseball.

The Padres also honor broadcaster Jerry Coleman with a "star on the wall." The initials of former owner Ray Kroc are also displayed. In 2024, the initials "PS" inside a gold heart were added for former owner Peter Seidler.

Padres Hall of Fame

Opening of Padres Hall of Fame at Petco Park on July 1, 2016

The San Diego Padres have their own Hall of Fame. It was started in 1999. Many important figures from the team's history have been inducted.

Nate Colbert

Ray Kroc

Trevor Hoffman

San Diego Padres Hall of Fame

San Diego Hall of Champions

Some Padres players are also in the San Diego Hall of Champions. This hall honors athletes who are from San Diego or played for San Diego teams.

Team Look: Logos and Colors

The San Diego Padres have changed their logos and uniforms many times.

The Original Brown and Gold

Their first logo in 1969 showed a friar swinging a bat. This "Swinging Friar" is still the team's mascot today. Brown and gold were the Padres' first colors. Their early uniforms had brown letters with gold trim. Caps were all-brown with a gold "SD" logo.

Randy Jones in 1978

In the 1970s, the team tried all-gold uniforms. Later, they returned to more traditional designs. In 1980, orange was added to the team's colors. The caps also got orange trim.

Cap logo from 1969 to 1984. The cap was originally brown for the first four Padre seasons before it was switched to yellow with brown panels. Orange was added in 1980.

Changes Through the Years

In 1985, the Padres changed to a script-like logo. The colors became brown and orange. These uniforms had brown pinstripes.

LaMarr Hoyt in 1985

In 1991, the team changed colors again to orange and navy blue. The uniforms featured navy blue pinstripes. The road uniforms had "San Diego" in block letters. A navy cap with a white "S" and orange "D" was used.

The Tony Gwynn exhibit in 2007, featuring the 1994 home and 2001 alternate Padres uniform.

When the team moved to Petco Park in 2004, the logo changed completely. It looked like home plate with "San Diego" and "Padres" written on it. Navy blue and a sandy beige became the new colors.

Jake Peavy in 2006

From 2016 to 2019, the Padres used navy blue and white. They also brought back a brown and gold alternate uniform for some games.

Modern Brown and Gold Return

Fernando Tatís Jr. wearing the brown and gold home uniform that was introduced prior to the 2020 season

In 2020, the Padres brought back their original brown and gold colors. The new uniforms feature pinstripes on the home jersey. The road jersey is sand-colored, also with pinstripes. An all-brown cap with a gold "SD" was released. The Padres are now the only MLB team without grey in their road uniforms. This return to brown and gold has made team merchandise very popular.

Special City Connect Uniforms

In 2022, the Padres wore special "City Connect" uniforms. These white uniforms had pink, mint green, and yellow colors. They featured "San Diego" in a graffiti style. These uniforms honored the connection between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.

On April 9, 2026, the Padres unveiled their second City Connect uniform. It kept the "San Diego" wordmark but used obsidian (dark gray) with bone-colored letters. It also had marigold and fireberry (reddish-pink) accents. This uniform included a special patch inspired by Dia de los Muertos.

The Swinging Friar Mascot

The "Swinging Friar".

The Padres' official mascot is the "Swinging Friar." He is a friendly character dressed like a friar. He swings a baseball bat and rings a mission bell after home wins. The mascot is named after the Spanish Franciscan friars. They founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá in 1769.

The Swinging Friar first appeared in the 1950s. He was a real person in a friar outfit. Since the 1990s, he has been a full mascot costume. Sometimes, people mistake the San Diego Chicken for the Padres' mascot. However, the Famous Chicken is an independent character.

Exciting Rivalries

Battle for Southern California: Dodgers

The Padres have a strong rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This rivalry has grown more intense in recent years. Both cities are close, making games exciting. San Diego fans often feel a rivalry with Los Angeles sports teams. This is because the Padres are now the only major professional sports team in San Diego. The Dodgers currently lead the series in wins. The teams have met three times in the postseason.

The Friendly Vedder Cup: Mariners

The Padres also have a unique rivalry with the American League's Seattle Mariners. This matchup is called the Vedder Cup. It's named after Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder. He considers both San Diego and Seattle his hometowns. The teams play each other every year. Starting in 2025, the winner of the series receives a trophy designed by Vedder.

Supporting Our Military

The Padres are known for their strong support of the military. In 1996, they started an annual military appreciation event. Since 2000, the Padres have worn special camouflage jerseys. They wear these jerseys for every Sunday home game. They also wear them on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.

The San Diego area has many military bases. Marine Recruits from the nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego often attend games. During the fourth inning stretch, the Marines' Hymn is played. This is part of a large program to honor military members.

Catching the Games: Radio and TV

You can watch Padres games on PADRES.TV. This service is available through various TV providers. Don Orsillo is the play-by-play announcer. Mark Grant is the color analyst.

You can also listen to games on the radio. English broadcasts are on KWFN 97.3 The Fan. Jesse Agler is the primary announcer. Spanish broadcasts are on XEXX-AM, Radio Ranchito 1420 AM.

Team Roster and Future Stars

Current Team Roster

Minor League Teams

The Padres have a "farm system" of seven minor league teams. These teams help young players develop their skills. They play in different leagues across the country.

See also

In Spanish: San Diego Padres para niños