Top Padres Games to Rewatch
Most baseball fans will agree that the San Diego Padres don’t exactly have the most prestigious history or best track record of success. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t Padres games that fans want to rewatch and re-live, especially if they want to get excited to buy Padres tickets and see a game in person. After all, rewatching a classic game can be a great way to prepare for your next trip to the ballpark. With that in mind – and to prove that the Padres have had plenty of memorable moments over the years – here are some of the best games in Padres history that fans will want to rewatch.
Padres Win the 1984 Pennant
What could be better than rewatching the game that sent the Padres to the World Series for the first time in franchise history? Keep in mind that the Padres were destroyed in the first two games of the 1984 NLCS, losing both games at Wrigley Field to the Cubs by a combined score of 17-2. But San Diego fought back to win the next two games at home, only to fall behind 3-0 after two innings in the decisive Game 5. San Diego would also fail to do much for the first five innings. However, the Padres finally rallied, scoring two runs in the 6th and four more in the 7th. Goose Gossage then closed the door, getting the save and finishing a great performance by the San Diego bullpen in a 6-3 win.
Padres Win the 1998 Pennant
After losing the 1984 World Series, the Padres didn’t get back to the Fall Classic until 1998. It wasn’t easy, as San Diego had to get past the Astros in the NLDS and then take on the Braves in the midst of their dominance over the National League. After taking a 3-0 series lead, the Padres lost back-to-back home games, sending the series back to Atlanta, with the Braves owning all of the momentum. The game was uneventful for the first five innings until the Padres sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the 6th, finally getting the best of Tom Glavine. Up to that point, Sterling Hitchcock had pitched five scoreless innings. But the San Diego bullpen took it from there after the Padres got the lead, securing a 5-0 to take the series 4-2 and return to the World Series.
Tony Gwynn’s 3,000th Hit
Gwynn is easily the greatest player in franchise history, so his 3,000th career hit was a monumental occasion. The downside is that it happened while the Padres were in Montreal, playing in front of just 13,000 fans nearly 3,000 miles from home. Gwynn got his 3,000th hit in the first inning of the game, helping spark a five-run rally for the Padres. He would finish the game with four hits as part of a 12-10 San Diego win. Not only was it a big game for Gwynn, but it was also an entertaining win for the Padres on August 6, 1999.
Trevor Hoffman Breaks All-Time Saves Record
Among pitchers, nobody is held in higher esteem in franchise history than Hoffman. Late in the 2006 season, he broke Lee Smith’s all-time record for most saves. Hoffman set the record on September 24 in a 2-1 win over the Pirates. Freddy Sanchez, who won the National League batting title that year, made the final out of the game against Hoffman. Not only was it a historic save for Hoffman, but it was also a big win for the Padres, who ended up tying the Dodgers for the NL West title that year, beating out Los Angeles based on winning the season series against the Dodgers. In other words, every game Hoffman saved that season mattered.
First Game at Petco Park
It’s always a memorable occasion whenever a team opens a new ballpark, which the Padres did on April 8, 2004. Fans were so excited to be among the first in Petco Park that there was some light pushing when the gates opened. While the Padres finished six games out in the NL West that year, San Diego had a good team, and expectations were high, adding to the excitement in the team’s home opener. The game didn’t disappoint, as the Padres beat the Giants 4-3 in 10 innings, with San Diego scoring one run in the 9th to force extra innings and two in the 10th to get the win.
Joe Musgrove No-Hitter
For over half a century, the Padres were without a no-hitter. But on April 9, 2021, the Padres became the final team in the majors to record its first no-hitter. Fittingly, it was San Diego native Joe Musgrove who was traded to the Padres the previous winter, who did the honors. Unfortunately, the game was on the road, depriving Padres fans of the enjoyment of seeing it happen in person. Nevertheless, Musgrove made history against the Texas Rangers, striking out ten and retiring every batter he faced except one, hitting Joey Gallo in the fourth inning. He was just one batter short of a perfect game but still managed to deliver the first no-hitter in Padres history.