History of the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres have not been very successful since their first season in 1969. They have won five National League West division titles but only two National League pennants and no World Series title. The last time they saw postseason play was in 2006. Their best season was in 1998, when they had 98 wins and 64 losses.
1969
The San Diego Padres were established in 1969 as an expansion team for the National League, along with the Montreal Expos. In their first season, they had 52 wins and 110 losses. Preston Gomez was their first manager and he led the team from 1969 to 1972.
The Padres played their home games at Qualcomm Stadium from 1969 through 2003.
1970-1979
The Padres played poorly from 1970 to 1974, always ending up in last place in the NL West division. The team began to turn around, however, after being purchased by Ray Kroc in 1974. The addition of future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield in 1973 also helped the team improve. Don Zimmer managed the team in 1972 and 1973, but he was replaced by John McNamara in 1974.
In 1975, the Padres first season under Kroc's ownership, the team moved up a notch and finished in fourth place in the NL West division with 71 wins and 91 losses. They were still far from a first-place finish, but the improvement in the standings, along with the hitting and fielding of Dave Winfield and the leadership of McNamara, gave Padres fans hope for better seasons to come.
The Padres fell back to fifth place in the NL West division in 1976 and 1977, with losing records both seasons. McNamara was replaced by Al Dark during the 1977 season. He lasted only for that season, and the 1978 season started with Roger Craig as the Padres' new manager.
In 1978, the Padres finally had a winning record with 84 wins and 78 losses. This success lasted for only one season and they ended the 1979 season with a 68-93 record.
1980-1989
The 1980s didn't start well for the Padres with losing seasons and last place finishes in the NL West division in both 1980 and 1981. They fared better in the next two seasons, having an 81-81 record in both 1982 and 1983. They moved up a bit in the division, finishing both seasons in fourth place.
Dave Winfield left the Padres after the 1980 season, but he was replaced in 1982 by another future Hall of Famer, Tony Gwynn. Gwynn had a huge impact on the team for almost two decades.
The Padres had three managers from 1980 through 1983. Jerry Coleman managed in 1980, and he was followed by Frank Howard in 1981. Dick Williams took over in 1982, and he managed the team through 1985.
In 1984, the Padres had a strong season, finishing with 92 wins and 70 losses. They won the NL West division title and then played the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship series. They won the series and their first NL pennant. They went to their first World Series but lost the series to the Detroit Tigers.
The Padres had another winning season in 1985, finishing in third place in the NL West division with 83 wins and 79 losses. Williams left after the season and Steve Boros led the team in 1986. They slipped again in the standings and finished in fourth place in the division with 74 wins and 88 losses.
The Padres started the 1987 season with another new manager, Larry Bowa. They slipped even further down in the standings, finishing with just 64 wins and 97 losses and a sixth place finish in the NL West division. Bowa was replaced by Jack McKeon during the 1988 season, and the Padres finished in third place in the division with 83 wins and 78 losses. They improved even more in 1989, when they had 89 wins and 73 losses and a second place finish in the division.
1990-1999
The Padres had winning seasons in 1991 and 1992, but they didn't get to the postseason. Those two seasons were followed by two losing seasons, with the team again in last place in the NL West division. In 1993, they had 101 losses and only 61 wins, and in the strike shortened 1994 season, they had 47 wins to 70 losses. They played better in 1995, finishing back in third place in the division with 70 wins and 74 losses.
From 1990 through 1995, the Padres had four managers - Jack McKeon in 1990, Greg Riddoch from 1990 to 1992, Jim Riggleman from 1992 through 1994, and Bruce Bochy in 1995. Bochy continued to manage the Padres through 2006.
The Padres had a strong season in 1996, finishing with 91 wins and 71 losses. They won the NL West division title but they lost the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals. The next year, under the leadership of Bochy, the 1996 NL Manager of the Year, they dropped back to last place in the division with 76 wins and 86 losses.
Bochy and the Padres regained their NL West division title in 1998, when they won it with 98 wins and 64 losses. They defeated the Houston Astros in the NLDS and the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, to win their second NL pennant. They lost the World Series to the New York Yankees.
2000-2009
The Padres started the new century with four poor seasons, finishing in last place in the NL West division three times and finishing once in fourth place. The 2004 season, however, started well as the Padres began playing in their new PETCO Park stadium. They ended the season with a winning record of 87-75 and a third place finish in the division.
Although the Padres did not play exceptionally well in 2005, winning 82 games and losing 80, they won the NL West division title over their weaker competitors. However, they were quickly defeated in the NLDS by the Cardinals. One star player for the Padres in 2005 was pitcher Jake Peavy.
Behind Peavy, the Padres again won the NL West division title in 2006 with 88 wins and 74 losses. Once more, they lost the NLDS to the Cardinals. In 2007, they again had a winning season (89 wins to 74 losses), but they didn't get to the postseason. Bochy was replaced by Bud Black in 2007. That year, third baseman Chase Headley was added to the roster.
The Padres ended the decade with two more losing seasons. They had 63 wins to 99 losses in 2008 and they found themselves once more in last place in the NL West division. The following year, they moved up to fourth place with 75 wins and 87 losses.
2010-2018
The Padres had a strong season in 2010 with 90 wins and 72 losses. Although their numbers were good enough to win a NL Manager of the Year award for Black, they weren't enough to win the NL West division title. They finished in second place and didn't get to the postseason. The next season, they finished in last place in the division with 71 wins and 91 losses.
Black continued to manage the Padres through 2014, but they had only losing seasons. They finished in third place in the NL West division two times (2013, 2014) and in fourth place in 2012. Pat Murphy replaced Black in 2015, but he was also not successful with the team, and they finished that season with 74 wins and 88 losses.
The Padres started the 2016 season with another new manager, Andy Green. They have had only losing seasons under Green's leadership, finishing in 2016 with 68 wins and 94 losses, in 2017 with 71 wins and 91 losses, and with 66 wins and 96 losses in 2018.
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - San Diego Padres
Baseball Reference - San Diego Padres