San Diego Padres Baseball
The San Diego Padres were founded in 1969 and joined the NL's West Division as an expansion team. The club struggled in its early years, placing last in the division for six consecutive seasons. Although the Padres continued to struggle in the 1970s, they did feature star outfielder Dave Winfield, who came to the Padres in 1973 from the University of Minnesota without having played a single game in the minor leagues and was also drafted by the National Football League and the National Basketball Association and starred for the Padres through the 1980 season.
Tony Gwynn, won 5 National League Gold Gloves, appeared in the All-Star game 15 times and won 8 National League batting championships during his career, joined the Padres in 1982 following starring roles in both baseball and basketball at San Diego State University. He helped the San Diego Padres win a NL Pennant in 1984. They won the NL pennant again in 1998.
Winfield became the first player to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. Gwynn ended his career with 3,141 hits, and an impressive .338 average.
PETCO Park
PETCO Park is magnificent in every way. It is appropriately named the Park at the Park because it has an estimated 2,500 lawn seats in an elevated grass park located directly behind the outfield wall. Signature towers and terraces offer panoramic views of the Bay, the downtown skyline, Balboa Park and the mountains on the horizon.
All the seating in PETCO Park is very desirable. The seating bowl is divided into distinctive "neighborhoods." The seats are as close to the playing field as possible and are also angled towards the pitcher's mound to ensure quality views from every seat, regardless of location.
The historic Western Metal Supply Company Building has been renovated and incorporated into the PETCO Park. The Padres Team Store is located on the first floor, with a door opening onto a standing room area in left field. The second and third floors feature festive Party Suites. Sunset Grill is a restaurant located on the fourth floor of the building that provides great views of the field.