Why are they called the San Diego Padres?

The longtime Pacific Coast League entry from San Diego was called the Padres, so in 1969 the National League expansion club adopted the name. The Padres competed in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 to 1968.

Padre is the Spanish word for father, and since San Diego was the site of one of the first Spanish Catholic missions on the West Coast, that term has long been associated with the city.

MOST POPULAR: Top 100 Pitchers of All-Time

Our best-selling, most-read list of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.

Who ranks at the top? Who was better: Mad Dog or Big Unit? Knucksie or Rocket? 

TOP 100

Leave a Response