Top 5 San Diego Padres Teams Of All-Time

#1: 1984 Cub Busters

For years and years since the Padres joined the National League in 1969, they had some pretty bad teams, without as much as a sniff of success until 1984, when the team was owned by McDonald’s owner Ray Kroc, who saved the team from moving to Washington D.C. Kroc passed away before the season started in 1984, and the Padres dedicated the 1984 season to Kroc by wearing the initials “RAK” in honor of Mr. Kroc.

That year started off great beginning at 18-11, before losing seven games in a row. Not the most powerful hitting team with only two batters hitting 20 home runs and not one hitter with 100 RBI. The Padres finished 92-70, winning the National League West for the first time in franchise history with the additions of Graig Nettles and Rich Gossage.

The Padres were huge underdogs going into the NLCS vs. the Chicago Cubs, getting blown out of the Windy City the first two games, until the Padres rallied and won the series, three games-to-two in San Diego to clinch their first National League pennant in franchise history. The Padres would eventually lose to the Detriot Tigers in five games in the 1984 World Series and Game Two of that series is still the only win in Padres’ World Series history.