Padres’ Top 10 All-Star Moments: 10-6

Mandatory Credit: K.C. Alfred/Union-Tribune

10: Yo Adrian!

 The final season at Yankee Stadium back in 2008 was a monster of an All-Star Game. With the game tied at two in the top of the eighth, American League pitcher Jonathan Papelbon from the Boston Red Sox had just struck out then Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla after “overrated” chants were greeting Mr. Papelbon from the Yankee Stadium home locals.

After an overthrow from Rays catcher Dioner Navarro that let the Astros Miguel Tejada go from second to third, Padres lone All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (remember him?) lifted a sacrifice fly to left to give the National League at 3-2 lead. Gonzalez that night went 1-for-3 despite the American League winning 4-3 in the 15^th inning. That night was Gonzalez’s chance to show the baseball world how gifted of a baseball player he was with his sweet swing and opposite power.

Mandatory Credit: http://lapostexaminer.com/

9. Teddy Ballgame And Tony Gwynn

This would be the final time a Padre has been selected to start an All-Star back in 1999 at Boston’s Fenway Park. The Fenway faithful were greeted by hall of famer and war veteran Ted Williams being driven in on a golf cart from the outfield to near home plate to throw out the games first pitch.

On July 13, 1999, two of the games greatest hitters were next to each other for the final time, Ted Williams and Tony Gwynn. Gwynn helped Ted Williams throw out the ceremonial first pitch to home plate that night. Gwynn and Williams for years throughout Gwynn’s career was always showing Tony how to be a better hitter and Tony was a student of the game. That night Gwynn did not play due to injury.

Aug 8, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Dave Winfield attends the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

8. Winfield Showcase

The Padres back in 1977 weren’t exactly World Series contenders yet, but they had a star athlete from the University of Minnesota by the name of Dave Winfield. Winfield now has his number “31” retired by the Padres and made his first All-Star appearance in the summer of 1977.

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That night Winfield went 2-for-2, with a double and a two-run single in the eighth to give the N.L. a 7-3 lead in a game that National League won 7-5. Winfield also was the first ever Padre to get a hit in an All-Star Game. Winfield that season in 1977 hit 25 home runs and drove in 92 RBI’s. Winfield also went on to play in eleven more ASG’s.

7. Tap The Rockies

Now to an actually contending team in 1998, that summer the Colorado Rockies were hosts to the All-Star Game with many Padres representing. Outfielders Greg Vaughn and Tony Gwynn each had a hit that night and two RBI’s despite the American League winning 13-8.

That year the Padres had five all-stars as mentioned Greg Vaughn, Tony Gwynn along with pitchers Andy Ashby, Trevor Hoffman and Kevin Brown. Kevin Brown did have a strikeout in a lights out two-thirds of an inning pitched. Andy Ashby gave up a run and hit along with Trevor Hoffman giving up a run and hit. 

6. N.L. M.V.P Blast!

The National League Most Valuable Player in 1996 third baseman Ken Caminiti hit a towering home run at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia that probably still hasn’t landed yet. That blast hit sky high to left-center and was one of the longest recorded home runs in Veterans Stadium history and the first home run by a Padre ever in an All-Star Game.

Both Ken Caminiti and Tony Gwynn were the lone representatives for the Padres in 1996. The National League went on to win 6-0 with Tony Gwynn voted into the starting lineup by the fans and peers of the game. Gwynn could not play that night due to an injury.