Padres’ Top 10 All-Star Moments: 5-1

All-Star MVP Ken Griffey, Jr. with host Tony Gwynn. Mandatory Credit: Getty Images

Part one of the previous All-Star moments revealed the best moments from ten to six. The list gets even better as we now enter the countdown from five to number one! Here it is, the Padres’ All-Star moments numbers five through one!

Mandatory Credit: ut-sandiego.com

5. First Ever All-Star Game In San Diego

Baseball was about to become extinct in San Diego and was nearly packed up and ready to move to Washington D.C. but McDonald’s owner Ray Kroc saved the team from moving, becoming the owner of the San Diego franchise in 1974. Shortly after, San Diego was awarded the 1978 All-Star Game at San Diego Stadium.

The Padres had firsts that night with having more than one All-Star for the first time ever, outfielder Dave Winfield and reliever Rollie Fingers. Both Fingers and Winfield were given huge rounds of applause from the Friar Faithful in front of 51,549 in attendance. Fingers gave up one hit, but struck out one over two scoreless innings, while Winfield hit 1-for-2 and scored a run to help get the National League to win 7-3.

LaMarr Hoyt was the last Padres pitcher to earn a Win in the All-Star Game.

#3. Padres All-Stars Of 1985

After a remarkable season in 1984, the trend of Padre fandom followed into 1985 despite not repeating the amazing season of 1984 in San Diego. Like 1998 with five all-stars, the Padres also had five in 1985. Tony Gwynn, first baseman Steve Garvey, catcher Terry Kennedy, third baseman Graig Nettles and starting pitcher LaMarr Hoyt. But wait, there’s more! Forgot to mention shortstop Garry Templeton and closer Goose Gossage along with manager Dick Williams to make it seven Padre all-stars!

Padres Pitcher LaMarr Hoyt started and was named M.V.P. of the game after only allowing one unearned run, on two hits, over three innings with the National League going on to win 6-1 in Minnesota. In addition, Gossage struck out two in a scoreless inning to get the save for the N.L., while Steve Garvey and Terry Kennedy each had a hit and a RBI, Gary Templeton also had a hit.

Mandatory Credit: utsandiego.com

#2. Act 2: 1992 All-Star Game

Despite the game being a blowout win, 13-6 for the American League, San Diego started a first that midsummer classic at “The Murph”. For the first time during All-Star week, the Padres opened the gates to the public (then free of charge) for the batting practice sessions the day before the All-Star Game. The pre gameday festivity is still used today.

A younger Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. went 3-for-3 in the 1992 All-Star Game with a home run, double, two runs and two RBI.

Last but not least, the Padres that year with their home crowd had something to cheer for with a stacked roster of Padre All-Stars Tony Gwynn, Tony Fernandez, “Crime Dog” Fred McGriff, Benito Santiago and Gary Sheffield.

Mandatory Credit: utsandiego.com

#1. “Best Night Ever.”

Despite the 1994 All-Star Game not counting in the standings, Tony Gwynn called the ASG of 1994 one of the “best nights of his career.”

The National League had carried a six-game losing streak going into the 1994 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, that losing streak would be over once T.G. crossed home plate!

Going into the 10^th inning, the game was tied at seven. Gwynn had opened the 10^th inning with a hit off of American League pitcher Jason Bere. The next batter was Moises Alou of the now extinct Montreal Expos, who hit a double to left-center. Gwynn was on his hustle going from second and rounding third, barely beating the tag from catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers at home plate and the National League went on to win in 10 innings, 8-7. “I remember sliding across the plate,” Gwynn later recalled. “I popped up into the air, signaled safe and started the celebration. It was a very emotional moment. It was a very emotional game.”