Padres Special: Remembering the 1984 N.L. Champion San Diego Padres

The 1984 San Diego Padres were not only the first team in franchise history to reach the World Series, but they were the first play-off team in the history of the franchise.

The city of San Diego was in love with baseball and Padres fever was running rampant over America’s Finest City. I was eight years old in 1984, and a huge baseball fan.

I already loved the game, but that was the year I fell in love with the San Diego Padres. Hearing the iconic voice of Jerry Coleman still to this day transports me back to childhood. “A one hopper to Nettles….to Wiggins…. and the Padres win the National League Pennant! OH DOCTOR!”…. Ahh, a time of innocence. A time when anything seemed possible.

The gritty team that the Padres were, was perfect for the young, small market city of San Diego. The fire and passion unleashed from that particular team, made many Padres fans for life. There were many tragic events that gripped members of that team unfortunately.

Alan Wiggins and Eric Show both lost their lives after battling drug addiction. Dave Dravecky had a tragic end to his career. Breaking his arm after battling cancer in his throwing shoulder. Ultimately Dravecky lost his arm and shoulder due to complications from cancer.

We are all quite aware of Tony Gwynn and his battle with cancer. Players Champ Summers and Mario Ramirez have also passed away. Coach Jack Krol died from cancer and let us not forget the passing of Ray Kroc just before spring training in 1984.

This article will take a look at the players of that team and remember them for that season and their Padre career. They each were vital cogs in the success of that 1984 National League Championship season. That first Padres playoff team started off well in 1984, with a 18-11 start to the season. They went on to finish 12 games above the second place Atlanta Braves with a 92-70 record. A new club record.

On August 12 1984 several brawls broke out between the Braves and the Padres. Nine Padres and five Braves were ejected and manager Dick Williams was suspended 10 games. As horrible as this incident was for the game of baseball, it helped propel the Padres into a state of unity that can only be gained through war of something of that kind. Let’s take a look at the team in detail and remember the glory days of that first championship.

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James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.