San Diego Padres
From the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s collection containing tens of thousands of artifacts, our curators have created each team’s Starting Nine by hand-picking nine must-see pieces for each of the 30 MLB teams. This limited-time list is the perfect introduction to the Museum for every San Diego Padres fan. Don’t wait to make your visit to Cooperstown to take the Hall of Fame Starting Nine challenge.
Tony Gwynn: 1995 Batting Helmet
Tony Gwynn spent the entirety of his 20-year big league career with the San Diego Padres, amassing 3,141 hits, 1,138 RBI and a .338 batting average. “Mr. Padre” wore this helmet in 1995, the season in which he hit a major-league leading .386 to earn his sixth NL batting title and sixth Sliver Slugger Award.
The Souls of the Game
San Diego Chicken Mascot Costume
The San Diego Chicken made his first appearance in 1974 for a radio station, but quickly became a staple at Padres games. Ted Giannoulas hatched the idea for The Famous Chicken and inhabited the mascot costume across four decades.
Whole New Ballgame
Trevor Hoffman: 500th Save Shoes
Wearing these shoes on June 6, 2007, Padres reliever Trevor Hoffman struck out Russell Martin of the Dodgers, securing San Diego's 5-2 win and becoming the first closer to reach 500 saves. The hurler retired in 2010 with a then-record 601 saves.
Whole New Ballgame
Tony Gwynn: 3,000th Hit Helmet
In the first inning against the Montreal Expos on Aug. 6, 1999, San Diego's Tony Gwynn wore this helmet as he lined a single to right-center field to join the 3,000-hit club. On the same day, six years earlier, the Padres right fielder had collected his 2,000th hit.
Whole New Ballgame
Rickey Henderson: Runs Record Baseball
In the bottom of the third inning on Oct. 4, 2001, San Diego's Rickey Henderson smashed this ball for a home run, scoring his 2,246th career run. Depending on the statistical source, his mark either tied or broke Ty Cobb's previous record. Three games later, Henderson reached the 3,000-hit milestone.
One For The Books
Nate Colbert: Five Home Run Day Bat
Swinging this bat on Aug. 1, 1972, San Diego's Nate Colbert homered five times in a doubleheader against the Braves. The Padres first baseman finished the season with 38 round-trippers, only two behind NL leader Johnny Bench.
One For The Books
Ozzie Smith: Record-Setting Glove
Using this glove in 1980, San Diego's Ozzie Smith broke Glenn Wright's 1924 record of 601 assists at shortstop, ultimately setting a new mark of 621. That same season, "The Wizard of Oz" earned his first of 13 Gold Gloves at the position.
One For The Books
Joe Musgrove: No-hitter cap
Righty Joe Musgrove wore this San Diego cap on April 9, 2021, as he logged the first no-hitter in franchise history. En route to the 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers, Musgrove, a Southern California native who grew up a Padres fan, threw 112 pitches and struck out 10.
Your Team Today
Eric Hosmer: Grand Slam Helmet
Taking the 2020 season by storm, the Padres set a major league record when they logged grand slams in four consecutive games, earning the nickname “Slam Diego.” Eric Hosmer wore this helmet when he smashed the record-breaking fourth bases-loaded homer, Aug. 20, 2020.
Your Team Today
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