Padres host Nationals and Cardinals for fourth homestand

SAN DIEGO - The Padres return home Thursday for the fourth homestand of the 2013 season, featuring a four-game series against the Washington Nationals, followed by a three-game matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Highlights of the homestand include 80's Night, U.S. Marine Corps Appreciation Day presented by USAA and a salute to women in law enforcement presented by FOX Sports San Diego.

Home action begins tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. start against the Nationals, the second College Night of the season, featuring special ticket discounts for college students with a valid student ID ($10 in Right Field Upper Reserved College Night section). A DJ from Channel 93.3 will be spinning at the Budweiser Patio in Right Field from 6:00 p.m. until the conclusion of the game. For more information on the remaining College Night events in 2013, visit www.padres.com/college.

2012 Heisman Trophy Winner Johnny Manziel will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch before tonight's game.

Friday marks the first of three Retro Nights this season, with 80's Night. The first 20,000 fans through the gates Friday will receive a pair of Knockaround Sunglasses. The team will wear uniforms from the early 80's, and former Padres player Kurt Bevacqua will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. The 80'z All-Stars will provide entertainment at Park at the Park prior to the game. The 80'z All-Stars have been rocking for more than 17 years and are the premiere, most complete 80's tribute act in Southern California. 

Also Friday, the Padres will honor the first recipients of the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations making a positive impact on San Diego's Hispanic community. Carmen Delgadillo, founder of the Friends of Scott Foundation, and Richard Nares, founder of the Emilio Nares Foundation, have been selected as co-recipients of the award by members of the Padres' Hispanic Community Leadership Council (HCLC) for their dedication to improving the lives of families and youth, specifically in the area of children's health.

In support of the Padres Foundation's community vision, four awards will be given throughout the year, one each in the areas of children's health (LIVE), children's education (LEARN), youth baseball/ softball or youth fitness (PLAY) and supporting our law enforcement and military communities (SERVE).

To submit a nomination, visit www.padres.com/community or www.padresbeisbol.com/comunidad.

In addition, before Friday's game, the Padres will recognize and celebrate 19 years of the Padres Scholars program. Over the history of the program, nearly 400 local students have been selected as Padres Scholars, representing nearly $2.3 million pledged toward college scholarships by the Padres Foundation, through the support of Padres players and ownership.

The first 25,000 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a Padres T-shirt, presented by Cymer.

Prior to Saturday's game, the Padres will recognize the club's winner of MLB's annual Honorary Bat Girl contest, which recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrate a commitment to "Going to Bat" in the fight against the disease. Michelle Jenkins, of San Marcos, is this year's Honorary Bat Girl. Jenkins, a mother of two young boys, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38, years before the recommended age for an initial mammogram. She credits a routine breast exam for finding the cancer early, and after undergoing a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, she has been in remission for three years this month. Jenkins has walked in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the past three years, raising nearly $28,000 for cancer research. Jenkins will be honored during a special pregame ceremony on Saturday. In addition, the Padres will host Jenkins and her family for an exclusive experience, and will provide her with pink ribbon MLB merchandise.

Also Saturday, the Padres will honor approximately 100 Champions - children and young adults battling cancer, as well as long-term survivors of the disease -- who earlier Saturday morning will have participated in the 18^th Annual Rady Children's Hospital Celebration of Champions, benefitting Rady Children's Hospital's cancer center. Padres players and coaches and the Padres Foundation have been proud supporters of the event since its inception in 1996. Padres Manager Bud Black and his wife, Nan, will once again welcome the Champions and their guests at Saturday's game.

Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals marks U.S. Marine Corps Appreciation Day, presented by USAA. A special pregame ceremony in honor of the U.S. Marine Corps will include Marines from the 15^th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) out of Camp Pendleton, who returned this week from an eight month deployment. Marine Band San Diego will perform the National Anthem, while Col. Scott Campbell, commanding officer of the 15th MEU, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. Capt. Scott Bayer, an artillery officer, also with the 15^th MEU, will perform God Bless America during the 7^th inning break.

Before Sunday's game, approximately 1,500 local Little League players and coaches will participate in a pregame parade around the warning track. Many of the participating leagues are part of the Padres' Youth Baseball Initiative, which in 2013 outfitted nearly 15,000 local Little Leaguers in authentic custom-made Majestic jerseys and corresponding caps.

Also Sunday, Padres third baseman Chase Headley will host his first private meet-and-greet for his new community program, Headley's Heroes. Headley's Heroes has partnered with Rady Children's Hospital to recognize the bravery of 4-year-old leukemia patient Boyd Stockmeyer from the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children's Hospital.

Stockmeyer has been invited to participate in the complete Headley's Heroes game-day experience, along with his family and his own personal Hero from Rady Children's Hospital, nurse Celia Rains. The experience includes field level tickets, breakfast at the park, a meet and greet with Headley in the Padres dugout, photo opportunities with various Padres players, a special in-game message, Headley's Heroes merchandise, a framed certificate, transportation to and from stadium, food vouchers and much more. Stockmeyer is the first of many Heroes who will be featured and rewarded with the Headley's Heroes game day experience. Ten games have been designated during the 2013 season for Headley to highlight Heroes in the San Diego community.

Prior to all Sunday home games, fans with tickets are invited to enjoy Breakfast at the Park. Special breakfast menu items will be offered for purchase at Park at the Park. In addition to seating at the Park at the Park, tables may be set up on the warning track, allowing fans to dine on the Petco Park field. Field seating will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, barring batting practice. Select gates will open to Season Ticket Holders with reservations at 10:00 a.m. Gates will open to the general public at 10:30 a.m.

From 11:30 a.m. to noon, two Padres players will sign autographs at the Park at the Park for Jr. Padres Sunday Signings. A Jr. Padres membership is required to participate in the signing event. Membership is free, and kids can sign up online or in-person on the day of the event.

On Monday, Miss CA USA 2013 Mabelynn Capeluj and Miss CA Teen USA Cassidy Wolf, both from San Diego, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch before the series opener against the Cardinals.

The club will highlight San Diego first responders on Tuesday, with the second of six home game salutes this season, recognizing women in law enforcement. Capt. Lori Lhuhnow, a 24-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, who is the commanding officer for SDPD Special Operations, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. In addition, the Padres Foundation, in partnership with FOX Sports San Diego, will present the San Diego Police Foundation with a $10,000 donation in support of its efforts to ensure that programs critical to public interest receive funding that is not available through the City's budget.

The homestand wraps up Wednesday, with a special Scripps Heroes pregame ceremony. After beating leukemia, local DJ Scott Butler has been growing his hair for the past 15 months, and will have it cut at home plate during the pregame ceremony, to be donated to the Locks of Love charity. Scott and his family will be at the game, along with more than a dozen doctors and caregivers from the Scripps Blood and Marrow Transplant program, where he was treated.

Also Wednesday, the National Anthem will be performed by members of the cast of the Tony-winning musical Chicago.

Tickets for all home games can be purchased at the Petco Park box office, online at www.padres.com, by phone at 619.795.5555, at the Padres Store in Tijuana, and new this year, at all Ticketmaster locations.