Padres host Dodgers and Diamondbacks September 20-26

SAN DIEGO - The Padres return home Friday to begin the final homestand of the 2013 season, featuring a weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers followed by four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Highlights of the homestand include four fan giveaways, a celebration of the Municipal de Tijuana Seleccionados and the Shirts off their Backs ceremony presented by Sycuan.

Home action begins tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. start against the Dodgers, on Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Verizon. The first 25,000 fans in attendance will receive a Padres BBQ Set presented by Phil's BBQ.

Prior to the game, the Padres will celebrate the accomplishments of the Municipal de Tijuana Seleccionados, who took 3^rd place in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. by beating Connecticut in the consolation game. The Padres are proud to host players, coaches and families from the Tijuana team at tonight's game. In addition to recognition during the pregame ceremony, the players will have the opportunity to meet Padres players and take batting practice on the Major League field.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Verizon, tonight's pregame ceremony will collectively honor all of this year's recipients of the Padres Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award was established to recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations whose work makes a positive impact on those who live and work in San Diego's Hispanic community.

The 2014 recipients include Carmen Delgadillo, founder of the Friends of Scott Foundation, and Richard Nares, founder of the Emilio Nares Foundation, in the area of children's health; Aldo Sanchez, a ten-year old student who created the "Help ME Help Others" organization to encourage youth volunteerism, in the area of children's education; Ramon Aldana, president of the City Heights Youth Soccer League, in the area of youth fitness; and Los Bomberos de San Diego, a volunteer firefighters association and service organization, in the area of first responders/military service. 

Also as part of the Hispanic Heritage Night festivities, the Ceremonial First Pitch will be thrown by two individuals: Brandon Meza, a pitcher with the Tijuana Little League team and Gus Chávez, a retired San Diego State educator who co-founded local organizations including the Barrio Station, Chicano Federation, and the MAAC Project.

In addition, Mark Kotsay will be honored during the pregame ceremony as the club's nominee for the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. The award pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others. It is named for the 12-time MLB All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 

Fans are encouraged to vote for Kotsay by visiting www.chevybaseball.com. Voting ends on October 6 and participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2013 World Series, where the national winner will be announced.

Following the game, fans are invited to stay to enjoy a fireworks show set to the theme of iconic TV series. 

Beginning tonight and continuing throughout the homestand, fans will be able to purchase $1 Shirts off their Backs scratcher tickets for the chance to win the opportunity to take part in the 14^th annual Shirts off their Backs ceremony presented by Sycuan. Tickets will be available at the Gaslamp Gate, on the main concourse near sections 103 and 123, in the Western Metal Supply Co. Building and from Guest Service Representatives throughout the ballpark. Following the final home game of the season on Sept. 26, approximately 44 winners will receive a game-worn jersey off the back of a Padres player or coach. All proceeds from the scratcher ticket sales will benefit the Padres Foundation. Over the past 13 years, this program has raised more than $529,000 in support of the Padres Foundation's community outreach efforts.

The first 25,000 fans in attendance at Saturday's game will receive a Padres/Xolos Soccer Scarf. Members of the Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Tijuana will be in attendance, throwing out the Ceremonial First Pitch before Saturday's game.

The final home Sunday game of the season marks Salute to the Military Family, presented by USAA. The Salute is meant to thank military spouses and children for their service and sacrifices. As part of the pregame ceremony, the Padres will collectively recognize members of the military and local organizations that serve and support our military families. Organizations represented on Sunday will include the Armed Services YMCA, Blue Star Families, Operation Homefront and Semper Fi Fund. Tyler Jobe, a junior in high school, and son of a Marine, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. Tyer's father has been deployed once a year since Tyler was born, representing the challenges today's military children face. Marine Band San Diego will perform the National Anthem, while military spouse Laura Brayton will sing God Bless America during the seventh inning break.

The first 25,000 fans in attendance Sunday will receive a Padres team photo presented by The Mighty 1090.

KidsFest at the Park returns Sunday, featuring bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists, and more kid-friendly activities.

Prior to Sunday's game, 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 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 event. Membership is free, and kids can sign up online or in-person on the day of the event.

            Monday's series opener against the Diamondbacks marks the start of Fan Appreciation Week, featuring concessions and merchandise discounts throughout the series, as well as surprise appearances by Padres players around the ballpark and special prizes given away between innings. Monday's concession discount will be $1 hot dogs.

            Tuesday will feature the final First Responders salute of the season, presented by Natural Balance. The special pregame ceremony will thank and recognize representatives from the San Marcos, Santee, Lemon Grove, Vista and Poway Sheriff's stations, the Chula Vista Police Department, and the Nestor, National City, Otay Mesa and Imperial Beach fire departments. In addition, the Padres Foundation, in partnership with Natural Balance, will present the San Diego Police Foundation K-9 Unit with a $10,440 donation, the amount required to fund one of 12 K-9 officers currently needed by the city.

The final Taco Tuesday of the season, will feature $5 Park Passes and $1 pollo asado street tacos sold at 10 locations throughout the ballpark.

On Wednesday, the Padres will highlight Voices for Children, the Padres Foundation's featured homestand charity partner. Also during Wednesday's pregame ceremony, the Padres will recognize local youth baseball and softball all-star teams that made it to the highest levels of competition possible.

Wednesday's featured concessions discount for Fan Appreciation Week will be $1 sodas (22 oz.), while Thursday's will be $1 popcorn (regular).

The first 25,000 fans in attendance on Thursday will receive a Padres Fan Appreciation T-Shirt presented by Toyota. Tucson Padres General Manager Mike Feder, who was named the Pacific Coast League's Executive of the Year, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch on Thursday.

Thursday also marks the final 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 2:00 p.m. until the conclusion of the game.

Following Thursday's game, fans are invited to stay for the annual Shirts off their Backs fundraiser ceremony, presented by Sycuan. Throughout the homestand, fans will be able to buy $1 Shirts off their Backs scratcher tickets for the chance to win the opportunity to take part in Sunday's ceremony. Following the game, approximately 44 winners will receive a game-worn jersey off the back of one Padres player or coach. All proceeds from the scratcher ticket sales will go to the Padres Foundation.

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. The Padres are proud to offer first responders and military personnel $6 off any ticket priced $14 or higher for all regular season home games. Thanks to our partnership with GovX, discounted tickets are now available for purchase online at www.padres.com/military and www.padres.com/firstresponder, pending verification by GovX.