SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres today opened the new Padres Hall of Fame presented by Sony at Petco Park. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Padres ownership and executives, members of the Padres Hall of Fame and their families, San Diego elected officials and special guests including the San Diego Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Located on K Street behind the left field seating area, the Padres Hall of Fame presented by Sony showcases the full history, not only of the San Diego Padres, but also of baseball in San Diego. It signifies the long-term commitment by the ownership group led by Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler and Managing Partner Peter Seidler to Padres fans and the City of San Diego.
"Though the Padres Hall of Fame was created in 1999 in honor of the club's 30^th anniversary, it lacked a true home until now," said Padres President and CEO Mike Dee. "San Diego has an incredibly rich baseball history, but that story has largely gone untold at Petco Park. This project has been a labor of love for many people within the organization, and it's a testament to ownership's commitment to celebrating the history of the franchise. We are excited for generations of fans to experience this very meaningful addition to the ballpark."
The experience of visiting the Padres Hall of Fame presented by Sony begins outside the entrance on K Street, at Padres Hall of Fame Plaza, where the exterior courtyard links the Padres to the National Baseball Hall of Fame with a Padres in Cooperstown wall. The wall pays tribute to all players and coaches who have worn a Padres uniform and gone on to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The wall features a replica of each player's/coach's Hall of Fame plaque, accompanied by a relief from his time with the Padres. Those honored on the exterior wall are (in order of induction): Ted Williams (1966), Billy Herman (1975), Bob Lemon (1976), Bobby Doerr (1986), Willie McCovey (1986), Gaylord Perry (1991), Rollie Fingers (1992), Larry Doby (1998), Sparky Anderson (2000), Tony Perez (2000), Ozzie Smith (2002), Goose Gossage (2008), Dick Williams (2008), Rickey Henderson (2009), Roberto Alomar (2011), and Greg Maddux (2014). Mike Piazza will be added to the wall following his induction this year.
The two players in franchise history who were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as Padres - Dave Winfield (2001) and Tony Gwynn (2007) - are prominently honored with replicas of their Hall of Fame plaques presented on pedestals in front of the wall.
As fans enter the Padres Hall of Fame, they are greeted by a five-panel media wall, which features historical videos and other multi-media content. Three full walls of the space are occupied by an 80-foot-long, in-depth timeline, starting with baseball in San Diego in the era before the Padres (1871-1935), moving into the Pacific Coast League Padres both at Lane Field (1936-57) and at Westgate Park (beginning in 1958), and finally transitioning to the Major League Padres, through San Diego Stadium's opening in 1969 and into the present day at Petco Park. The timeline features top moments in Padres history, displayed through photography and memorabilia, as well as through the incorporation of video content via eight televisions. Colors from uniforms throughout each period also are incorporated into the timeline wall.
As guests reach the end of the timeline, they approach a state-of-the-art 4K theater featuring three Sony 120" 4K short throw projectors and an interactive kiosk where guests can select and watch their choice of video from a variety of historical moments and team achievements.
At the center of the Padres Hall of Fame are 13 two-sided, eight-foot-tall panels dedicated to each current (and announced) member of the Padres Hall of Fame. The illuminated panels depict imagery of these legendary members of the Padres family, along with information about their career highlights and personal achievements. The panels are a fixture in the center of the space, honoring each person as the timeline wall wraps around them. Members of the Padres Hall of Fame with dedicated panels are (in order of induction): Randy Jones (1999), Nate Colbert (1999), Ray Kroc (1999), Dave Winfield (2000), Jerry Coleman (2001), Buzzie Bavasi (2001), Tony Gwynn (2002), Dick Williams (2009), Trevor Hoffman (2014), Benito Santiago (2015) and Garry Templeton (2015). Ted Williams, who will be formally inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame prior to tonight's game, and Ken Caminiti, who will be enshrined on August 6, also have panels, which will be unveiled upon their inductions.
Near the exit of the Padres Hall of Fame is the Padres All-Time Leaders wall presented by Sycuan, highlighting the top five players in Padres history in 12 different statistical categories. Upon exiting into Palm Court Plaza, guests will view the Padres Honors Wall, featuring memorabilia highlighting some of the highest honors Padres players have earned over the history of the franchise.
Partners on the Padres Hall of Fame project include San Diego-based architecture firm Larimer Design, Morgan Design based in Dallas and BNBuilders.
The Padres Hall of Fame is open to anyone with a game ticket each game day when Petco Park gates are open. During opening weekend July 1-3, to ensure the best experience possible, fans wishing to view the Padres Hall of Fame presented by Sony will receive a tour ticket with a designated 30-minute timeframe to enjoy the space. Tours are available from the time gates open until the end of the 8^th inning.
On non-game days and prior to ballpark gates opening on game days, a visit to the Padres Hall of Fame is now the final stop on all purchased Petco Park tours. For more information, visit www.padres.com/halloffame.