Padres host Rangers and Mariners for fifth homestand

The Padres return home Monday, June 18 for a six-game interleague homestand featuring three games against the Texas Rangers, followed by a weekend series against the Seattle Mariners.  The homestand will be highlighted by the 9th Annual Salute to the Negro Leagues, a postgame fireworks show and U.S. Army Appreciation Day presented by USAA.

Home action begins tonight with a 7:05 p.m. start against the Rangers. The first 25,000 fans in attendance will receive a MLB drawstring bag, presented by MLB Network.

Tuesday's pregame ceremony will honor the Padres Foundation's featured charity partner this homestand, United Way, in support and recognition of its mission to improve lives and promote the common good through education, income stability and healthy lives.

Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers starts at 3:35 p.m. Fans will be treated to a special performance of the National Anthem by a cast member of the hit Broadway musical Wicked, which opens in San Diego Wednesday night and runs through July 15.

After an off day Thursday, the Mariners come to town Friday to close out interleague play. Friday's game will be preceded by Friday Night Party: Ultimate Cookout, presented by Verizon. The party will feature a selection of barbeque styles from local restaurants including Moss Grills (St. Louis style), Coop's West Texas Barbeque and Jones Brothers Mississippi Barbeque. The special menu items, priced at $5 and $10 will be available for purchase with Friar Funds exclusively from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Park at the Park. Fans will have the opportunity to buy Friar Funds at multiple locations Friday. Admission to Ultimate Cookout is included with a paid ticket to Friday's game.

In addition, the Padres will host the 9th Annual Salute to the Negro Leagues luncheon and pregame ceremony Friday. The limited-seating luncheon will be held at the Omni Hotel Gallery and emceed by XX1090 radio host John Kentera and hosted by Padres Executive VP/Senior Advisor and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. The 2012 Salute to the Negro Leagues, themed The Family Reunion, will honor former Negro League players and guests, including Neale 'California Comet' Henderson, Irvin Castille, Mamie Johnson, Bob Motley, Lou Clarizio, Johnny Washington, William Blair, Pedro Sierra and Ulysses Hollimon. Other honored guests include Bob Kendrick, executive director of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. and Cam Peron, a Massachusetts teenager who was instrumental in securing pensions for some players who had been previously overlooked. Prior to the game, Mamie Johnson and Bob Motley will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch.

Also Friday, the Padres will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the San Diego Madres during a special pregame ceremony. The Madres is an all-volunteer service organization formed in 1972. The group of fans diligently supports the Padres and, because of their love of the game, financially supports local youth baseball and softball leagues. The Madres provide invaluable support to the Padres Foundation, giving hundreds of volunteer hours annually to Padres-related charities.

Following the game, fans are invited to stay to enjoy the third spectacular Friday Night Fireworks show of the season, featuring a Fast Times at Ridgemont High theme, in honor of the movie's 30th anniversary and the fact that director Cameron Crowe, a San Diego native, based the film on Clairemont High School. Following the fireworks show, approximately 1,000 local Boy Scouts will spend the night on the Petco Park playing field, as part of the Padres Boy Scout Campout. Participants will receive a postgame snack and will enjoy a movie on the big screen as part of the overnight event.  They will also get breakfast on Saturday morning before heading home.

Please note the special 7:05 p.m. start time for Saturday's game. On Saturday, the Padres will recognize and celebrate 18 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. This fall, 36 Padres Scholars will be enrolling in four-year colleges or universities, including Georgetown University, Brown University, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Diego.

The homestand wraps up Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. start against the Mariners. Sunday marks U.S. Army Appreciation Day, presented by USAA. Continuing a tradition that began in 2010, the Padres and USAA are proud to honor each branch of the military with dedicated appreciation days throughout the season. Sunday's special pregame ceremony in honor of the U.S. Army will include the National Anthem performed by U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Elliott, a cake-cutting ceremony in celebration of the Army's 237th birthday this month, and an on-field swearing-in ceremony for approximately 80 future soldiers, who publicly will take the Oath of Enlistment.

Prior to all Sunday home games, fans with tickets are invited to enjoy Breakfast at the Park. A special selection of breakfast menu items will be offered for purchase along K Street 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 Junior 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.

Following Sunday's game, kids 14 years of age and younger are invited down on the field to run the bases at Petco Park. At the conclusion of the eighth inning, guests can begin lining up near the top of the Beachers on K Street. A Jr. Padres membership is encouraged to participate in the event. Membership is free, and kids can sign up online or in-person on the day of the event.

Tickets for all remaining regular season home games can be purchased online at padres.com, at the Petco Park box office, by phone at (619) 795-5555 and at the Padres Store in Tijuana.


Homestand No. 6 at a Glance
Padres vs. Rangers - Mon, June 18, 7:05 p.m.

• Giveaway: MLB Drawstring Bags (MLB Network)

Padres vs. Rangers - Tue, June 19, 7:05 p.m.

• Pregame: United Way

Padres vs. Rangers - Wed, June 20 , 3:35 p.m.

• National Anthem: Cast member of Wicked

Padres vs. Mariners - Fri, June 22, 7:05 p.m.

• Friday Night Party: Ultimate Cookout (Verizon)
• 9th Annual Salute to the Negro Leagues
• Pregame: Madres 40th Anniversary
• Postgame: Fireworks
• Postgame: Boy Scout Campout

Padres vs. Mariners - Sat, June 23, 7:05 p.m.

• Padres Scholars Night

Padres vs. Mariners - Sun, June 24, 1:05 p.m.

• U.S. Army Appreciation Day (USAA)
• Breakfast at the Park - 10:30 a.m.
• Jr. Padres Sunday Signings - 11:30 a.m. - noon
• Postgame: Kids Run the Bases