Tag: baseball

A new Tony Gwynn mural in La Jolla!

Tony Gwynn, one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history, is quite possibly the most beloved person in all of San Diego. Even years after his passing, tributes continue to pop up in communities throughout the city and beyond. He was loved not only for his legendary on-the-field heroics, but for his always sunny personality.

A very cool mural depicting Mr. Padre was painted in La Jolla this summer. It decorates one side of the Mandarin House restaurant in La Jolla. It was created by Ground Floor Murals, who’ve already painted many outstanding Padres baseball player murals.

Taking photos around San Diego for the past 11 years, I’ve documented various artworks and events that honor Tony Gwynn. You can see many of them by clicking here.

And now a bonus photograph!

There’s a second cool mural on the opposite side of the Mandarin House’s building! It depicts an Asian dragon in a watery setting. When I walked by today, I didn’t notice an artist signature…

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Little Italy mural honors Joe Musgrove’s grandmother!

Did you know that San Diego Padres star pitcher Joe Musgrove has a family connection to Little Italy?

His grandmother, Lucy Papitto, resided in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood for 30 years!

I didn’t know this until I saw a relatively new mural and plaque today. The beautiful mural can be found on India Street a little south of Grape Street. I’ve read that it was unveiled several months ago during Mother’s Day weekend.

When I walked by this morning, the San Diego sunshine was shining through nearby tree branches, perfectly framing Lucy Papitto’s smile.

IN HONOR OF PADRES PITCHER JOE MUSGROVE’S GRANDMOTHER LUCY PAPITTO, 1ST GENERATION SAN DIEGO NATIVE OF ITALIAN DESCENT WHO CALLED LITTLE ITALY HOME FROM 1928 TO 1958 RESIDING AT 1936 STATE STREET.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Photos of 12th Annual East Village Block Party!

The 12th Annual East Village Block Party is being held today along several blocks of J Street, just north of Petco Park. The event, usually held on the San Diego Padres opening weekend, was originally scheduled for March 20, but rainy weather that day caused a postponement. In 2024 it’s a summer block party!

I walked along J Street late this morning to absorb some of the festive atmosphere. Many of San Diego’s other sports teams were present. There was music and art and lots of smiling Padres fans. And there was a ton of food, too!

If you read this in time, you might head down to the East Village Block Party before it ends at 4:30 pm. It takes place on J Street between 7th and 10th Avenue.

A sunny day in San Diego’s East Village.

Kid has fun at San Diego Legion rugby challenge.

Special shout out to the San Diego Mojo professional volleyball team. I won a cool t-shirt!

One of many smiles! That Topo Chico sparkling mineral water was great!

Peter Seidler in an awesome Padres baseball spray paint mural created by @dyseoneclothing, @hasler.88 and @bigchill8825.

A blessed smile at the East Village Block Party in San Diego!

Providing block party music!

Lots of Padres merchandise could be found.

Larry Turner, candidate for San Diego Mayor, smiles for a photo!

More smiles!

A fine Saturday in downtown San Diego.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Cool new Padres mural at Gallagher Square!

Have you seen the cool new mural next to the Gallagher Square playground? It features half a dozen prominent, fan favorite San Diego Padres baseball players!

From left to right, there are images of Joe Musgrove, Manny Machado, Ha-Seong Kim, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatís Jr., and Yu Darvish!

The mural covers both sides of the wall immediately east of the tall “baseball bat” play tower!

In case you can’t make it out to Petco Park, here are photos that I took today.

GO PADS!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Baseball bat playground coming to Petco Park!

A gigantic baseball bat tower has been installed inside Gallagher Square at Petco Park!

Check it out! That huge bat is actually part of a new, super cool playground, which, as I understand it, will feature a slide and bridge that connect to those other elevated structures!

Whoaa! To be a kid again! Families living in downtown San Diego and those attending Padres games are in for a treat!

While walking through East Village around Petco Park late this afternoon, I also noticed some Padres players street lamp banners are up for the new 2024 season!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Snapdragon mural: Play hard and have fun!

Remember these two things: Play hard and have fun!

These words of wisdom were spoken by San Diego legend and hero, our beloved Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn. They are also painted in a colorful mural at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley.

Tony Gwynn is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He won eight Major League Baseball batting titles and was a 15-time All-Star. Perhaps just as importantly, he was honored for his character and humanitarianism with the 1995 Branch Rickey Award, the 1998 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award and the 1999 Roberto Clemente Award, which USA Today called “baseball’s Triple Crown of humanity and kindness.”

Tony liked to smile and laugh. He loved everybody. He played hard and had fun. He was an example for all of us.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Construction improves Gallagher Square at Petco Park!

Gallagher Square at Petco Park is being greatly improved. Construction is now underway outside the Padres’ home ballpark in East Village, and I was able to take photographs that include a bird’s-eye view of the activity!

A sign on the fence surrounding the construction site indicates the new Gallagher Square will include an expanded playground and play area, an off-leash dog park, an improved Play Ball Field for kids, a new Tony Gwynn Terrace viewing deck and picnic space, plus state of the art technology and sound mitigation. The latter might be helpful during future concerts here.

I remember when this innovative outdoor area beyond Petco Park’s outfield was called Park at the Park. Several changes have occurred since then! I believe the Tony Gwynn statue will be moved onto the viewing deck that will bear his name.

A special thank you to Chris, super cool bartender at Fairweather Rooftop Bar and Grill, whose outdoor patio overlooks Gallagher Square. What a perfect place to sit, drink and dine, while watching a live concert, or taking in the ambience of a baseball game . . . or viewing the progress of this project!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Padres baseball windglyphs return to San Diego!

Three colorful banners that celebrate the early history of the San Diego Padres returned in late October to Lane Field Park! I’ve noticed them flying near the corner of Harbor Drive and Broadway during recent Embarcadero walks.

Thanks to the nearby InterContinental Hotel, these windglyphs, depicting Pacific Coast League (PCL) San Diego Padres baseball players Ted Williams and Eddie Erautt, have replaced the originals that eventually became weather-beaten after debuting in 2017. The windglyphs are titled Spirits of the West Wind. They were designed by local artist Lisa Schirmer.

If you’d like to learn more about the inspiration behind these beautiful windglyphs, and see photographs taken the day the originals were first raised, click here.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Padres mural honors, remembers Peter Seidler.

Thank you Peter Seidler. 1960-2023.

A mural has been painted in downtown San Diego that honors and remembers Padres owner Peter Seidler, who passed away earlier this week.

Peter Seidler will be missed by many. He was a friend to all of San Diego.

The mural, on the north wall of the Copley Building at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, was created by the artists of Ground Floor Murals. You’ve possibly seen their other Padres murals around San Diego.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Outpouring of love, for one who loved San Diego.

I never met San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler. Every voice I’ve heard agrees that he was a man who loved the fans, our city, and people in general.

He loved baseball. He gave so much to advance our team.

He was compassionate for the less fortunate, working to help those who are homeless.

Today there was an outpouring of love for Peter Seidler around San Diego. I heard it all day on sports radio. He touched so many people.

This afternoon, on the steps of Petco Park, members of the Padres staff were building a memorial full of flowers and memories. I walked by to see.

I offered my own thanks to Peter Seidler last year.

Thank you, again.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!