A new baseball season is about to begin! There’s fresh hope this year in San Diego, because the Padres have loaded up with outstanding talent. The promise of a greatly improved offense and solid pitching are grounds for great optimism.
This morning I walked through East Village past Petco Park and took photos of cool banners hanging from street lamps near the stadium. The banner graphics include many high profile Padres players. I was in a hurry to catch the trolley, so I probably missed a few…
38 Tyson Ross SP4 Wil Myers CF3 Derek Norris C33 James Shields SP9 Jedd Gyorko 2B53 Joaquin Benoit RP10 Justin Upton LF34 Andrew Cashner SP
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Giant crane in Petco Park’s outfield has installed a huge new scoreboard!
As you might have read in my last blog post, this morning I walked around Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Guess what I saw! An absolutely hugemungous, super ginormous new scoreboard has been installed for the upcoming 2015 season! The high resolution board is the third largest in Major League Baseball, surpassed in size only by videoboards in Seattle and Kansas City. With a screen so big, why bother watching the action on the field? (Just kidding.)
I noticed a variety of other preparations underway around San Diego’s cool downtown stadium. Here are a few more pics…
This massive high resolution videoboard is the third largest in Major League Baseball!Guys get some ticket readers ready for the upcoming 2015 baseball season.Hosing down seats behind the Beach. The ball field is being prepped for professional baseball after the recent Monster Jam event.
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San Diego Padres baseball mascot Swinging Friar near a big truck about to leave for Spring Training in Peoria.
Early this morning the Padres began their move to Peoria, Arizona for 2015 Spring Training. An absolutely huge amount of baseball equipment was loaded onto several trucks, and fans, the Pad Squad and television reporters gathered to witness the send-off.
Petco Park, where the Padres play and are headquartered, is not far from where I live, so I walked by to take some photos before catching the trolley to work! Glad I did!
The Padres have loaded up on talent this year, and the coming season looks extremely promising!
Television news people, the Pad Squad and some very devoted fans watch the Padres begin their move to Spring Training.Hungry fans enjoy morning donuts and other goodies courtesy of the Padres.The final crates full of baseball equipment are loaded into one of the big trucks.The truck pulls away from Petco Park, heading for the Peoria, Arizona Sports Complex.Guy in cab waves for cameras and the first stage of a promising season begins!
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Tony Gwynn on video screen at Petco’s Park at the Park.
Tonight I joined thousands of other San Diegans at Petco Park to honor the late Tony Gwynn, the greatest Padres player ever…and one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport.
I apologize that my camera takes very poor long distance shots. There were many speakers paying tribute to Tony, and my photos of the distant stage and podium came out terribly.
A few photographs seem to have captured the spirit of the occasion. Here they are…
San Diegans pay their respects at the Tony Gwynn statue.Flowers, messages and memorabilia from loving fans.Child reaches up to touch number 19.Padres fans enter the stands before Tony Gwynn memorial begins.Anthony Keith Gwynn, the greatest Padre ever.Thanks for the memories, Mr. Padre.Thousands gather long before the memorial tribute starts.Thank you signs and poignant gestures from the crowd.White doves are released near the stage as program begins.
Nineteen doves were released after a choir opened the service, singing: “I’m not here, but I’m not far. My spirit lives on.”
Ted Leitner remembers Tony and introduces many guests.
Ted Leitner, long-time Padres radio announcer, said that we’d never forget the greatest hitter of his generation. He then asked the crowd to provide one last standing ovation. During the memorial tribute, Ted played a recording of Tony’s unforgettable laugh from a cell phone.
There were scores of distinguished guests, and several speakers remembered Tony Gwynn for the cheering crowd.
Reggie Jackson, Mr. October, gave a Yankee salute to Tony and his family. San Diego’s mayor spoke, and so did the Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball. Tony La Russa and Joe Torre stood up in the VIP section to loud applause. On the big video screen, tributes were offered by former teammates and opponents alike. In old videos, Tony Gwynn was treated with respect by contemporary baseball greats, including Mike Schmidt, Cal Ripken, Greg Maddux, Tommy Lasorda and many others.
Every guest speaker at the memorial seemed to agree that Tony was an inspiration to all those around him. To many he was a mentor, and to all he was a friend.
Tony Gwynn is remembered as a great player and great man.After the ceremony, number 19 remains on field.Petco Park slowly empties after tribute ends.
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I enjoyed a stroll through East Village this morning. It was my opportunity to take a few pics of the Padres Opening Day Block Party just north of Petco Park.
Dozens of tents and booths were lined up on either side of J Street. Kettle corn, barbeque on the grill, baseball souvenirs, assorted nonprofits and salespeople and radio shows…all the usual suspects were there. And, of course, baseball fans!
Baseball’s Opening Day celebrated in East Village by Petco Park.San Diego Padres fan tests his pitching arm.Dodgers fans might require a security blanket.People relax and enjoy live music on Padres Opening Day.
Two workers put up large Padres banner at Petco Park.
A variety of workers were out on Sunday afternoon preparing Petco Park for Padres opening day, which is less than two weeks away. I got a few pics of the action…
Getting the outfield ready for baseball’s Opening Day.Watering lush new grass at the Park At The Park.Still no graphics on the back side of the scoreboard.Brand new street lamp banners announce the 2014 season.
A big crowd turned out for the 2014 Padres FanFest!
This morning I spent a little time at this year’s Padres FanFest. Wow! I’d never been to this event before, and it was bigger and more exciting than I expected! Padres fans could engage in all sorts of fun activities throughout Petco Park, and I took photos everywhere I turned. Here are a few good ones…
Padres fans stream up the stairs at Petco Park.People enjoy themselves on the baseball field at Padres FanFest.Posing for photos at home plate at Padres FanFest.Padres fans could either walk or run the bases.Small girl with a big pink baseball bat.Padres ball girl reaches into bucket just before throwing to a fan.A vendor with cotton candy moves through the crowd on the field.Small girl heads toward a big pretzel.Padres fan gets to throw a pitch in the Petco bullpen!Fans wait in line to field balls in Petco’s outfield.Padres manager Bud Black speaks to FanFest crowd.Kids check out the big display on the outfield wall.Looking from The Beach through the outfield fence at lots of fans.Fans stream up from The Beach to the Park at the Park.Inflatable Friar stands atop hill overlooking the KidsFest.Padres fan does chin-ups at Marines booth at FanFest.A military robot fascinates kids at Padres FanFest.Kids play at base of Tony Gwynn statue.Padres KidsFest featured lots of games and happy families.Boy gets ready to swing a bat.Pets available for adoption from Helen Woodward Animal Center.People watch kids playing baseball during Padres FanFest.Kids play in the tiny baseball field at the Park at the Park.
I loved the cheerful voice of Jerry Coleman. The good humor, dignity and optimism it conveyed during Padres broadcasts were an important part of my life. I listened to that voice for over thirty years.
Jerry Coleman was a remarkable man. He was both a genuine war hero and genuine baseball superstar. There was nothing phony or inflated about his life achievements. And he remained humble. He didn’t have a trace of conceit. He simply loved life, his family and country.
In a world where many self-centered people are hungry for fame, and make fools of themselves to achieve it, I think it was the humility of this truly legendary man that made him so loved by ordinary San Diegans. That and his simple good humor.
I never met him. But losing Jerry Coleman feels like losing a friend.
A good argument can be made that the most-liked person in San Diego is Tony Gwynn. He’s one of the friendliest, most good-natured guys you’ll ever find, not to mention one of the best hitters ever in the history of baseball. He was voted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible. He’s also got a great statue in East Village at the center of Petco’s Park at the Park. You’re looking at it!
Tony Gwynn, affectionately called Mr. Padre, played 20 years for the San Diego Padres, winning eight batting titles and five Gold Glove awards. He appeared in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game 15 times! Today he’s the head baseball coach for San Diego State University.
Tony Gwynn statue with Showley Bros. Candy Factory in background.Inspirational words of Tony Gwynn’s father.
A quote from Tony’s father Charles appears on the statue’s base: “If you work hard good things will happen.” These words inspired one of the greatest hitters in the history of professional baseball.
UPDATE…
Here are a few closer photos that I took years later, after the tragic passing of Tony.
Cool San Diego Sights! 