1975 San Diego Padres season
Encyclopedia
The 1975 San Diego Padres
season was the 7th in franchise history. It was the first season in which the Padres did not finish in the National League West
cellar (finishing fourth), and brought the promise of an owner who would make the necessary changes to the organization.
Reno affiliation shared with Minnesota Twins
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
season was the 7th in franchise history. It was the first season in which the Padres did not finish in the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
cellar (finishing fourth), and brought the promise of an owner who would make the necessary changes to the organization.
Offseason
- October 3, 1974: Horace ClarkeHorace ClarkeHorace Meredith Clarke was a Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres from 1965 to 1974....
was released by the Padres. - November 8, 1974: Cito GastonCito GastonClarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
was traded by the Padres to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Danny FrisellaDanny FrisellaDaniel Vincent Frisella , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1967–1976, mostly as a relief pitcher. He would play for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, St...
. - November 18, 1974: Nate ColbertNate ColbertNathan Colbert Jr. , is a former American Major League Baseball player who was a first baseman with the Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , Detroit Tigers , Montreal Expos and Oakland Athletics .Signed by his hometown St...
was traded by the Padres to the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
as part of a 3-team trade. The Padres sent a player to be named later to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. The Tigers sent Bob StrampeBob StrampeRobert Edwin "Bob" Strampe is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1972...
and Dick SharonDick SharonRichard Louis Sharon was a professional Major League Baseball player.Sharon graduated Kennedy Middle School and Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California.-Baseball career:...
to the Padres, and the Cardinals sent Alan Foster, Rich FolkersRich FolkersRichard Nevin Folkers is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers....
, and Sonny SiebertSonny SiebertWilfred Charles Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1964 to 1975. He finished with a record of 140-114 and a 3.21 ERA. He threw a no-hitter on June 10, 1966 against the Washington Senators. He was originally drafted simultaneously by the Cleveland Indians and the St...
to the Padres. The Tigers sent Ed BrinkmanEd BrinkmanEdwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
to the Cardinals. The Padres completed the deal by sending Danny BreedenDanny BreedenDanny Richard Breeden is a former right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who played in 1969 and 1971 for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs....
to the Cardinals on December 12, 1974. - December 6, 1974: Derrel ThomasDerrel ThomasDerrel Osborn Thomas is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as a second baseman, center fielder, and shortstop from 1971-85...
was traded by the Padres to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Tito FuentesTito FuentesRigoberto "Tito" Fuentes Peat is a retired second baseman who played for 13 seasons in the Major Leagues between 1965 and 1978...
and Butch MetzgerButch MetzgerClarence Edward "Butch" Metzger is a former Major League Baseball player. Metzger was a relief pitcher, specifically a closer...
.
Draft picks
- January 9, 1975: 1975 Major League Baseball Draft1975 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft..Many baseball draft experts consider the 1975 draft to be the weakest in MLB history.- External links :*- References :...
- Gene RichardsGene Richards (baseball)Eugene Richards Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played eight seasons in the majors, from 1977 until 1984, for the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. He was born in Monticello, South Carolina.-See also:...
was drafted by the Padres in the 1st round (1st pick). - Rick SweetRick SweetRicky Joe Sweet is a former professional baseball catcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball between 1978 and 1983, and has since had a long career as minor and major league coach and minor league manager...
was drafted in the 3rd round of the Secondary Phase.
- Gene Richards
Opening Day starters
- Glenn BeckertGlenn BeckertGlenn Alfred Beckert is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League as a second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for nine seasons from to before ending his career with the San Diego Padres in .-Baseball career:Beckert was drafted from Allegheny College as an amateur...
- Tito FuentesTito FuentesRigoberto "Tito" Fuentes Peat is a retired second baseman who played for 13 seasons in the Major Leagues between 1965 and 1978...
- Johnny GrubbJohnny GrubbJohn Maywood Grubb, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, who also occasionally played at first base...
- Enzo HernándezEnzo HernándezEnzo Octavio Hernández [er-NAN-dez] is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and right-handed batter who played for the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers ....
- Randy HundleyRandy HundleyCecil Randolph "Randy" Hundley Jr. is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Minnesota Twins , and the San Diego Padres...
- Randy Jones
- Willie McCoveyWillie McCoveyWillie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
- Bobby TolanBobby TolanRobert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
- Dave WinfieldDave WinfieldDavid Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
Notable transactions
- April 7, 1975: Bill LaxtonBill LaxtonWilliam Harry Laxton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Laxton pitched in all or part of five seasons in the majors between and .- Early career :...
was released by the Padres. - April 28, 1975: Glenn BeckertGlenn BeckertGlenn Alfred Beckert is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League as a second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for nine seasons from to before ending his career with the San Diego Padres in .-Baseball career:Beckert was drafted from Allegheny College as an amateur...
was released by the Padres. - May 23, 1975: Chuck HartensteinChuck HartensteinCharles Oscar Hartenstein [Twiggy] is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., Hartenstein batted and threw right-handed...
was signed as a free agent by the Padres. - September 17, 1975: Gary RossGary Ross (baseball)Gary Douglas Ross is an American former professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1968–1977. He played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and California Angels. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Ross stood tall and weighed .Ross appeared in 283 Major...
was traded by the Padres to the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for Bobby ValentineBobby ValentineRobert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
and a player to be named later. The Angels completed the deal by sending Rudy MeoliRudy MeoliRudolph Bartholomew Meoli is a former professional baseball player who played six seasons for the California Angels, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-References:...
to the Padres on November 4.
Roster
| 1975 San Diego Padres | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 122 | 413 | 104 | .252 | 23 | 68 | |
| 2B | 146 | 565 | 158 | .280 | 4 | 43 | |
| SS | 116 | 344 | 75 | .218 | 0 | 19 | |
| RF | 143 | 509 | 136 | .267 | 15 | 76 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 237 | 76 | .321 | 5 | 27 | |
| 91 | 160 | 31 | .194 | 4 | 20 | |
| 34 | 26 | 6 | .231 | 0 | 3 | |
| 11 | 22 | 6 | .273 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 8 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 181 | 5 | 14 | 4.28 | 77 | |
| 6 | 26.2 | 3 | 2 | 4.39 | 10 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 142 | 6 | 11 | 4.18 | 87 | |
| 17 | 44.2 | 3 | 1 | 2.42 | 20 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 3.13 | 67 | |
| 59 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3.88 | 43 | |
| 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5.17 | 18 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7.71 | 6 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | 3 |
Awards and honors
- Randy Jones, The Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year honors
- Randy Jones, ERA Champion (2.24)
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Hawaii, RenoReno affiliation shared with Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...