San Diego Sports Curse
Encyclopedia
The San Diego sports curse is a superstition
cited for the city of San Diego
's inability to claim a modern North America
n major league professional sports championship (Super Bowl
, World Series
, Stanley Cup
, and NBA Finals
). With a population of over one million, San Diego is the largest city in the United States
with this distinction. San Diego also has the distinction of having the longest major league championship drought for any city that has at least two major sports franchises, the last title dating back to 1963. The San Diego teams with losing records during their tenure in the city are the Padres
(2,886 wins-3,330 losses), the Clippers
(186 wins-306 losses), and Rockets
(119 wins-209 losses). Only the Chargers
, at 375-370-11
through January 3, 2010, have a winning record during their tenure in the city.
to form the current National Football League
. In comparison, in Cleveland
, another cursed city, the Browns
last won an NFL Championship in 1964. Since then, no other team from that city has won a major professional sports championship. The city of Buffalo
is also similarly affected by an alleged curse, having last won an AFL Championship in 1965 (incidentally, the Bills defeated the Chargers for both of their AFL titles). In both San Diego's and Buffalo's cases, there is considerable debate as to how Buffalo or San Diego would have fared had the Super Bowl
existed by 1963.
Other notable sports curses affect only specific teams, such as the Chicago White Sox
's Curse of the Black Sox
and the Chicago Cubs
' Curse of the Billy Goat
. San Diego's sports curse, by contrast, affects all professional teams in the city and county of San Diego
, much like Curse of Billy Penn
and Curse of the Inauguration in Philadelphia
. Neither the San Diego Padres
nor the San Diego Chargers
have ever won a championship in their current league, nor has any other major sports team that has been based in the city, including the San Diego Clippers
and San Diego Rockets
of the NBA and the San Diego Conquistadors
of the American Basketball Association
(ABA) prior to the 1976 ABA-NBA merger
.
to the Dallas Cowboys
in 1970, which is similar to Boston's Curse of the Bambino
in that the flip side of the curse was the Cowboys' success after the transaction. Dallas went from being a perennial loser in championship games over the previous five seasons (the Ice Bowl
, Super Bowl V
) to a team that won the Super Bowl
during Alworth's first season there (and has won five Super Bowls overall), gaining the distinction of "America's Team
." In contrast, the Chargers never made an appearance in the Super Bowl until the 1994 NFL season
, where they were decimated by the San Francisco 49ers
in Super Bowl XXIX
.
Another explanation for the curse would involve the 1963 AFL champion Chargers. Following the Chargers' 1963 championship, head coach Sid Gillman
approached then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle
with the idea of having the champions of the AFL and NFL play a single final game (the 1963 NFL champions were the Chicago Bears
) but Gillman's idea would not bear fruit until the 1966 season, which today is known as the Super Bowl
. In consequence, the Chargers to date have not won the Super Bowl and have only reached it once, in 1994
. On the flip side, their AFC West
divisional rivals (the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
, Denver Broncos
, and Kansas City Chiefs
), once envious of the Chargers' early success, have each won at least one Super Bowl since then (ironically, longtime Raiders owner Al Davis
served on the coaching staff of the Chargers from 1960–62). Furthermore, every time San Diego has hosted the Super Bowl
, an AFC West rival has represented the AFC
(the Broncos in Super Bowl XXII
and XXXII
– the Broncos winning the latter – and the Raiders in XXXVII
).
Other explanations include the uniforms worn by San Diego teams, such as the Chargers' powder blue jerseys (despite being well acclaimed) and the Padres' mustard yellow jerseys, and Qualcomm Stadium
(the home stadium of the Chargers and, until 2004, the Padres).
, and one Super Bowl
.
Besides the 1963 Chargers, the only sports teams in San Diego to have won championships were minor league teams. The original San Diego Sockers team won ten championships in both the original Major Indoor Soccer League
and the North American Soccer League
. The San Diego Gulls
won five West Coast Hockey League
championships. San Diego has fielded two Little League World Series
champions, one in 1961
by Fletcher Hills in El Cajon and another in 2009
by Park View in Chula Vista.
Some of the instances of a curse are listed below, including but not limited to playoff and championship games ending in defeat, controversial calls by officials, and players spurning San Diego teams and going on to win championships.
Prior to the 2011 World Series, the Padres were the only team in Major League Baseball to win at least two league championships and never win the World Series. They now share that distinction with the Texas Rangers.
, a .384 winning percentage.
FOOTBALL
Superstition
Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events....
cited for the city of San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
's inability to claim a modern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n major league professional sports championship (Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, and NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
). With a population of over one million, San Diego is the largest city in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with this distinction. San Diego also has the distinction of having the longest major league championship drought for any city that has at least two major sports franchises, the last title dating back to 1963. The San Diego teams with losing records during their tenure in the city are the Padres
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...
(2,886 wins-3,330 losses), the Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(186 wins-306 losses), and Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
(119 wins-209 losses). Only the Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, at 375-370-11
San Diego Chargers seasons
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football franchise based in San Diego, California. They are members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . The Chargers franchise was founded in 1959 by Barron Hilton and played the 1960 season...
through January 3, 2010, have a winning record during their tenure in the city.
San Diego Sports Curse in comparison to other notable sports curses
The last major league sports championship for San Diego was the AFL Championship in 1963, when the San Diego Chargers emerged as AFL champions before the AFL merged with the NFLAFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
to form the current National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. In comparison, in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, another cursed city, the Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
last won an NFL Championship in 1964. Since then, no other team from that city has won a major professional sports championship. The city of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
is also similarly affected by an alleged curse, having last won an AFL Championship in 1965 (incidentally, the Bills defeated the Chargers for both of their AFL titles). In both San Diego's and Buffalo's cases, there is considerable debate as to how Buffalo or San Diego would have fared had the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
existed by 1963.
Other notable sports curses affect only specific teams, such as the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
's Curse of the Black Sox
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
' Curse of the Billy Goat
Curse of the Billy Goat
The curse of the Billy Goat was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs in 1945 when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave a World Series game against the Detroit Tigers at the Cubs' home ground of Wrigley Field because his pet goat's odor was bothering other fans...
. San Diego's sports curse, by contrast, affects all professional teams in the city and county of San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, much like Curse of Billy Penn
Curse of Billy Penn
The Curse of Billy Penn was an alleged curse used to explain the failure of major professional sports teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to win championships since the March 1987 construction of the One Liberty Place skyscraper, which exceeded the height of William Penn's statue atop...
and Curse of the Inauguration in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Neither the San Diego Padres
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...
nor the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
have ever won a championship in their current league, nor has any other major sports team that has been based in the city, including the San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and San Diego Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
of the NBA and the San Diego Conquistadors
San Diego Conquistadors
The San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the "Q's", were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. They were the only expansion team in the history of the ABA. The team played from 1972 to 1975. They were replaced in the ABA by the San Diego Sails.-San Diego...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA) prior to the 1976 ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
.
The lore
The cause of the curse has been debated. One is thought to be the trade of Chargers wide receiver Lance AlworthLance Alworth
Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in 1970, which is similar to Boston's Curse of the Bambino
Curse of the Bambino
The Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004...
in that the flip side of the curse was the Cowboys' success after the transaction. Dallas went from being a perennial loser in championship games over the previous five seasons (the Ice Bowl
Ice Bowl
The term Ice Bowl may refer to several different sporting events that are or were scheduled during cold weather:* Ice Bowl , a college football game held in Fairbanks, Alaska from 1948 to 1952...
, Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
) to a team that won the Super Bowl
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
during Alworth's first season there (and has won five Super Bowls overall), gaining the distinction of "America's Team
America's Team
The term America's Team is a popular nickname in American sports that refers to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. The nickname originated with the team's 1978 highlight film, where the narrator opens with the following introduction: The term is recognized and often used by media...
." In contrast, the Chargers never made an appearance in the Super Bowl until the 1994 NFL season
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
, where they were decimated by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
.
Another explanation for the curse would involve the 1963 AFL champion Chargers. Following the Chargers' 1963 championship, head coach Sid Gillman
Sid Gillman
Sidney "Sid" Gillman was an American football player, coach, executive, and innovator. Gillman's insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes, instead of short passes to running backs or wide receivers at the sides of the line of scrimmage, was instrumental in...
approached then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle
Pete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....
with the idea of having the champions of the AFL and NFL play a single final game (the 1963 NFL champions were the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
) but Gillman's idea would not bear fruit until the 1966 season, which today is known as the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. In consequence, the Chargers to date have not won the Super Bowl and have only reached it once, in 1994
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
. On the flip side, their AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...
divisional rivals (the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
), once envious of the Chargers' early success, have each won at least one Super Bowl since then (ironically, longtime Raiders owner Al Davis
Al Davis
Allen "Al" Davis was an American football executive. He was the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League from 1970 to 2011...
served on the coaching staff of the Chargers from 1960–62). Furthermore, every time San Diego has hosted the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, an AFC West rival has represented the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
(the Broncos in Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
and XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1997 regular season...
– the Broncos winning the latter – and the Raiders in XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
).
Other explanations include the uniforms worn by San Diego teams, such as the Chargers' powder blue jerseys (despite being well acclaimed) and the Padres' mustard yellow jerseys, and Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
(the home stadium of the Chargers and, until 2004, the Padres).
Results of the "curse"
The record for all San Diego Sports teams in championship games as of 2010 stands at one win and seven losses, with appearances in five AFL Championships, two World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, and one Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
.
Besides the 1963 Chargers, the only sports teams in San Diego to have won championships were minor league teams. The original San Diego Sockers team won ten championships in both the original Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. The San Diego Gulls
San Diego Gulls (1995-2006)
The third San Diego Gulls team was founded in 1995 immediately upon departure of the IHL team. The new Gulls were a part of the West Coast Hockey League. The Gulls played at the San Diego Sports Arena, formerly known as the "iPayOne Center."-History:...
won five West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
championships. San Diego has fielded two Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
champions, one in 1961
1961 Little League World Series
-Winners bracket:-Consolation bracket:-External links:**...
by Fletcher Hills in El Cajon and another in 2009
2009 Little League World Series
-Pool play:The top two teams in each pool move on to their respective semifinals. The winners of each will meet on August 30 to play for the Little League World Championship. Teams marked in green qualified to the knockout stage, while teams marked in red were eliminated.Ties are broken based on...
by Park View in Chula Vista.
Some of the instances of a curse are listed below, including but not limited to playoff and championship games ending in defeat, controversial calls by officials, and players spurning San Diego teams and going on to win championships.
San Diego Padres
- As a side effect to the curse, the Padres have never had a pitcher throw a no-hitterNo-hitterA no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
and have never had a player hit for the cycle. While the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
have never pitched a no-hitter and the Florida MarlinsFlorida MarlinsThe Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
have never had a player hit for the cycle as well, the Padres are the only MLB team with both of those distinctions. - On July 21, 1970, the Padres' Clay KirbyClay KirbyClayton Laws Kirby Jr. born in Washington, D.C. was a pitcher for the San Diego Padres , Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos .Kirby led the National League in losses in 1969....
pitched a no-hitter for eight innings. However, manager Preston GomezPreston GómezPreston Gómez was a Cuban-born infielder, manager, coach and front-office official in Major League Baseball best known for managing three major league clubs: the San Diego Padres , Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs . He was born Pedro Gómez Martinez in Preston, Cuba, and was given his nickname in U.S...
decided to relieve Kirby and as a result, the Padres lost the No-hitter and the game. - In 1984, the Padres appeared in their first World Series1984 World SeriesThe 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
against 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...
. Unfortunately for the Padres, the Tigers would win the series 4-1, with the Padres only winning Game 2; this is the only World Series win in Padres history to date. In Game 5, San Diego closer Goose GossageGoose GossageRichard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname...
talked manager Dick WilliamsDick WilliamsRichard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
into letting him pitch to Kirk GibsonKirk GibsonKirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed...
. Gibson went on to hit a three-run home run into the upper deck of Tiger Stadium which led to the Tigers clinching the championship. - In 1990, television producer Tom WernerTom WernerThomas Charles "Tom" Werner is an American television producer and businessman who, via his investment in New England Sports Ventures, is chairman of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club....
bought the Padres from Joan Kroc. Werner made many controversial decisions during his ownership, such as inviting Roseanne BarrRoseanne BarrRoseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
to perform the national anthem and numerous fire saleFire saleA fire sale is the sale of goods at extremely discounted prices, typically when the seller faces bankruptcy or other impending distress. The term may originally have been based on the sale of goods at a heavy discount due to fire damage...
s. He eventually sold the Padres to John MooresJohn MooresJohn Moores may refer to:*John Moores , former owner of the San Diego Padres*John Moores , British merchant*John H. Moores , American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon...
in 1994. In 2002, however, Werner became co-owner of the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and saw success, as the team broke the Curse of the BambinoCurse of the BambinoThe Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004...
by winning the World Series in 20042004 World SeriesThe 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
and followed it up with another championship in 20072007 World Series-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
. - Pitcher Hideki IrabuHideki Irabuwas a professional baseball player of Okinawan and American mixed ancestry. He played professionally in both Japan and the United States.-Early life:...
spurned the Padres when they purchased his contract from the Chiba Lotte MarinesChiba Lotte MarinesThe are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
in 1997. He desired instead to play for the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, refusing to sign with the Padres. Ironically, in , the Padres returned to the World Series, facing the Yankees. In Game 1, Padres pitcher Mark LangstonMark LangstonMark Edward Langston is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners , Montreal Expos , California and Anaheim Angels , San Diego Padres , and Cleveland Indians...
threw what appeared to be a third strike against Yankees first baseman Tino MartinezTino MartinezConstantino "Tino" Martinez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Martinez was the first round draft pick for the Seattle Mariners in out of the University of Tampa where he starred during his time on campus. He began his Major League career in and has played for the Mariners, New...
in a 2-2 count, bases-loaded, two-out, tie-game situation. To the surprise of many in attendance, home plate umpire Rich GarciaRich GarciaRichard Raul Garcia is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1975 to 1999...
called the pitch a ball, and Martinez hit the next pitch for a grand slam, putting the Yankees ahead in what would become a 9-5 win. In Game 3, the Padres led 3-2 going into the top of the eighth, but closer Trevor HoffmanTrevor HoffmanTrevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
gave up a three-run home run to eventual Series MVP Scott BrosiusScott BrosiusScott David Brosius is a former Major League Baseball third baseman for the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees . Brosius is currently the head baseball coach at Linfield College, his alma mater....
for the go-ahead score. The Padres lost that game 5-4 and eventually got swept in the series 4-0. - In 2004, the Padres had the first pick in the draft, but instead of picking prospects such as Justin VerlanderJustin VerlanderJustin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
, Jeff NiemannJeff NiemannJeffrey Warren Niemann is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.-College:...
, Stephen DrewStephen DrewStephen Oris Drew is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew....
, and Jered WeaverJered WeaverJered David Weaver , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...
for financial reasons, they drafted Matt Bush who, notwithstanding his high draft position, turned out to be a bust. The Padres were heavily criticized for the decision. - In 2005 and 2006, the Padres earned two consecutive National League WestNational League WestThe 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...
championships, only to lose 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...
both times in the National League Division SeriesNational League Division SeriesIn Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
. In 2006, the Cardinals went on to win the World Series. - On April 25, 2007, Padres starting pitcher Jake PeavyJake PeavyJacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
was on the verge of tying Tom SeaverTom SeaverGeorge Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
's consecutive strikeout record of 10 when umpire Jeff KelloggJeff KelloggJeffrey William Kellogg is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1991 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000...
missed Eric ByrnesEric ByrnesEric James Byrnes , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the Oakland Athletics, the Colorado Rockies, the Baltimore Orioles, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Seattle Mariners...
' go-around on what would have been the third strike. Byrnes would eventually walk. - In 2007, with two games left in the season, the Padres played their last series against the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and were one out away from clinching the NL Wild Card, when the Brewers' Tony Gwynn Jr. (the son of former Padres great Tony Gwynn), hit a triple down the line off Trevor Hoffman, preventing the Padres from clinching the Wild Card. The Padres would also lose the last game of the season, forcing a tie-breaking game against the divisional rival Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. In the top of the 13th inning, Scott HairstonScott HairstonScott Alexander Hairston is an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Hairston bats and throws right-handed.-High school years:...
blasted a two-run home run, but Trevor HoffmanTrevor HoffmanTrevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
blew the save again in the bottom half of the inning and allowed the winning run on a controversial call by home plate umpire Tim McClellandTim McClellandTimothy Reid McClelland is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the American League from 1983 to 1999 and throughout both leagues since 2000. He has called many important games, from post-season games to the George Brett "Pine Tar" game in...
. Rockies outfielder Matt HollidayMatt HollidayMatthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
appeared to have scored on a sacrifice fly by Jamey CarrollJamey CarrollJamey Blake Carroll is an American professional baseball infielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball.Carroll was born in Evansville, Indiana. In 1992, he graduated from Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana. He later attended and graduated from the University of Evansville...
when Padres catcher Michael Barrett dropped the ball. However, replays were inconclusive as to whether Holliday ever touched the plate, and Barrett picked up the ball and tagged him afterwards. Regardless, McClelland's call stood, the Rockies won the game, and went on to win the National League Championship. The Padres have not returned to the playoffs since. - In the 2010 season, the Padres were considered to be surprising contenders and led the division until August 25, when they went on a 10-game losing streak that helped the divisional rival 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....
close in on the division lead. Throughout the remainder of the season, the Padres and Giants were in a close pennant race, with the team that was in second place also competing with 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 the Wild Card. However, on September 30, the Padres fell three games behind the Giants for the divisional lead and two games behind the Braves for the Wild Card, putting them on the brink of elimination with only three games to go in the season and the Giants being the opponent for those last three games. The Padres managed to win the first two games and tie for the Wild Card and close to one game behind for the division, thus having a chance to at least force a tiebreaker game. The Padres, though, lost the last game, giving the Giants the division, and with the Braves winning on the same day, the Padres were eliminated from playoff contention. To the chagrin of many Padres fans, the Giants, ironically under the leadership of former San Diego manager Bruce BochyBruce BochyBruce Douglas Bochy is the manager of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to joining the Giants, Bochy had been the manager of the San Diego Padres for twelve seasons. Bochy is the only former Padres player to serve as the team's manager. He has participated in all five postseason appearances in...
, went on to win the World Series2010 World SeriesThe 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
, while in the off-season, Padres star Adrian GonzalezAdrián GonzálezAdrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
was traded to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. - In the 2011 season, a down season for the Padres, they had another no-hit bid spoiled late in a game against the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on July 9. Aaron HarangAaron HarangAaron Michael Harang is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Amateur career:Harang graduated from Patrick Henry High School then went on to San Diego State University...
(in his first start returning from an injury), Josh SpenceJosh SpenceJoshua Patrick William Spence is an Australian professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Padres in the ninth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Arizona State University...
, Chad QuallsChad QuallsChadford Michael Qualls is a relief pitcher.-Astros:Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats in...
, Mike AdamsMike AdamsMike Adams may refer to:*Mike Adams , Major League Baseball outfielder*Mike Adams, sports radio talk show host of Planet Mikey on Boston's WEEI...
, and Luke GregersonLuke GregersonLucas John "Luke" Gregerson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres. He owns the major league record for holds in a season.-St. Louis Cardinals:...
combined on a no-hitter until the final out of the game, when noted Padre nemesis Juan UribeJuan UribeJuan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
doubled to end the no-hit bid and Dioner NavarroDioner NavarroDioner Favian Navarro Vivas is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher, who is a free agent.-New York Yankees:In 2000, Navarro was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent...
followed with a single to score the game's only run, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 win despite having been held hitless for 8 2/3 innings.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers' overall playoff record, , stands at ten wins and sixteen lossesSan Diego Chargers seasons
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football franchise based in San Diego, California. They are members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . The Chargers franchise was founded in 1959 by Barron Hilton and played the 1960 season...
, a .384 winning percentage.
- The Chargers set to defend their 1963 AFL title in 1964 against the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, a key play by Mike StrattonMike StrattonDavid Michael Stratton was an American football linebacker in the AFL and NFL for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers....
on Keith LincolnKeith LincolnKeith Payson Lincoln is a former American football running back who started his career playing college football at Washington State University. He maintained his versatility after being drafted by the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1961. In 1963 he led the team in rushing, punt...
would help the Bills win, 20-7. The next year, the Chargers would play the Bills again in the Championship Game, but were shut out 23-0. - In a 19781978 NFL seasonThe 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
game between the Chargers and division rival Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Raiders were behind 20-14 with 10 seconds to go and facing fourth down on the Chargers' 14. Raiders quarterback Ken StablerKen StablerKenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
deliberately fumbled forward and teammates Pete BanaszakPete BanaszakPete Banaszak is a former player of college and professional American football. A running back, he played college football at the University of Miami, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders from 1966 through 1969, and for the NFL Raiders through...
and Dave CasperDave CasperDavid John Casper , nicknamed "The Ghost." is a former American football player. He was an offensive lineman and tight end.-High school:...
batted the ball forward until Casper fell on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown that tied the game. The Raiders won with the ensuing point after touchdownConvertThe convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
kick. The play would enter NFL lore as the "Holy Roller"Holy Roller (American football)In American football, "the Holy Roller" is the nickname given to a controversial game-winning play by the Oakland Raiders against the San Diego Chargers on September 10, 1978. The game was played at the Chargers' home field, Jack Murphy or San Diego Stadium...
, and directly led to changes in NFL rules regarding fumbles on fourth down or within the last two minutes of the game. - On January 11, 1981, the Chargers hosted the AFC Championship Game but lost to Oakland, 34-27. The Raiders go on to win Super Bowl XVSuper Bowl XVSuper Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
, the first Wild Card team to do so. - The next year, the Chargers' leading pass rusher and defensive leader, Fred DeanFred DeanFrederick Rudolph "Fred" Dean is a former American football player in the National Football League, and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. His career started with the San Diego Chargers in 1975 and ended with the San Francisco 49ers after the 1985 season. Dean was born in Arcadia, the seat of...
, was traded to the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
due to a contract dispute with Chargers' ownership. Dean would ultimately prove to be a catalyst for the 49ers defense, helping that team to their first Super Bowl title (and another one in 1984). Ironically, the Chargers that season would again return to the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, with a win over the Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in The Epic in MiamiThe Epic in MiamiThe Epic in Miami is the name given to a National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl...
. Unfortunately for the Chargers, the game would be played in frigid weather, going down in NFL lore as the Freezer BowlFreezer BowlIn NFL lore, the Freezer Bowl was the 1981 AFC Championship Game between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The game was played in the coldest temperature in NFL history in terms of wind chill...
. The Chargers would lose the game, 27-7. - In 1994, the Chargers clinched an appearance in Super Bowl XXIXSuper Bowl XXIXSuper Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
, their only Super Bowl appearance to date. However, they lost to the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, 49-26, for San Francisco's fifth Super Bowl win overall. San Francisco quarterback Steve Young threw a Super Bowl record six touchdown passes and was named Super Bowl MVP. The Chargers would not win another playoff game for 13 years, most of those years being losing seasons. - In the 1998 NFL Draft1998 NFL DraftThe 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
, two elite quarterbacks were highly anticipated to be the top two selections: Peyton ManningPeyton ManningPeyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
of the University of TennesseeTennessee Volunteers footballThe Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
and Ryan LeafRyan LeafRyan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons...
of Washington State UniversityWashington State Cougars footballThe Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
. The Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
had the first pick in the draft, while the Chargers traded up to the second pick to receive one of the quarterbacks. The Colts chose Manning, who went on to win four NFL MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP award, while the Chargers chose Leaf, who is considered by most to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, bust in the history of the NFL draft. - In the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL DraftThe 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
, Peyton's brother Eli ManningEli ManningEli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
, who was anticipated to be a high draft pick, spurned the Chargers; the team picked him anyway but traded him to the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for Philip RiversPhilip RiversPhilip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
and draft picks that led to the signing of Shawne MerrimanShawne MerrimanShawne DeAndre Merriman is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft. On November 2, 2010, the Chargers waived Merriman...
and Nate KaedingNate KaedingNathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
in the deal. Three years later, however, Eli went on to lead the Giants to a victory in Super Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
and received Super Bowl MVP honors.
- Marty SchottenheimerMarty SchottenheimerMartin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, head coach of the Chargers from 2002-2006, has been infamously known to chokeChoke (sports)In sports, a "choke" is the failure of an athlete or an athletic team to win a game or tournament when the player or team had been strongly favored to win or had squandered a large lead in the late stages of the event...
in the playoffs, with some calling Marty BallMarty BallMarty Ball is a philosophy of football associated with and named after former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. In simple terms, it means a focus on the running game, with passing used only to further the running game....
a sports-related curse much like this one. In 2004, Schottenheimer's Chargers returned to the playoffs in nine years and faced the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the AFC Wild Card round, which eventually went into overtime. The Chargers marched down the field and got into field goal range, but kicker Nate KaedingNate KaedingNathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
missed a 41-yard field goal. The Jets got the ball back and marched down to field goal range, kicking the winning field goal for a 20-17 win. - In 2006, the Chargers entered the postseason with a 14-2 record and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. In the 2006 AFCAmerican Football ConferenceThe American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
Divisional Playoff round on January 14, 2007, the Chargers meet the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. The Chargers surged to a 21-13 lead entering the fourth quarter. However, the tide would slowly turn, as Eric Parker fumbled on a punt return leading to a Patriots' score. Later in the game on a fourth down throw at midfield, Patriots quarterback Tom BradyTom BradyThomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
was intercepted by Marlon McCreeMarlon McCreeMarlon Tarron McCree is an American football safety who is currently a free agent, as well as a mentor and coach. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the Seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
. But as McCree started upfield he was grabbed by Troy BrownTroy BrownTroy Fitzgerald Brown is a former NFL wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall...
, who yanked the ball out of his hand and Reche CaldwellReche CaldwellDonald Reche Caldwell, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for six seasons in the early 2000s...
, now with the Patriots, grabbed the fumble. Brady then connected with Caldwell for the touchdown and Kevin FaulkKevin FaulkKevin Troy Faulk is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU.As of 2010, Faulk is the longest-tenured current member of the Patriots,...
ran a direct-snap in for a two-point conversion. After forcing a Chargers punt Brady launched a 49-yard strike to Caldwell down to the Chargers 14-yard line, and Stephen GostkowskiStephen GostkowskiStephen Carroll Gostkowski is a placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
kicked the go-ahead field goal. Nate KaedingNate KaedingNathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
's 54-yard field goal try in the final seconds fell short in a 24-21 Patriots win. To add insult to injury, the Patriots excessively celebrated after the final gun and Tomlinson confronted Caldwell, Ellis HobbsEllis HobbsEllis Hobbs III is a former American football cornerback who played for six seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for Iowa State. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft and played for them from 2005–2008...
, and other Patriots and had to be separated, while Philip RiversPhilip RiversPhilip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
called Hobbs "the sorriest cornerback in the league." The loss also led to the firing of coach Marty SchottenheimerMarty SchottenheimerMartin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
and hiring of Norv TurnerNorv TurnerNorval Eugene Turner is the head coach for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers. He also has served as head coach of the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders, and as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers...
. - One year later, the Chargers would face the Patriots again in the 2007 AFC Championship GameAFC Championship GameThe American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American...
after close wins against the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts, ending their 13 year playoff victory drought in the process. However, the wins were not without significant injuries to the team, including LaDainian Tomlinson suffers an injury; keeping him on the sidelines for the entire game, Antonio Gates with a toe injury, and Philip Rivers suffering an ACL injury. Although the Chargers forced three interceptions off Tom Brady, the Patriots took advantage of the battered team, keeping the Chargers out of their end zone and limiting them to four field goals, while scoring three touchdowns for a 21-12 loss, sending the then 18-0 Patriots to Super Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
, which they would go on to lose to the Eli ManningEli ManningEli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
-led New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - On September 14, 2008, in a game played against the Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
at INVESCO Field, the Chargers were the victims of two calls against them in a 39-38 loss.- The first bad call was a play in which a pass from Philip RiversPhilip RiversPhilip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
to Chris ChambersChris ChambersChristopher J. "Chris" Chambers is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
was originally called a fumble recovered by the Broncos' Champ Bailey. Though TV replays clearly showed Chambers was down by contact, the play could not be reviewed due to a malfunction with the replay system. The fumble recovery led to the Broncos' first touchdown of the game. - Later, with about a minute to go in the game and the Chargers leading 38-31, Broncos QB Jay CutlerJay Cutler (American football)Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
fumbled with linebacker Tim DobbinsTim DobbinsTimothy L. Dobbins , an American football linebacker, signed with the Houston Texans of the National Football League in August 2011. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft as an inside linebacker for their 3/4 scheme...
apparently recovering the loose ball. However, due to referee Ed HochuliEd HochuliEdward G. Hochuli is an attorney for the firm of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. since 1983, and better known as an American football official in the National Football League since the 1990 NFL season. His uniform number is 85...
believing the play to have been an incomplete passIncomplete passAn incomplete pass is a term in American football which means that a legal forward pass hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. For example, if the quarterback throws the ball to one of his wide receivers, and the receiver either does not touch it or tries to catch it...
, the play was whistled dead before Dobbins' recovery and the Broncos maintained possession. Two plays later, the Broncos would score a touchdown to close to a 1-point deficit, and running the same play with which they'd just scored a touchdown, succeeded with the game-winning two-point conversion.
- The first bad call was a play in which a pass from Philip Rivers
- The two above calls would help send the Chargers to a 4-8 record and the Broncos to a 8-4 record by Week 12 of the 2008 season, with little hope for the Chargers to win the division. However the Chargers rallied to win the remainder of their games; while the Broncos the complete opposite, capping the rally with a Chargers 52-21 win over the Broncos on week 17, clinching the division. The Chargers won their Wild Card game against the Colts 23-17, but the momentum would end with a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, 35-24.
- In 2009, Chargers finished the season with a 13-3 record and the #2 seed and a first round bye in the AFC Playoffs, with an 11 game winning streak, the longest active win streak at the time. In the divisional round, the Chargers hosted the New York Jets, who some argued that the Jets made it to the playoffs by default as their last two regular season they played teams which sat their starters as they had locked up their divisions. However with the #1 rushing offense and passing defense, the Jets were able to beat the Chargers, 17-14. The Chargers had 10 penalties, most of which were personal fouls. Nate KaedingNate KaedingNathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
, despite having the title of most accurate kicker in the league, missed 3 key field goals and during a key play, a pass from Philip RiversPhilip RiversPhilip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
bounced off the cleat of Wide Receiver Vincent JacksonVincent JacksonVincent Jackson , nicknamed "Action Jackson", is an American football wide receiver who currently plays in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers....
and landed in the chest of safety Darrelle RevisDarrelle RevisThough Revis was not the first defensive back drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft , he was the first cornerback taken that year...
while he was on the ground. Adding more dismay to San Diego fans, this turned out to be LaDainian TomlinsonLaDainian TomlinsonLaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
's last game as a Charger, who signed with the Jets the next year; while in that same postseason, former quarterback Drew BreesDrew BreesDrew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
went on to lead the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
to their first ever Super BowlSuper Bowl XLIVSuper Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
victory and received game MVP honors. The Chargers have not returned to the playoffs since.
San Diego Rockets/Conquistadors/Clippers
- The ConquistadorsSan Diego ConquistadorsThe San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the "Q's", were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. They were the only expansion team in the history of the ABA. The team played from 1972 to 1975. They were replaced in the ABA by the San Diego Sails.-San Diego...
signed Wilt ChamberlainWilt ChamberlainWilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
as a player-coach in 1973, but the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
sued to block him from playing for them, limiting him to coaching duties. - Twenty Two years after the Rockets relocated to Houston, they won two consecutive NBA finals in 19941994 NBA FinalsThe 1994 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1993–94 National Basketball Association season, featuring the Western Conference's Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference's New York Knicks....
and 19951995 NBA FinalsThe 1995 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1994–95 NBA season. The series pitted the Orlando Magic against the Houston Rockets. The pre-series hype and build-up of the Finals was centered around the meeting of the two centers Shaquille O'Neal of the Magic and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Rockets...
. - The Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, who have been inept for years after leaving Buffalo and before going to Los Angeles, played a few years in San Diego.
San Diego State Aztecs
BASKETBALL- In 2010-11 season, the Aztecs were ranked as high as #4 in the country by putting up a 34-3 record. They lost in the Sweet 16 to eventual champion, and worse-seeded Connecticut.
- Later that year, Aztecs star player Kawhi Leonard's draft stock plummeted as he fell out of the NBA Draft Lottery
FOOTBALL
- 1990, the Aztecs faced top ranked Miami Hurricanes and SDSU Placekicker Andy Trakas missed 3 field goals in the 4th quarter (including the game winner) in a 28-30 loss. In fact, you can go back and review the collegiate career of Andy Trakas' missed field goals which thereby created a phrase often referenced by Aztec alums of that era with "I Trakas'd it" or "He totally Trakas'd it."
- However, the Aztecs convincingly beat Navy in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl, with a final score of 35-14. The win, combined with the lopsided score, might mean that Aztec football is no longer affected by the curse.
Untimely player deaths
Several players on San Diego teams have had untimely deaths.- Former Padre Alan WigginsAlan WigginsAlan Anthony Wiggins was a Major League Baseball second baseman and left fielder. He was the first baseball player known to die of AIDS.-Early career:Wiggins was born in 1958 in Los Angeles, California...
died from AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in 1991, former Padre Eric ShowEric ShowEric Vaughn Show was a Major League Baseball player who played for most of his career with the San Diego Padres. On September 11, 1985, Show gave up Pete Rose's record-breaking 4,192nd career hit...
died of a heart attack in 1994, and Mike DarrMike DarrMichael Curtis Darr was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the San Diego Padres . His father, Mike Sr., pitched for the expansion Toronto Blue Jays in 1977. Brother Ryan played in the Detroit organization for many years before ending his baseball career...
was killed in a car accident at the age of 25 in 2002. - Ken CaminitiKen CaminitiKenneth Gene Caminiti was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball and the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player. He was born in Hanford, California, and attended San Jose State University...
died from a drug overdose in 2004, three years after his retirement from MLB. He won the National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's MVPMLB Most Valuable Player AwardThe Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
award as a Padre in 1996. - The Chargers defeated the heavily-favored Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the 1994 AFC Championship game. Within 18 months, Chargers running back Rodney Culver was killed in a plane crash in Florida and Chargers linebacker David GriggsDavid Griggs (American football)David Griggs David Griggs David Griggs (February 5, 1967 in Camden, New Jersey – June 19, 1995 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida was a linebacker in the National Football League for six seasons. He started in Super Bowl XXIX for the San Diego Chargers. Griggs attended the University of Virginia. He...
died in a car accident. - Including Griggs and Culver, 5 members of the Chargers only Super Bowl team have died untimely deaths. Linebacker Doug Miller was fatally struck by two bolts of lightning in July 1998 in Colorado. Center Curtis WhitleyCurtis WhitleyCurtis Wayne Whitley was an American football center in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the San Diego Chargers , the Carolina Panthers , and the Oakland Raiders . Born in Smithfield, North Carolina, he graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School before attending Clemson...
and defensive lineman Chris MimsChris MimsChristopher Eddie Mims was an American football defensive end in the National Football League who played seven seasons for the San Diego Chargers and one season with the Washington Redskins. Mims retired in 2000 after being cut by the Chicago Bears in training camp that same year...
both died in 2008, at age 39 and 38, respectively. - Former Chargers Defensive Lineman, Shawn Lee, who played with the 1994 AFC Championship team, died in 2011 from cardiac arrest.
See also
- Sports-related cursesSports-related cursesA sports-related curse is a superstitious belief in the effective action of some power or evil, that is used to explain the failures or misfortunes of specific sports teams, players, or even cities...
- San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe 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...
- San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- San Diego State Aztecs