Walla Walla Padres
Encyclopedia
The Walla Walla Padres was a Class A baseball team in the Northwest League
that played in the city of Walla Walla, Washington
from 1973 to 1982. The team was affiliated with the San Diego Padres
of Major League Baseball
.
As a minor league franchise, the team have produced such future Major League talent such as Ozzie Smith
(1977), Eric Show
, Ron Tingley
, Bob Geren
(1979–1980), Mark Parent (1979), Greg Booker
, John Kruk
, Tony Gwynn
(1981), Jimmy Jones, Gene Walter
, Ed O'Connell and Mitch Williams. Smith and Gwynn both became members of the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. Geren and Parent both became managers with different teams (Geren with the Oakland A's of MLB and Parent with the Chico Outlaws
of the Golden Baseball League
).
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
that played in the city of Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
from 1973 to 1982. The team was affiliated with 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...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
As a minor league franchise, the team have produced such future Major League talent such as Ozzie Smith
Ozzie Smith
Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is an American former baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996...
(1977), Eric Show
Eric Show
Eric 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...
, Ron Tingley
Ron Tingley
Ronald Irvin Tingley is a former professional baseball catcher. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball between 1982 and 1995....
, Bob Geren
Bob Geren
Robert Peter Geren is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. During a 5-year playing career, he played for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres . He managed the Oakland Athletics from 2007 through 2011...
(1979–1980), Mark Parent (1979), Greg Booker
Greg Booker
Gregory Scott Booker is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1983 until 1990. He also served as a coach for the San Diego Padres from 1997 until 2003, the first four years as bullpen coach, then a season-plus as pitching...
, John Kruk
John Kruk
John Martin Kruk is a former Major League Baseball player and current baseball analyst for ESPN.-Early life and career:...
, Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. , nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres...
(1981), Jimmy Jones, Gene Walter
Gene Walter
Gene Winston Walter is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres , New York Mets , and Seattle Mariners ....
, Ed O'Connell and Mitch Williams. Smith and Gwynn both became members of the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. Geren and Parent both became managers with different teams (Geren with the Oakland A's of MLB and Parent with the Chico Outlaws
Chico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
).
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 51-29 | 1st | Cliff Ditto | |
| 1978 | 45-24 | 2nd | Cliff Ditto | |
| 1979 | 40-30 | 3rd | Curt Daniels | Lost In Finals |
| 1980 | 35-34 | 3rd | Curt Daniels | |
| 1981 | 29-41 | 3rd | Greg Riddoch Greg Riddoch Greg Riddoch is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He was the manager of the San Diego Padres from 1990 to 1992. His career record was 200-194. During his career, he also served as a bench coach for the Padres, as well as third base coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and director of... |
|
| 1982 | 32-38 | 3rd | Jim Skaalen Jim Skaalen James Arnold Skaalen is a former Major League Baseball hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers and the... |
|