The Padres opened their new Hall of Fame on K Street behind the left field stands just in time for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game at Petco Park.
Fans walk along an 80-foot-long timeline covering the history of not just the Padres, but baseball in San Diego. The trip through time starts in 1871, moves to the Pacific Coast League Padres, to when the Padres joined the Major Leagues, and ends with the present day and Petco Park.
At the center of the room are 13 two-sided panels, one for each Padres Hall of Famer (including Ken Caminiti whose is covered). The panels reflect the career and personal achievements of Padres Hall of Fame members Randy Jones, Nate Colbert, Ray Kroc, Dave Winfield, Jerry Coleman, Buzzie Bavasi, Tony Gwynn, Dick Williams, Trevor Hoffman, Benito Santiago, Garry Templeton and Ted Williams.
Just inside the exit is a Padres All-Time Leaders board with the top five players in franchise history in 12 statistical categories. A trio of video monitors runs in the center of the wall with images of record holders.
Visitors don’t have to go inside the Hall of Fame to appreciate Padre and baseball legends. Outside, fans can see memorabilia from former players in Palm Court Plaza and along K Street is Padres Hall of Fame Plaza. Players inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York who’ve had an impact with the Padres are honored with a replica of their HOF plaque. The plaques of the only two players to go into Cooperstown as Padres, Dave Winfield and Tony Gwynn, are separate from the others and sit on pedestals in front of the wall.
The Padres Hall of Fame will add another player on August 6th when former third baseman Ken Caminiti becomes the 13th Friar to reach franchise immortality.
