The San Diego Padres retired jersey number No. 51 of Trevor Hoffman Sunday night, honoring him with a ceremony during the game.
The celebration for one of San Diego’s most popular baseball players came as a surprise to Hoffman.
“I was blown away,” Hoffman said. “I am in shock—it’s a once in a lifetime gift.”
During the ceremony, the Padres organization gave Hoffman a 1958 Cadillac and a more personal gift: a 30-year-old video of his father singing the national anthem at Wrigley Field. Ed Hoffman died in 1995.
“Having not heard his voice in a while, it was an amazing moment,” Hoffman said.
The All-Time saves leader is the fifth Padres to have his number retired, joining Steve Garvey, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield and Randy Jones.