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Rating: 
Summary: Keeping the faith
Review: I have been a Padre fan since moving to the San Diego area for job reasons in 1994. Mr. Papucci has obviously embarked on a labor of love in recounting the up-and-down history of this franchise from its beginnings in 1969, and moving through the rough first years, the almost-move to Washington, D. C. which was averted when McDonald's founder Ray Kroc bought the club in 1974, the careers of legends Dave Winfield and Tony Gwynn, the astounding 1984 season that culminated in the Padres' first National League pennant and World Series appearance (the same year Ray Kroc died), the sale of the club by Joan Kroc to the Tom Werner group and later to John Moores, the so-called "fire sale" of 1992, the gradual rebuilding of the club that led to the 1998 National League championship (a sometimes overlooked event in that great baseball year), and culminating in the poignant farewell to Mr. Padre himself, eight-time National League batting champion Tony Gwynn, who spent his entire career with the Padres.Mr. Papucci could have devoted some more space to some of the events off the field, which are as much a part of Padre history as what has transpired between the foul lines, such as the behind-the-scenes maneuverings that landed San Diego a major league franchise, the financial troubles of initial owner C. Arnholdt Smith, the long soap-opera-like struggle over where the Padres would play in 1974, and the legal, political and financial maneuverings over the campaign for a new downtown ballpark (finally, Petco Park is scheduled to open next season). As has been noted about another club history, an index at the back of the book would have been helpful. However, the author is at his best in spotlighting players and managers known and loved by Padre fans, including not only Winfield and Gwynn but also Downtown Ollie Brown (the first player chosen), Nate Colbert (the club's first star), Chris Canizzaro, Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones, Ozzie Smith, Steve Garvey, Goose Gossage, Graig Nettles, Dick Williams, the indomitable Dave Dravecky, Bruce Bochy, Wally Joyner, Fernando Valenzuela, Rickey Henderson, Ken Caminiti and Trevor Hoffman. This is a must-read for Padre fans or anybody interested in recent baseball history.
Rating:
Summary: Keeping the faith
Review: I have been a Padre fan since moving to the San Diego area for job reasons in 1994. Mr. Papucci has obviously embarked on a labor of love in recounting the up-and-down history of this franchise from its beginnings in 1969, and moving through the rough first years, the almost-move to Washington, D. C. which was averted when McDonald's founder Ray Kroc bought the club in 1974, the careers of legends Dave Winfield and Tony Gwynn, the astounding 1984 season that culminated in the Padres' first National League pennant and World Series appearance (the same year Ray Kroc died), the sale of the club by Joan Kroc to the Tom Werner group and later to John Moores, the so-called "fire sale" of 1992, the gradual rebuilding of the club that led to the 1998 National League championship (a sometimes overlooked event in that great baseball year), and culminating in the poignant farewell to Mr. Padre himself, eight-time National League batting champion Tony Gwynn, who spent his entire career with the Padres. Mr. Papucci could have devoted some more space to some of the events off the field, which are as much a part of Padre history as what has transpired between the foul lines, such as the behind-the-scenes maneuverings that landed San Diego a major league franchise, the financial troubles of initial owner C. Arnholdt Smith, the long soap-opera-like struggle over where the Padres would play in 1974, and the legal, political and financial maneuverings over the campaign for a new downtown ballpark (finally, Petco Park is scheduled to open next season). As has been noted about another club history, an index at the back of the book would have been helpful. However, the author is at his best in spotlighting players and managers known and loved by Padre fans, including not only Winfield and Gwynn but also Downtown Ollie Brown (the first player chosen), Nate Colbert (the club's first star), Chris Canizzaro, Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones, Ozzie Smith, Steve Garvey, Goose Gossage, Graig Nettles, Dick Williams, the indomitable Dave Dravecky, Bruce Bochy, Wally Joyner, Fernando Valenzuela, Rickey Henderson, Ken Caminiti and Trevor Hoffman. This is a must-read for Padre fans or anybody interested in recent baseball history.
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