The Padres might suck in 2009, but they can still poke fun at the Cubs
Posted by: Richie Rich in Cubs, Padres, Promotions, Sick and Wrong2009 isn’t expected to be a great season for the San Diego Padres.
- The Padres are coming off a last-place finish in the NL West (63-99)
- Baseball Prospectus predicts them to stay in the basement (74-88)
- They’ve been trying to trade their Ace Starting pitcher, 2007 Cy Young winner Jake Peavy
- Trevor Hoffman’s bobblehead is now with the Brewers
- And Baseball America ranked the Padres’ farm system 29th … of 30 teams.
In fact, the Padres’ greatest cause for celebration during the 2009 season is their past. More specifically, the Padres’ 40th anniversary as a ballclub … and the 25th anniversary of their 1984 National Peague Pennant.
You remember 1984 (or maybe you don’t) - when the Padres came back from an two game deficit against the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS to win three straight and go to their first World Series.
In fact, the Padres will be having a 1984 NL Champions Weekend the weekend of May 22-24. There will be Fireworks on Friday, a NL Champs celebration game on Saturday (most likely with lots of players from the 1984 team on the field), and T-Shirt and Batting Helmet giveaways all weekend. I’d also expect the Padres to wear throwback of their hideous 1984 kits (pictured above) for at least one of the games.
But that celebration will be a slap in the face of their opponents that weekend -
The Chicago Cubs.
Ouch. That’s just stone cold harsh. I think it tops the guy who wrote “CUBS SUCK” in the snow in St Louis.
And somehow … I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Do You?
I haven’t been able to find any news about the Padres wearing 1984 throwbacks anytime that weekend, but I’m willing to bet they will. But it would really irk me if the Cubs also donned throwbacks during the series – why help celebrate one of the most excruciating failures in your team’s history?
Then again, the Cubs have done some weird crap before – like honoring Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” at Wrigley a few years back – who else honors another team’s Home Runs? And the Brewers did the throwback thing in a game against the Cardinals while commemorating the 1982 AL Champion Brewers - even though the Cardinals beat the Brew Crew in that World Series.
So to all you Cub fans who might be considering a trip to San Diego in late May … consider your sentimental arses officially warned.
Because if you go to San Diego to watch your Cubbies … you’re gonna see lots of video of Steve Garvey hitting that Game 4 ninth-inning Home Run (pictured above), and lots of T-Shirts like these …
That Cub-Busters shirt was so apropos in 1984, what with Ghostbusters being the #1 movie and all. And that shirt was prophetic too, considering Leon Durham misplayed a ball that pretty much ended the Cubs’ season. Nice how some copyright-savvy T-Shirt bootlegger reversed the “C” on that cap.
Act like you’ve been there before. Even if you haven’t.
Entries (RSS)
March 6th, 2009 at 12:12 am
You know, I’m not a Padres fan but I’ve always liked their early 80’s uniforms. It’s different. It’s not cookie-cutter dull. I wish they’d get back to it. I hope they wear them all season long, if only to annoy boring people who like boring things.
March 6th, 2009 at 9:55 am
[...] bad will the Padres be next year? (Home Run [...]
March 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I was in San Diego last year to watch the Cubs play. Unfortunately they lost the game I went to, but for a losing team their fans do talk alot of sh*t. Especially for a team whose only been to one WS and didn’t even win it. Cubs would’ve put up a better showing in the 84 WS than the friars. I was in an elevator in the parking garage in which I parked and they were talking like it was 84 all over again. They even sang na na na hey hey goodbye. I held the elevator door as I stepped out and I told them while you’re team is on a golf course you can watch my team in the playoffs. I was right even if it was for only 3 games.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Brain -
The Padres went to two World Series (1984 and 1998). Mind you, they got their asses pounded like the new guy at San Quentin both times.
March 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Brian-
Your team played 3 extra games and got swept. Nice show in the playoffs. I’m sure the Padre players delayed their golf out long enough for the Cubs to join them.
March 6th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
[...] Okay, is it just me … or does anyone else take offense at the fact that the San Diego padres have scheduled their celebration of the 25th Anniversary of their 1984 National League Pennant the weekend of May 22-24? [...]
March 7th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Padres also the franchise that had John Kruck in Center!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Richie –
Your question: “who else honors another team’s Home Runs?”
Answer: The Padres. During the Sosa/McGwire single season home run record race the Padres ignited fireworks when Sosa hit a home run in Qualcomm Stadium.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
the cubs will wear detroit tigers throwback jerseys.