The Athletic released the honorees in their MLB All-Quarter Century team as voted on by fans, and four San Diego Padres made the cut on the 40-man roster.
The first and most easily recognizable Padre on the list is Trevor Hoffman, who made the team as one of the six closers. Hoffman was a mainstay in the back of the San Diego Padres from 1993-2008. Hoffman is second in MLB history in saves with 601, trailing only Mariano Rivera. Hoffman is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and was selected to seven All-Star teams.
MLB journeyman Matt Stairs was selected as the team’s pinch hitter, a niche position that goes along with his brief stint in San Diego. Stairs only played 78 for the Padres in 2010 but was known for his clutch pinch hitting, particularly with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
These were the only two players recognized, but the Padres also had representation in the team’s leadership.
Former Padres manager Bruce Bochy was named the team’s manager. Bochy started his managerial career in San Diego, managing the Padres from 1995-2006. He won NL Manager of the Year in 1996. From there, Bochy went on to win three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants and another in 2023 with the Texas Rangers, where he is still managing. Bochy also played catcher for the Padres for five seasons from 1983-87.
The Padres were also represented in former Padres director of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who was named as the All-Quarter Century team’s executive. Epstein was in San Diego from 1997-2001. He is best known for being the executive in charge of assembling the rosters that ended the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs’ historic World Series droughts.
Lastly, one of the Padres’ minor league affiliates got some love. The El Paso Chihuahuas in AAA were named as the best minor-league name.
