Don Zimmer replaces Preston Gomez as manager
On April 25 1972, After getting off to a 4-7 start, the Padres fire Preston Gomez, and replace the only manager the team has known since their inception in 1969 with 41 year-old third base coach Don Zimmer. The Cuban-born skipper averaged over 103 losses per season during his three-year tenure with the expansion team.