The Rockies, who collect 23 hits, equal a franchise record for runs scored when the team routs the Padres, 20-1. Colorado outfielder Matt Holliday also ties a club mark, accomplished three times previously, with an eight-RBI day, homering twice in the Coors Field contest.
On September 9, 2003, Cardinal pitcher Bud Smith becomes the second man to throw a no-hitter against the Padres this season. Smith beats the 4-0, in San Diego. Earlier, on May 12, A.J. Burnett of the Dodgers had no-hit the Padres, also in their home park.
The Padres trade starting pitcher Oliver Perez, along with prospect Jason Bay, to the Pirates for outfielder Brian Giles. The Canadian-born Bay will be selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Year next season.
2002 – The Reds and Padres reach an agreement to trade Ken Griffey, Jr. for Phil Nevin, but Nevin, with a no-trade clause in his contract, nixes the deal. He says he will only agree to a trade to a West Coast team that trains in Arizona. Griffey tore a tendon in his knee during the first week of last season, setting up another season limited by leg injuries. He also pulled a hamstring and strained hip muscles, limiting him to 70 games, a .264 average, eight homers and 23 RBIs. In a week, the White Sox will turn down an offer of Griffey for Magglio Ordonez.
2002 – Jesse Orosco, agrees to a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres estimated at $800,000. Orosco started his major league career in 1979 with the New York Mets (traded by the Minnesota Twins for Jerry Koosman). He will retire next season at age 45, after setting a major league record with 1,252 games pitched.
For the fifth straight season, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson records 300 strikeouts, breaking his own record of four consecutive years. The feat also ties the ‘Big Unit’ with Nolan Ryan, having a total of six 300 strikeout seasons.
Recording his 321st save for the San Diego Padres, Trevor Hoffman sets a new major league record for the most saves for one team, surpassing the mark set by Dennis Eckersley with the Oakland Athletics. The long-time San Diego closer, now eighth on the all-time list, was traded as a rookie by the Florida Marlins as part of the Gary Sheffield deal in 1993.
2002 – All-Star outfielder Gary Sheffield is traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Brian Jordan, pitcher Odalis Perez and a minor league player. The deal ends Sheffield’s stormy tenure with the Dodgers.
On the last day of the season, Rickey Henderson bloops a double down the right-field line off Rockies’ hurler John Thomson to become the 25th major leaguer to collect 3000 hits. Tony Gwynn, who is playing in his last major league game and is also a member of the 3000 hit club, meets the Padre outfielder at home plate in front of a sellout crowd Qualcomm Park.
Rickey Henderson, with his third-inning home run, breaks Ty Cobb’s mark to become the leading run-scorer in baseball history. The 42 year-old Padres outfielder slides into home to punctuate scoring his record-breaking 2,246th run.