The San Diego Padres can thank Ray Kroc for the team remaining in San Diego.
Every sports fan has had times when they wanted to yell at a team for playing poorly. And it's certainly reasonable to say that everyone who has ever owned a sports club has experienced many of those moments as well. It's also likely that they occasionally couldn't control the impulse to let loose in a locker room or office.
Kroc was a lifetime baseball lover who was born and raised in Chicago. He once made an unsuccessful bid to purchase the Chicago Cubs, baseball team. The San Diego Padres were then up for sale in 1974, after he had stopped managing McDonald's. According to rumors, he paid $10,100,000 for the squad to prevent another potential buyer from sending them to Washington. He died as the team's owner.
The Padres were within minutes away from the 1974 season getting off to an 0-4 start when Kroc attacked the group. Starting pitcher Steve Arlin had a 45.00 ERA to open the season after allowing six hits and five earned runs in the first inning of their game against Houston. Except for Kroc, none of this was a surprise.
At the time of his purchase, Kroc was regarded as somewhat of salvation for baseball in San Diego. The Padres had three seasons with 100 or more losses over their first five. The squad finished 60-102 in 1973, so Kroc, who was reportedly feeling upbeat, anticipated better times ahead. However, the Padres were outscored 25-2 in their first three games of 1974. Kroc nevertheless seemed upbeat. He urged the fans before the game, "With your aid, and God's help, we'll give 'em hell tonight.
