40 years of Padres baseball

Time flies when you're having fun.

The Padres on Thursday unveiled their 2009 logo, celebrating their 40th anniversary season. That caused Friar John to step back and reflect.

Forty seasons? Really? How can that be?

It seems like just yesterday that Friar John was a mere friar in training, sitting in the nosebleed seats at San Diego Stadium and watching Randy Jones mow down opponents and get us home by 9.

Forty seasons? Just yesterday, FJ was listening through static on the AM dial as Jerry Coleman and Dave Campbell described the debut of that kid from San Diego State. FJ had seen Tony Gwynn play the point for the Aztecs basketball team, and he read a few newspaper stories about how good a hitter he was in the spring. Now, he was getting his chance to prove it.

Forty seasons? Just yesterday, FJ was writing the words as outraged fans protested the departure of star players. The anger about losing Gary Sheffield was taken out on an innocent newcomer named Trevor Hoffman.

Forty seasons? Just yesterday, FJ was lucky enough to witness Hoffman entering the record book as the all-time saves leader. Moreso, FJ was lucky enough to witness Hoffman take time out of his individual moment to share it with bullpen catcher Mark Merila, as Merila continued his long battle against a brain tumor.

Forty seasons have a lot of ups and downs, a lot of cycles. A few seasons like 2008 are the price we pay for seasons like 1984 and 1998. You have to know the bad to fully enjoy the good.

For all the changes that come through the years, the Padres have been a constant over four decades of San Diego life. The franchise grew as the city did. Ask, "How did the Padres do?", and you won't have to wait long for an answer. People know. They care.

It's a good move by the Padres to celebrate their history, their heritage. The team on the field is in transition, no doubt, but these are still our Padres, the San Diego Padres. Major League Baseball arrived in 1969, and it's not going anwhere anytime soon.

Friar John is a bit of a baseball history buff, so you know FJ is happy to see the 40th anniversay logo (pictured) on the home, away and alternate blue jerseys. It won't be on the camouflage jerseys, but that's OK. FJ knows the Padres' support of the military has been a staple of their 40 seasons.

FJ knows not what the 40th-anniversary season will bring in 2009. The names we were just learning in 2008 might become favorites right away. It might take more time.

If 2009 is a season of building for the future, the Padres aren't going to forget the past. Besides the 40th-anniverary logo, the team has a promotional schedule that highlights history.

Some of the dates to remember are Opening Day, April 6 against the Dodgers, when Padres Cap with the 40th-anniversary logo will be given to all fans in attendance.; April 24-26 against the Pirates, when the 1969 Inaugural Season will be remembered; May 22-24 against the Cubs, when the 1984 NL Championship Team will be honored on its 25th anniversary; and Aug. 7-9 against the Mets, Padres Hall of Fame Weekend.

Every home game on Fridays will feature postgame Friarworks. Sunday games will have Kids Givewaways. And Saturdays will feature all-fan premium giveaways.

The details can be found in the team press release on padres.com. And be sure to check out the 40th anniversary page added to padres.com, as well as the 2009 promotion schedule.

One thing is certain. There will be memories made in 2009, memories somebody will be taking about in 2049. FJ hopes he's one doing the talking.

FJ