Padres were Washington bound for '74

By: JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Thursday, August 4, 2005 11:05 PM PDT ∞

Randy Jones walked into the Padres' offices in December 1973, and stark reality slapped him in the face. "Everything in the office was boxed and taped shut," said Jones, a rookie on that '73 team. "That's when the reality of the team moving set in.

"I'm a Southern California guy, grew up in Orange County, played at Chapman College. Now the team was moving across the country. I was bummed.

"I remember thinking 'This is going to be an adjustment.' "

The Padres, who were born as a National League expansion team in 1969, never drew more than 644,272 fans in any of their first five seasons in San Diego. Strapped for cash, owner C. Arnholt Smith reached agreement early in the '73 season to sell the franchise to Joseph Danzansky, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Giant Foods.

San Diego and Montreal were awarded NL franchises on May 27, 1968. On May 27, 1973, general manager Peter Bavasi called his staff to a meeting after a doubleheader loss to the Phillies and said the team was moving to Washington, D.C., in 1974 or before.

"Peter told everyone to be quiet, not to tell a soul," said Bob Chandler, one of the team's radio voices in '73. "Of course, it was on the news that night and in all the papers the next morning.

"Two weeks later, we were in Philadelphia and since it's two hours from D.C., the ballpark was crawling with media."

The Padres never made it to D.C. in '73 or '74, for that matter.

Tonight, the Padres make their first appearance in the nation's capital since the near move when they tackle the Washington Nationals in RFK Stadium.

Peter Bavasi was sent to D.C. in '73 to tie up the move's loose ends. He even had a manager picked out ---- slugger Frank Robinson, who was nearing the end of a great playing career.

Today, Robinson manages the Nationals.

"They worked very hard to close the deal," Bavasi told the Washington Post. "But it wasn't meant to be."

The Topps Company, the nation's largest baseball card manufacturer, was so convinced the Padres were moving that Series 1 of the company's 1974 set had Padres players listed as "Washington --- Nat'l Lea." The fans were so convinced the team was moving that a Sept. 11 game with Houston in '73 drew a crowd of 1,413, a record low for the team.

"We knew the team was moving, so to be ahead of the game, we printed the Washington cards," said Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi. "Today, those are some of the most-sought cards among collectors, and the popularity of the cards is up this season with the birth of the Nationals.

"The company was 90 percent positive the move was going to happen. Now those Washington cards are one of the most-unique collectibles in Washington baseball history ---- and San Diego, too."

Danzansky was given time to put together a partnership, and in December he was finally given a three-week deadline to finalize his plans. He failed.

Part of the problem was John Witt, the San Diego city attorney. Witt sued and won a ruling that said the club ---- or any new owner ---- would be liable for the 15 years left of the team's lease of then San Diego Stadium.

Not knowing if that lease and the damages from a loss in court would run into the multimillions, Danzansky pulled out.

Marge Everett, who owned Hollywood Park, stepped up as a potential buyer. Because of her ties to gambling, she was told she would never be approved as an owner.

"So Major League Baseball was ready to step in and run the Padres in San Diego in 1974," Chandler said. "Just like MLB did with the Montreal Expos before they moved to Washington this season. Kind of ironic, huh?"

Not long after MLB agreed to run the club, Padres president Buzzie Bavasi set up a lunch with Smith and McDonald's owner Ray Kroc.

On the TV show "Heart of San Diego" Buzzie Bavasi said that during that meeting, Kroc asked Smith if his ballclub was for sale. When Smith said yes, Kroc asked what he wanted for it. Smith said $12 million, and Kroc wrote a check.

"There were so many rumors floating around back then, it was crazy," Jones said. "So when we got the word Ray Kroc was buying the team and keeping it in San Diego, we were thrilled.

"We were very short on talent in those early years, but I do remember Mr. Kroc made a major effort to improve the club."

Veteran outfielder Matty Alou was acquired from the Cardinals for cash. Slugger Willie McCovey was picked up in a trade. Veteran second baseman Glenn Beckert was acquired from Kroc's beloved Cubs. And veteran outfielder Bobby Tolan came over from the Reds in a trade for pitchers Dave Tomlin and Clay Kirby.

They were supposed to mix with young stars such as Jones, Dave Winfield, Nate Colbert, Cito Gaston, Dave Roberts and sweet-swinging Johnny Grubb.

But Alou hit .198, Beckert played in just 64 games and hit .256, and Tolan hit .266 in 95 games. McCovey produced to the tune of 22 home runs and 63 RBIs.

The result was a second straight 60-102 season.

But for the first time in club history, the Padres drew more than 1 million fans.

"Mr. Kroc was the people's owner," Jones said. "The fans loved him. He pulled it together, saved the franchise."

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.