The San Diego Padres are one of the teams featured in the classic APBA baseball card simulation game. For those unfamiliar, APBA (A.G. Spalding and Brothers) was a company that produced baseball cards with statistical data and pictures of players that could be used to simulate games between teams. While the Padres franchise is relatively new, having begun play in 1969, they were included in later editions of the APBA game starting in the 1970s. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key Padres players and seasons that were part of the APBA experience.
One of the most notable early Padres featured in APBA sets was pitcher Randy Jones. Drafted by the Padres in 1971, Jones had a breakout season in 1976 when he went 22-14 with a 2.74 ERA and won both the Cy Young Award and Gold Glove. That dominant 1976 campaign made Jones one of the most valuable Padres cards in the mid-1970s APBA editions. His stats, which APBA accurately captured, translating into strong simulated performances on the mound for Padres squads. Jones continued pitching effectively for San Diego through the late 1970s, giving APBA users several seasons of one of the franchise’s first true ace pitchers.
Another impactful Padres player included in APBA was first baseman/outfielder Nate Colbert. Drafted in 1968, Colbert had prodigious power that translated well to the APBA system. In 1972, he smacked 35 home runs for the Padres. APBA captured Colbert’s raw power numbers that season, making him a dangerous run producer in simulated games. Colbert remained with the Padres through 1976, giving several years of one of the game’s early big boppers. His cards provided offense that was critical for competing with higher powered lineups from other teams in the APBA system.
The late 1970s brought the emergence of two Padres who became APBA stalwarts – pitcher Gaylord Perry and outfielder/first baseman Dave Winfield. Perry, acquired before the 1978 season, immediately helped stabilize the rotation. APBA accurately reflected Perry’s pitching acumen, making him a workhorse that could pitch deep into games and win consistently for simulated Padres nines. Meanwhile, Winfield exploded onto the scene in 1973. His combination of power, speed, and defense translated perfectly in APBA. Winfield’s well-rounded cards made him a cornerstone for any user’s Padres lineup throughout the late 1970s.
As the franchise moved into the 1980s, the APBA Padres roster reflected their continued development. Pitcher Eric Show captured the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1978 thanks to a 13-11 record and 3.36 ERA. APBA users could now call upon the effective Show for starting assignments. Meanwhile, the rise of local product and catcher Terry Kennedy added a thumping bat behind the plate. Kennedy’s offensive prowess, with power and average, strengthened the Padres attack in simulated games. The additions of Show and Kennedy showed how APBA tracked the Padres improvements from year to year.
One of the most successful Padres teams of the 1980s took the field in 1984. Led by NL MVP pitcher Steve Garvey and Cy Young winner LaMarr Hoyt, the ’84 Padres won the NL pennant before falling to the Tigers in the World Series. APBA perfectly situated Garvey as the emotional and statistical leader of the club. Meanwhile, Hoyt’s dominant season, going 24-10 with a 3.66 ERA, translated to ace-level simulated pitching performances. APBA captured the magic of 1984 by reflecting how Garvey and Hoyt powered one of the franchise’s best teams to date. Users could now experience the thrill of that ’84 campaign through simulated games.
As the 1980s continued, the APBA Padres box reflected their slow decline back to the bottom of the division. But emerging talents like pitcher Eric Show, who won 15 games in 1985, and slugging outfielder Kevin McReynolds gave users building blocks for future contention. And when the “Slam Diego” Padres emerged in the late 1980s-early 1990s behind the bats of Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff, and Gary Sheffield, APBA was again there to capture the excitement. Gwynn’s elite hitting skills, McGriff’s prodigious power, and Sheffield’s five-tool talents made for a dangerous offensive attack in simulated play.
The APBA baseball card game was excellent at tracking the ebbs and flows of the San Diego Padres franchise over their early decades of existence. From their expansion days through contending teams in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, APBA reflected the key players and seasons that shaped Padres history. For fans and users of the classic simulation system, the APBA Padres boxes provided the tools to experience the franchise’s development through the thrill of simulated baseball. Even today, APBA remains the best way to relive the history of America’s “Swingin’ Friar.”
