After living through 49 Padres season openers, you might think there’d be no big thrill about Opening Day #50.
Oh, doctor, you’d be so wrong.
This is Day One of the most anticipated season in Friardom. On this beautiful spring Thursday, we will witness the San Diego debut of All-Star third baseman Manny Machado; a coming-out party for a heralded rookie, Fernando Tatis Jr.; and the official debut of Padres squad surrounded by hope, hype and a touch of hysteria.
Join Peter Rowe and Sam Hodgson as we catch scenes from a day when dreams meet reality, as the San Diego Padres meet the San Francisco Giants for the first of 2019’s 162-game campaign.
Jane Smith of Mission Valley clutches her hands together as she watches Manny Machado’s first at-bat on Opening Day 2019 for the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
1:23 p.m., bottom of the 1st inning
As Machado steps to the plate for his first Padres at-bat, Jane Smith of Mission Valley clutches her hands. As he fouls off his second strike, someone in the stands murmurs, “He’s trying too hard.”
Sure enough, Machado takes a mighty cut, his body corkscrewing over home plate. Strike three.
Smith shrugs. “Oh, well.”
“It was exciting to see him,” said her husband, Trey Smith. “Obviously, a strikeout was not what we wanted.”
1:02 p.m.
To the strains of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” Navy jets fly overhead.
12:59 p.m.
Here come the starters!
Machado, batting third, receives a 13-second ovation.
Tatis, making his major league debut, is cheered for 10 seconds
12:51 p.m.
The Padres’ staff are announced. Everyone, from assistant trainer to equipment manager, is warmly greeted.
12:50 p.m.
Manager Bruce Bochy gets a loud cheer – he’s a former Padre.
12:48 p.m.
The Giants are announced.
“Booooooooo!”
11:56 a.m.
The Added Attraction, a barber shop quartet, had wrapped up a 1918 hit, “After You’ve Gone,” on the Petco concourse.
A fan questioned the selection. “After You’ve Gone”? Isn’t that kind of negative?
11:35 a.m.
Logan Jimenez was clearly loving his first Opening Day. He was decked out in a Padres jersey, Padres ballcap, Padres onesy and Padres bib. He’s three months old and already a Friar fan for life.
Lying on a blanket in the Park at the Park with his mother, Mithcah, father, Ed, and two and a half year old brother, Orion, he was soaking up the atmosphere. His parents, meanwhile, were scoping out the facilities.
“When it was just me and my husband, the Western Metals Building was our favorite place,” said Mithcah. “Today, I found the Women’s Nursing Area. It’s great.”
11:17 a.m.
Steve and Sam Shinksky rose early Thursday to make the long drive from their Ventura home to Petco Park. Once they got here, they headed to a near-sacred spot: the Tony Gwynn statue behind the outfield.
“He’s my favorite Padre of all time — his, too,” Steve said, nodding toward his 17-year-old son, wearing a Number 19 Gwynn jersey. “We just hope we can find more Padres like him.”
His take on the current team?
“We’re typical Padres fans,” said Steve, who grew up in Kensington and attended San Diego State. “Always hopeful.”
11:02 a.m.
Sean Turner has a full complement of tattoos on his arms, but so far no Padres ink.
“That’s definitely on my bucket list,” said Turner, a Chula Vista resident who is in Cisco’s IT department. “I’m going to get a Friar.”
Where?
“Probably on my leg.”
10:20 a.m.
Danielle Coronado, 20, wasted no time in predicting victory — season-long victory.
“Feels like we are going to the World Series,” said the La Mesa resident, at the head of the long line waiting to enter Petco Park.
Her boyfriend, Luke Costa, also had a bad case of Opening Day emotions. “I feel like I’m a kid again,” said Costa, 25. “I’m just excited baseball is back.”
Machado jerseys, old-school mustard and brown hats and other Padres gear were in great supply among the mob lined up around the gate. Some orange-and-black Giants gear was also evident, including the Madison Bumgarner jersey worn by 11-year-old Ezra Oster, a visitor from Portland.
He was with his mom, Valerie Thompson, and dad, Kaleb Oster, the later in a vintage yellow and black Padres T-shirt.
“I like baseball,” Kaleb said. “I pick up something from every team I see.”
And Ezra? “I like the Giants,” he said.
