The Walla Walla Padres were the short-season Class A farm club of the San Diego Padres for ten summers from 1973 through 1982. Prior to the Padres arrival in 1973, the city hosted Northwest League baseball for four seasons under affiliations with the Philadelphia Phillies (1969-1971) and the Hawaii Islanders (1972) of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. Future Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Tony Gwynn both played for Walla Walla during the Padres era.
The Portland Mavericks. This renegade ball club existed for only five summers, but managed to leave an indelible stamp (their contemporary detractors might have said “stain”) on the landscape of minor league baseball. The Mavs came to town in 1973 after the Beavers, Portland’s long-time entry in the Pacific Coast League, moved to Spokane, Washington. It didn’t seem like a promising trade-off for Portland baseball fans …at least, not at first.
*Like our new look? Next up: site speed. You can help with a tip for our Speed Fund today. Thank you!
