Sixto's '82 Season

I think this photo of Sixto Lezcano sums up baseball, and life, in the late 1970s.

But that's a discussion for another day. Today I'd like to talk about Sixto's 1982 season with the San Diego Padres.

Sixto came to the Padres on December 10, 1981, in one of the more fateful trades of baseball's modern era. The St. Louis Cardinals traded Sixto, Garry Templeton and a PTBNL (Luis DeLeon) to the Drinos for Steve Mura, a PTBNL (Al Olmstead) and Ozzie Smith. Ozzie obviously became a Hall of Famer and helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series title, two other World Series appearances, and countless franchising opportunities. Mura, though he'd only pitch three more seasons, started thirty games for the Cardinals' '82 World Series team. Al Olmstead sucked.

On the Padres side of the deal, Templeton, and to a lesser extent, DeLeon, helped the team to the '84 World Series, but Templeton, a pure monster in his first few seasons with St. Louis, never recaptured the All-Star potential he flashed in those early Redbird years. DeLeon pitched well in '82 and '83, less so in '84 and '85, and left to the Orioles as a free agent after the '85 season.

But what of Sixto?

He only played 1 1/2 seasons with the Drinos - shipped off in the middle of '83 ostensibly, I believe, to make room in the outfield for a couple of beasts named Kevin McReynolds and Tony Gwynn - but that one full season was a quietly beastish year that I won't soon forget. (I don't really remember it as it happened - '82 was my first cognizant summer - but it looks pretty beastish in retrospect.)

Playing RF and batting primarily fourth or fifth in the lineup, Sixto put together a solid season for a .500 ballclub. In 470 ABs, he triple slashed at .289/.388/.472, knocking 16 bombs and plating 84 ribeyes. He walked more than he struck out - always a nice little stat to feature - and even tripled 6 times. He crushed lefties to the tune of .326, but could also hit tough right-handers, batting .287 against right-handed starters. At 28 and in his prime, he was, to use Baseball-Reference's Similarity Scores, a lot like Dwight Evans.

Looking at the game logs on Baseball-Reference, I'm particulary enamored of his 4-6, 2 bomb, 4 ribeye game on April 23 against the eventual NL West Champion Braves. Sixto's 3-run bomb in the top of the 12th off Rick Camp provided the margin of victory. (Note: his first bomb of that game was a 4th inning smoker off HOFer Phil Niekro who happened to go 17-4 in '82.) Also worth mentioning is his work in a doubleheader sweep of the Reds on July 31. Sixto went 6-7 over the two games, hitting 3 bombs with 7 ribeyes. They're probably still talking about that in Cincinnati.

Finally, how many joints did Sixto smoke before taking this picture:


What a beast.

1984 NL Champions Weekend At Petco

Saturday, May 23, 2009 ... one of the supreme great nights I've had as a Padre fan. I already mentioned that I was in town for the 84 NL Champions Weekend and I attended the games Friday and Saturday. Both nights were stellar - not the least because the Padres brought home wins over the Cubs each night - but Saturday was particularly choice as members of the '84 Padres squad were in attendance to sign autographs and participate in a pre-game ceremony.

What a beastly evening.

The players and coaches were set up at tables in groups of two or three around the Park at the Park starting about 5:30. By 5:35 many of my fellow beast Padre fans were already lined up and waiting for autographs. I grabbed a Coors Louie and jumped in the first line I saw - a particularly long line - and started to wait. After about five minutes I realized the line wasn't moving.

A few minutes later a Petco Park employee walked up and said that this line was the Steve Garvey line and there were shorter waits at other tables. I asked one question: "Where's Bevacqua?" He pointed me off toward the east side of the Park.

I walked over and moments later was standing a few feet away from a couple beasts by the names of Kurt Bevacqua and Greg Harris. As you can see below Kurt is a double-tasker, able to sign autographs and talk on his cell phone at the same time.

As I inched closer, Kurt still showed no signs of letting up on the call. Greg was trying to catch some late afternoon sun.

Another shot of Bevacqua. He hasn't changed much.

Dave Dravecky was also in attendance. I didn't have time to get his autograph but I did snap a few photos as he signed. Incidentally, before I made my way to Dravecky's table I got autographs - though no photos - from Ozzie Virgil, Tim Lollar and Craig Lefferts. Tim and Craig provided one of the funniest moments of the evening. The guy in line ahead of me was complimenting Craig on his pitching, saying that Craig had a great "screwball." Lollar heard that, looked over at Lefferts, and deadpanned, "He's not talking about your pitching."

Another shot of Dave. What a monster.

Terry Kennedy was in the house as well. I think that's Norm Sherry next to him but I could have that wrong. How's that for chasing down the facts?

McReynolds. Still looked like he could suit up and knock a few bombs if needed.

Mark Thurmond. Remember back in the day when the Padres actually employed left-handed starting pitchers? They should try that again someday. I've heard that it can be an effective tactic.

And, of course, the Garv. He was seated with the trainer, Dick Dent. Garvey is such a monster he can't help but look like he's posing. Even when he's actually posing.

Wait. Is that Garvey or Ronald Reagan?

"Yes, I did hit a home run off Lee Smith to win Game 4 of the '84 NLCS. But let's not make too big a deal out of it."

Before the game started the '84 players and coaches rolled out along the warning track in two white limos.

Then Ted Leitner gave a summary of the '84 season, a choice highlights video played on the jumbotron and Ted introduced each player and coach. Here are photos of some of the guys as they walked out.

So choice.