S teve Garvey took a mighty swing and drove the ball through the San Diego night It landed beyond the fence in right field setting off a huge celebra tion Garvey had hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning off star relief pitcher Lee Smith The hit gave the Padres a 7 5 win over the Chicago Cubs The victory evened the 1984 National League Cham pionship Series NLCS at two games apiece but the home run was not quite enough to get the Padres to the World Series They would clinch their first National League NL pen nant the next afternoon after a Cubs error But Garvey’s shot had finally given the Padres a defining moment after years buried in last place It remains perhaps the biggest moment in franchise history After all 1984 was only the second time in its history that the team had a winning record And it was hard for some people to take the team seriously Its team Steve Garvey celebrates with his teammates after hitting the game Steve Garvey celebrates with his teammates after hitting the game winning home run in Game 4 of the 1984 NLCS winning home run in Game 4 of the 1984 NLCS A WORLD SERIES AT LAST 5
colors of brown and yellow were even a joke often referred to as mustard and mud Garvey had been a star with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers He joined the Padres as a free agent at the start of the 1983 season That it was a former Dodger who saved the Padres season made the home run even more remarkable The Padres were led by hard-nosed manager Dick The Garv The Garv The Garv Steve Garvey was known for two Steve Garvey was known for two Steve Garvey was known for two things his muscular forearms and things his muscular forearms and his position as the star first baseman his position as the star first baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers He with the Los Angeles Dodgers He with the Los Angeles Dodgers He had been a fixture with the Dod ers had been a fixture with the Dodgers had been a fixture with the Dodgers since the early 1970s helping them since the early 1970s helping them since the early 1970s helping them reach four World Series When his reach four World Series When his reach four World Series When his contract e pired after the 1982 sea contract expired after the 1982 sea contract expired after the 1982 sea son he became one of the top free son he became one of the top free son he became one of the top free son he became one of the top free agents on the market The Padres agents on the market The Padres agents on the market The Padres made the strongest push for him made the strongest push for him For some fans it was odd seeing a For some fans it was odd seeing a former rival wearing a Padres uni former rival wearing a Padres uni former rival wearing a Padres uni ii form After his landmark home run form After his landmark home run in the NLCS however he cemented in the NLCS however he cemented in the NLCS however he cemented in the NLCS however he cemented his place in Padres history h his place in Padres history his place in Padres history h l d Williams They won their first NL West title in 1984 Their record of 92 70 earned them a berth against the Cubs in the NLCS There were only two divisions at that time so the two division winners played for the pennant It looked as though the Cubs were going to embar rass the Padres Chicago won the opener 13 0 in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field They hit five home runs while keep ing the Padres scoreless The next afternoon the Cubs won 4 2 It seemed as though it would be a quick series The Padres flew home to San Diego They could hardly believe their eyes when their buses pulled into the parking lot at Jack Murphy Stadium They were greeted by thou sands of cheering hopeful fans Two nights later the Padres played the first home playoff game in team history It was 6 SAN DIEGO PADRES
Padres pitcher Rich Goose Gossage pitches during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs a beauty Cheered by a sellout crowd the Padres won 7 1 Ed Whitson’s pitching and Kevin McReynolds’s three-run home run led the team to victory The momentum clearly had shifted The next night it was Garvey’s turn to shine He fin ished 4-for-5 with five runs batted in RBIs including his famous home run The series went to the deciding Game 5 and the Padres did not disap point their loyal fans The Cubs took a 3 0 lead but the Padres came back The game turned on a Tim Flannery grounder The ball went through first A WORLD SERIES AT LAST 7
