The 1983 San Diego Padres season was the 15th season in franchise history. The team finished with an 81–81 record, their second year in a row finishing 81–81. They scored 653 runs and allowed 653 runs for a run differential of zero,[1] becoming only the second team (after the 1922 Chicago White Sox) with a .500 winning percentage and a zero run differential.[2]
This was the final season under the ownership of Ray Kroc, as he died on January 14, 1984. Ownership of the Padres would pass to Kroc's widow Joan, who would continue to own the team until 1990.
Offseason
November 3, 1982: Dave Edwards was released by the Padres.[3]
December 21, 1982: Steve Garvey was signed as a free agent by the Padres.[5]
Regular season
In 1983, Steve Garvey set a National League record with 1207 consecutive games played. The streak lasted from September 3, 1975, to July 29, 1983. The streak ended when he broke his thumb in a collision at home plate against the Atlanta Braves.
August 31, 1983: Sixto Lezcano and a player to be named later were traded by the Padres to the Philadelphia Phillies for players to be named later. The Phillies completed their part of the deal by sending Marty Decker, Ed Wojna, Lance McCullers, and Darren Burroughs (minors) to the Padres on September 20. The Padres completed their part of the deal by sending Steve Fireovid to the Phillies on October 11.[10]
^Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007