Major League Baseball, the San Diego Padres and Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer Friday, July 17, unveiled the official logo of the 2016 All-Star Game, which will be played at Petco Park on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.
The official logo of baseball’s 87th Midsummer Classic features a classic baseball diamond shape, which also reflects the central location of the Padres franchise and Petco Park in the heart of San Diego’s downtown and East Village communities. Through the historic Gaslamp Quarter Archway, which incorporates the architecture of Petco Park, one can see reflections of San Diego’s renowned beautiful weather through its clear blue sky and southern California landscape. Padres navy and white are punctuated with battleship grey, reflective of the city’s rich naval tradition, along with sunshine yellow and highlights of a graduated sky blue.
The 2016 All-Star Game will mark the third time that the Padres will serve as hosts of the Midsummer Classic, with Petco Park joining Jack Murphy Stadium (previously known as San Diego Stadium) as a host of the festivities. The Padres previously welcomed the event in 1978 and 1992.
“We’re excited to welcome fans and players alike to Petco Park for the first time in All-Star Game history,” Faulconer said. “San Diego has a long history of hosting premier sporting events, and working together with the Padres and Major League Baseball we’re ready to showcase San Diego to the world.”
Those in attendance for this morning’s unveiling before the club’s evening game against the Colorado Rockies included Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler; Padres president and CEO Mike Dee; Padres legend Randy Jones, a two-time All-Star; baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr.; and MLB COO Tony Petitti.
“Major League Baseball is excited to work with the Padres and local officials as we bring the fans of San Diego our 87th All-Star Game next July 12 at Petco Park,” Manfred said. “San Diego is one of our game’s most spectacular cities, and as such, it promises to be an outstanding host of the summer’s greatest sporting event.”
The 1978 All-Star Game was a 7-3 National League victory, the seventh straight Midsummer Classic win for the Senior Circuit. The NL received six innings of shutout relief of starter Vida Blue from Steve Rogers and Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter and Phil Niekro. Steve Garvey won MVP honors with a two-hit, two-RBI performance, which included a game-tying two-run single in the third inning and a leadoff triple in the four-run eighth.
In 1992, the AL scored four runs in the top of the first inning – courtesy of seven straight singles against NL starter Tom Glavine – en route to a decisive 13-6 victory. Ken Griffey Jr. was the MVP with a 3-for-3 performance, which included a third inning home run against Greg Maddux. Griffey joined his father, Ken Sr., to comprise the only father-son tandem in All-Star history to each win Midsummer Classic MVP honors.
“As we begin the countdown to the 2016 All-Star Game here in America’s Finest City, we look forward to working with Major League Baseball and the city to create an unforgettable All-Star experience for baseball fans and for the entire community,” Fowler said. “The next year promises to be not only exciting, highlighting San Diego on a national and international stage, but also impactful, as MLB’s community legacy projects will leave a lasting impression here.”