Best Padres player to wear each uni number

SAN DIEGO -- From 0 through 91, these are the best players to wear each number ever worn by a Padre:

0) Raffy Lopez: The only Padre to wear 0, Lopez played 37 games for the Padres in 2018 and hit a memorable go-ahead home run against the Dodgers that May.

00) Jack Clark: Clark wore 00 in 1990, when he batted .266/.441/.533 and led the National League with 104 walks.

1) Ozzie Smith: Some notable Padres shortstops have worn 1, including Garry Templeton, Tony Fernandez and Everth Cabrera. But the Wizard gets the nod here.

2) Alan Wiggins: A force on the bases in the early 1980s, Wiggins was an integral part of the Padres’ run to the ‘84 NL pennant, batting mostly leadoff and swiping 70 bags.

3) Khalil Greene: Widely regarded as the best shortstop in franchise history (at least until Fernando Tatis Jr. assumes that perch one day), Greene spent six solid seasons in San Diego.

4) Quilvio Veras: One of the top second basemen in franchise history, Veras was the perfect on-base threat to sit atop the order on a juggernaut 1998 offense.

5) Kevin Kouzmanoff: Kouzmanoff batted .263/.309/.436 across three seasons with the Padres from 2007-09.

6) Steve Garvey: The first retired number on this list, Garvey spent five seasons in San Diego and authored the biggest home run in franchise history, a walk-off blast in Game 4 of the 1984 NL Championship Series against the Cubs.

? Full list of Padres retired numbers

7) Chase Headley: Headley's Padres peak came in 2012, when he was a force with the bat and the glove and finished fifth in voting for the NL MVP Award. He also wore Nos. 16 and 12 during his nine seasons in San Diego, over which he batted .263/.344/.405.

8) Mark Loretta: A 15-year big leaguer, Loretta had his best seasons while wearing No. 8 in San Diego from 2003-05. He batted .314/.377/.438 and was an All-Star in '04.

9) Benito Santiago: Santiago, who won NL Rookie of the Year in 1987 and holds the franchise record with a 34-game hitting streak, gets the slight edge at No. 9 over Graig Nettles.

10) Gary Sheffield: Sheffield made a serious challenge for a Triple Crown in 1992 but fell short in homers and RBIs. Still, he's the only Padre not named Tony Gwynn to capture a batting title.

11) Tim Flannery: An integral bench piece in San Diego from 1980-90, Flannery wore No. 11 for the last seven of those seasons, switching from No. 6 when the team acquired Garvey.

12) Steve Finley: An integral piece on two Padres playoff teams in 1996 and '98, Finley gets the slight edge over Roberto Alomar.

13) Manny Machado: Machado is already the best to don 13 in San Diego, and he's got plenty of time to add to that legacy.

14) Carmelo Martinez: Martinez was a central figure as a rookie on the 1984 pennant-winning Padres, and he batted .248/.341/.408 across six seasons in San Diego.

15) Bruce Bochy: Bochy wore 15 as both the Padres' catcher in the 1980s and as Padres manager from 1995-2006.

16) Terry Kennedy: In contention alongside Santiago for the best catcher in Padres history, Kennedy batted .274 over six seasons while anchoring the 1984 pennant winners behind the dish.

17) Nate Colbert: Colbert, who played on the first Padres team in 1969, still holds the franchise record with 163 home runs.

18) Gene Tenace: One of the all-time most underrated Padres, Tenace posted a .403 on-base percentage across four seasons with the Padres from 1977-80. That mark still stands as a club record.

19) Tony Gwynn: No doubt about this one. Gwynn is Mr. Padre, and there's a special place for "19" in the hearts of San Diegans. In his 20 seasons, Gwynn batted .338 -- the highest mark since Ted Williams -- and won eight batting titles.

20) Jerry Turner: Not much to choose from at 20, but Turner was one of the great pinch-hitters in franchise history and he batted .259/.321/.390 across nine seasons in San Diego.

21) Ken Caminiti: Caminiti spent four seasons anchoring third base in San Diego from 1995-98. In '96 he became the only Padre to win the NL MVP Award -- and he did so unanimously.

22) Wally Joyner: An immensely valuable piece on the late-'90s Padres, Joyner batted .298/.370/.453 during San Diego's run to its second NL pennant in 1998.

23) Fernando Tatis Jr.: Adrián González batted .288/.374/.514 in San Diego from 2006-10, reaching three All-Star Games as one of the best first basemen of his generation. He undoubtedly would be the best player at most other numbers in franchise history. But with his brilliant 2021 season, Tatis may have already surpassed González as the top No. 23 in franchise history. He’s the only Padre with consecutive top-five MVP finishes.

24) Brian Giles: Giles racked up 17.4 WAR across seven seasons in San Diego. He gets the edge at 24 over Rickey Henderson.

25) Will Venable: A mainstay in the Padres outfield, Venable batted .252/.316/.410 across eight seasons in San Diego.

26) Ollie Brown: Brown was the Padres' first pick in the expansion draft in 1968, and he spent four solid seasons in San Diego, batting .272 with 52 homers.

27) Kevin Brown: Author of the best pitching season in franchise history, Brown posted a 2.38 ERA, 257 strikeouts and 8.6 WAR in 1998 -- then dominated in the postseason, too.

28) Ruppert Jones: Slim pickins at 28. Jones was worth 6.9 WAR across three seasons for the Padres in center field, though Jones only wore 28 for the first of those seasons, in 1981.

29) Fred McGriff: McGriff was the 1992 NL home run king in San Diego, where he batted .281/.388/.519 over three seasons before he was dealt to Atlanta in one of the franchise's worst-ever trades.

30) Ryan Klesko: Klesko batted .279/.381/.491 across seven seasons in San Diego and often feels a bit overlooked in Padres lore.

31) Dave Winfield: The third retired number on this list, Winfield was the first player to don a Padres cap in the Hall of Fame. He batted .284/.357/.464 with 154 homers across eight seasons in San Diego.

32) Chris Young: An integral rotation piece on some solid Padres teams from 2006-10, Young posted a 3.60 ERA over five seasons in San Diego.

33) James Shields: Despite signing a then-record-setting contract, Shields didn't leave much of an on-field legacy in San Diego. But he still has a special place in Padres lore, as the trade piece that netted Tatis.

34) Rollie Fingers: The first elite closer for a franchise that is now defined by them. Fingers saved 108 games in San Diego.

35) Randy Jones: Regarded as the best left-hander in Padres history, Jones was downright spectacular in 1975-76. He captured an ERA title in '75 and the NL Cy Young Award in '76. His No. 35 is retired in San Diego.

36) Gaylord Perry: Jones won the franchise's first Cy Young Award. Perry took home the second in 1978, going 21-6 with a 2.73 ERA.

37) Mike Adams: Arguably the top set-up man in franchise history, Adams posted a 1.66 ERA in four seasons with the Padres.

38) Tyson Ross: Injuries prevented Ross from becoming the front-end rotation arm the Padres felt he could've been. But Ross was still excellent at his peak and he posted a 3.40 ERA in five seasons with the Padres.

39) Kirby Yates: One of the Padres' most dominant strikeout artists. Yates' 14 strikeouts-per-nine-innings mark is the top mark in franchise history.

40) Andy Benes: Probably one of the 10 best pitchers in franchise history, Benes posted a 3.57 ERA across seven seasons with the Padres.

41) Sterling Hitchcock: A hero of the Padres' 1998 playoff run, Hitchcock outdueled Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and David Cone. He posted a 1.23 ERA in the postseason and won NLCS MVP.

42) Jerry Turner: Turner unexpectedly appears twice on this list, as he wore 42 for three seasons before changing his number to 2, then 20. No Padre has worn 42 since it was retired across Major League Baseball in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

43) Andy Ashby: No. 43 belongs to a trio of noteworthy pitchers in franchise history. Ashby had a 3.59 ERA and won 70 games across eight seasons in San Diego. Clay Kirby had a 3.73 mark with 52 wins over five years. Dave Dravecky posted a 3.12 mark with 53 wins over six years.

44) Jake Peavy: Perhaps the next number retired by the Padres? Peavy probably goes down as the greatest starting pitcher in franchise history, having posted a 3.29 ERA in eight seasons in San Diego. He won the 2007 NL Cy Young Award and pitching Triple Crown, along with an ERA title in '04 and a strikeout title in '05.

45) Rod Beck: Beck saved 20 games and posted a 1.78 ERA while filling in for an injured Trevor Hoffman in 2003.

46) Greg Harris: One of the best swingmen in franchise history, Harris posted a 2.95 ERA across six seasons for the Padres. He started 71 games and relieved another 123.

47) Bruce Hurst: One of the best free-agent pitching signings in franchise history, Hurst notched a 3.27 ERA in five seasons in San Diego. He was then dealt to Colorado -- along with Harris (the preceding number on this list) -- in one of the best Padres trades of all-time. San Diego received Ashby, Brad Ausmus and Doug Bochtler in return.

48) Mark Davis: Davis won the 1989 Cy Young Award with a 1.85 ERA over 92 2/3 innings -- in contention for the franchise's best relief season of all-time.

49) Doug Brocail: Brocail had a 4.32 ERA in five years over two stints with the Padres, though he only wore 49 for the first three of those seasons, from 1992-94.

50) Joey Hamilton: An important rotation piece on two playoff teams in 1996 and '98 and the author of arguably the top rookie pitching season in franchise history in '94.

51) Trevor Hoffman: The latest of the Padres' retired numbers, Hoffman is the best reliever in franchise history and one of the best of all time. He retired as the sport's all-time saves leader and posted a 2.87 ERA across 18 big league seasons.

52) Brad Hand: Like Yates, Hand was a waiver claim when he arrived in San Diego and became one of the top relievers in baseball. He made consecutive All-Star Games with the Padres in 2017 and '18.

53) Adam Eaton: Eaton went 47-41 with a 4.34 ERA for the Padres from 2000-05.

54) Goose Gossage: One of the most impactful free-agent signings in franchise history, Gossage elevated the Padres into contenders in 1984. He saved their first pennant and would post a 2.99 ERA with 83 saves across four seasons in San Diego.

55) Ramón Hernández: An integral piece in the Padres’ run to the 2005 NL West title, Hernandez batted .283/.332/.463 across two seasons as the starting catcher in San Diego.

56) Fernando Rodney: Rodney was only a Padre for half a season in 2016, but there aren't many options at 56, and he made quite an impact in that half season. Rodney allowed just one earned run in 28 2/3 innings in San Diego. Then he was dealt for a promising young prospect named Chris Paddack.

57) Luke Gregerson: Gregerson had a 2.88 ERA in five Padres seasons, spent mostly as the primary setup man.

58) Mark Thurmond: Thurmond only wore 58 for his rookie season in 1983, but it was an impressive year nonetheless: He posted a 2.65 ERA in 115 1/3 innings and finished ninth in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting.

59) Chris Paddack: Paddack's 2019 season was one of the best for a rookie pitcher in franchise history. He posted a 3.33 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.

60) Frank Garces: The only Padres player to wear 60 for more than one season, Garces posted a 4.60 ERA in 55 appearances in 2014-15.

61) Chan Ho Park: Park only spent two seasons on the Padres, posting an ERA north of 5.00. But he held St. Louis scoreless in two playoff innings in the 2006 NLDS.

62) Steve Fireovid: Luis Pati?o seemed destined to take over the top spot at No. 62 before he was dealt to Tampa Bay. Fireovid is the only Padre who has worn it for more than one season.

63) Andy Hawkins: Hawkins only wore 63 for one season, but it's good enough for this list's purposes. He would record a 3.84 ERA across seven seasons with the Padres, most of them spent wearing No. 40.

64) Dinelson Lamet: With another strong season or two, Lamet could take the No. 29 spot away from McGriff. For now, he has No. 64 locked up after his strong 2017 debut while wearing the number.

65) Carlos Hernández: Hernandez was the starting catcher on the Padres' 1998 pennant winners while wearing No. 9. But he also hit .313/.328/.448 for San Diego while wearing No. 65 in 1997.

66) Robert Stock: Stock had a 2.50 ERA across 32 appearances for the Padres in 2018.

67) David Bednar: The only Padre to wear 67.

70) Manuel Margot: His number during his 2016 September callup.

71) Hunter Renfroe: Before he changed to No. 10, Renfroe was No. 71 as a September callup in 2016 when he visited the roof of the Western Metal Building for the first time.

72) Daniel Camarena: His legendary “Slamarena” came with No. 72 on his back.

73) Reiss Knehr: He became the first and only Padre to wear No. 73 in 2021.

76) Jose Torres: The only 76 in Padres history.

77) Buddy Baumann: Another reliever who was the franchise's only wearer of his number, Baumann was actually relatively effective in San Diego, posting a 3.72 ERA in 11 appearances in 2016 and a 2.55 mark in 23 games the following year.

88) Kyle Blanks: A big number, for a big dude. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Blanks had a .712 OPS and 28 bombs in 806 Padres at-bats.

90) Adam Cimber: Cimber had a 3.17 ERA in 42 games with the Padres before he was dealt to the Indians at the 2018 Trade Deadline.

91) Paul Clemens: The only player to wear 91 in franchise history has a fun story to go along with it. Clemens once loaded too much pine tar on his bat, and a small amount got on the back of his uniform. Clemens couldn't have a foreign substance on the mound while pitching, so he hilariously swapped his jersey reading "Clemens 91" for a jersey wearing "Player 91."