San Diego Padres fans are hoping that last year's end of the season meltdown will serve as motivation for the San Diego Padres to power their way to the playoff and beyond this season. For sure, PETCO park will be packed with fans once again this year, and San Diego Padres Tickets will be in demand, because the San Diego Padres are loaded with established superstars, stud pitching and young talent. Don't wait too long to get your San Diego Padres Tickets.

The lineup is as balanced as you get in the National League, anchored by Brian Giles and newcomer Jim Edmonds. Khalil Green and Adrian Gonzalez are young infielders that can really get it done. Jake Peavy, Chris Young and future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman are the stalwarts on a pitching staff that led the National League in ERA last season. There is no doubt that the San Diego Padres will go a long way this year. Just Great Tickets is the place to get all of your San Diego Padres Regular Season Tickets, San Diego Padres Playoff Tickets and San Diego Padres World Series Tickets.

In 1969, the San Diego Padres joined the ranks of Major League Baseball as one of four new expansion teams. As with most expansion teams excitement was high and San Diego Padres Tickets were in demand, but the team struggled; the Padres finished in last place in each of its first six seasons in the National League West, losing 100 games or more four times. One of the few bright spots on the team during the early years was first baseman and slugger Nate Colbert, an expansion draftee from the Houston Astros and still the Padres' career leader in home runs.

The 1970s brought few wins, but a couple of great talents to San Diego. Dave Winfield emerged as a legitimate star and Randy Jones became the first San Diego pitcher to win 20 games in 1975, going 20- 12. Jones then won 22 games in 1976, winning the Cy Young Award in the process, another franchise first. The 1978 season brought hope to baseball fans in San Diego, and a clamoring for San Diego Padres Tickets, thanks to the arrival a young shortstop named Ozzie Smith, who arrived on the scene and turned the baseball world on its ears with an acrobatic style that redefined how the position should be played in the field. But despite these outstanding performance, the Padres struggled mightily until that fateful year of 1984.

The Padres finished at 92-70 in 1984 and won the National League West championship, despite having no players with 100-RBI and only two batters with 20-HR. Everyone wanted San Diego Padres Tickets to see manager Dick Williams' club, with an offense that featured veterans Steve Garvey, Garry Templeton and Graig Nettles as well as future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who captured his first of what would be eight National League batting championships that year. Gwynn, who also would win five National League Gold Gloves during his career, joined the Padres in 1982 following starring roles in both baseball and basketball at San Diego State University, and after having been selected in the previous year by both the Padres in the baseball draft and by the then San Diego Clippers in the National Basketball Association draft. The Padres pitching staff in 1984 featured Eric Show, Ed Whitson, Mark Thurmond, and Rich "Goose" Gossage as their closer.

In the 1984 National League Championship Series, the Padres faced the National League East champion Chicago Cubs, who were making their first post-season appearance since 1945 and featured NL Most Valuable Player Ryne Sandberg and Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe. The Cubs would win the first two games at Wrigley Field, but the Padres swept the final three games at then San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, the highlight being Steve Garvey's dramatic, game winning home run off of Lee Smith in Game 4, to win the 1984 National League pennant.

In the 1984 World Series, the Padres faced the powerful Detroit Tigers who steamrolled through the regular season with 104 victories. Tigers' ace Jack Morris would win games 1 and 4 and the Tigers would go on to win the Series 4 games to 1.

The Padres slumped to finish the 1980s despite Gywnn's unbelievable hitting and contributions from Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. But in the mid-1990s, San Diego Padres tickets were again in great demand, culminating in another World Series appearance in 1998. Pitcher Kevin Brown had a sensational year, and outfielder/slugger Greg Vaughn hit 50 home runs. Managed by Bruce Bochy and aided by the talents of players such as Gwynn, Ken Caminiti, Wally Joyner, Steve Finley, pitcher Andy Ashby and premier closer Trevor Hoffman, the Padres had their best year in history, finishing 98-64 and winning the NL West division crown.

The Padres went on to defeat the Houston Astros in the 1998 National League Division Series, and the Atlanta Braves, who had won the National League East with an astonishing 106-56 record, in the National League Championship Series.

In the 1998 World Series the Padres faced the powerhouse New York Yankees, who had steamrolled through the season with a 114-48 record and drew acclaim as one their greatest teams of all time. The Yankees swept the Padres 4 games to 0.

The San Diego Padres are looking to return to the World Series for the first time since 1998. As the San Diego Padres look to bring another World Championship to San Diego -- this time to the PETCO, get your tickets and be treated to a great ball game, and a stunning view of San Diego Bay and the San Diego skyline beyond the left field seats. San Diego Padres Tickets are always hard to come by, but Just Great Tickets has all the action, from opening day this April to the World Series. Turn to us for those hard to get San Diego Padres tickets.