On This Date in 1974...

Ray Kroc purchased the San Diego Padres, saving them from possible bankruptcy or relocation. A losing club drawing less than a million fans a year, the future looked bleak until the McDonalds magnate stepped in. A lifetime baseball fan who'd once tried to buy the Cubs from the Wrigley family, Kroc paid $12 million for the franchise.
He quickly proved himself to be uninhibited, or maybe a little unhinged. On opening night, with the team trailing and moments after Matty Alou was picked off base, Ray spoke to the crowd via the PA system: "Fans, I suffer with you. I’ve never seen such stupid ballplaying in my life."
Under Kroc's ownership, the Padres never made the post-season. Ironically, they finally won the NL West in 1984, ten months after Kroc passed away at age 81.
Ray Kroc is the subject of the current Michael Keaton film, The Founder.
Seen above: San Diego Stadium was the Padres home when Kroc owned them. The venue was later renamed in honor of popular local sports columnist Jack Murphy before subsequent owners sold naming rights to electronics giant Quallcom.

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