The 1996 San Diego Padres season was the 28th season in franchise history. They finished in first place in the National League West with a 91–71 won-loss record, one game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. After trailing the Dodgers by two games heading into the final series of the season against them, the Padres recorded a three-game sweep to win the division crown.
Offseason October 28, 1995: Rico Rossy was signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres. November 29, 1995: Mike Sharperson signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres.Mike Sharperson Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 7, 1995: Fernando Valenzuela signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres. December 14, 1995: Doug Dascenzo was signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres. December 21, 1995: Wally Joyner was traded by the Kansas City Royals with Aaron Dorlarque (minors) to the San Diego Padres for Bip Roberts and Bryan Wolff (minors).Wally Joyner Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 21, 1995: Mike Oquist was signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres. December 29, 1995: Rickey Henderson signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres. March 22, 1996: Melvin Nieves was traded by the San Diego Padres with Raul Casanova and Richie Lewis to the Detroit Tigers for Sean Bergman, Todd Steverson, and Cade Gaspar (minors).
Regular season On August 16, the San Diego Padres played the New York Mets in a game held at the Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,
Opening Day starters Brad Ausmus Ken Caminiti Andújar Cedeño Steve Finley Tony Gwynn Joey Hamilton Rickey Henderson Wally Joyner Jody Reed
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 1 || @ Cubs || 4–5 (10) || Patterson || Hoffman (0–1) || — || 38,734 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || @ Cubs || 7–5 || Hamilton (1–0) || Castillo || Hoffman (1) || 29,638 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 5 || @ Astros || 10–4 || Tewksbury (1–0) || Kile || — || 28,629 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 6 || @ Astros || 8–4 (13) || Hoffman (1–1) || Small || — || 24,510 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 7 || @ Astros || 17–2 || Bergman (1–0) || Swindell || — || 16,258 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 8 || Marlins || 9–2 || Hamilton (2–0) || Hammond || — || 44,470 || 5–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || Marlins || 2–5 (10) || Leiter || Blair (0–1) || — || 15,160 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 10 || Marlins || 3–0 || Tewksbury (2–0) || Rapp || Hoffman (2) || 10,510 || 6–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 11 || Braves || 2–1 || Ashby (1–0) || Maddux || Hoffman (3) || 19,047 || 7–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 12 || Braves || 3–5 || Schmidt || Bergman (1–1) || Wohlers || 25,747 || 7–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 13 || Braves || 6–2 || Hamilton (3–0) || Glavine || Bochtler (1) || 45,250 || 8–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 14 || Braves || 0–4 || Smoltz || Valenzuela (0–1) || — || 45,014 || 8–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 15 || @ Rockies || 9–11 || Ruffin || Blair (0–2) || Leskanic || 48,027 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 16 || @ Rockies || 10–6 || Ashby (2–0) || Reynoso || — || 48,031 || 9–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 17 || @ Rockies || 11–6 || Florie (1–0) || Freeman || — || 48,011 || 10–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || @ Braves || 1–7 || Smoltz || Hamilton (3–1) || — || 27,375 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 20 || @ Braves || 5–6 || McMichael || Bochtler (0–1) || Wohlers || 31,893 || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 21 || @ Braves || 2–1 (15) || Worrell (1–0) || Thobe || Bochtler (2) || 28,829 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || April 22 || @ Marlins || 5–3 || Ashby (3–0) || Burkett || — || 17,473 || 12–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 23 || @ Marlins || 7–2 || Bergman (2–1) || Hammond || — || 19,667 || 13–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || April 24 || Cubs || 5–4 || Hamilton (4–1) || Foster || Hoffman (4) || 15,608 || 14–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 25 || Cubs || 8–3 || Tewksbury (3–0) || Bullinger || — || 18,736 || 15–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 26 || Astros || 3–2 || Worrell (2–0) || Hampton || Hoffman (5) || 21,254 || 16–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 27 || Astros || 0–6 || Reynolds || Ashby (3–1) || — || 38,309 || 16–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 28 || Astros || 2–3 || Kile || Bergman (2–2) || Jones || 27,208 || 16–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || April 29 || Astros || 2–0 || Hamilton (5–1) || Brocail || — || 8,979 || 17–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || April 30 || Giants || 4–9 || Watson || Tewksbury (3–1) || — || 14,170 || 17–10
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 1 || Giants || 9–4 || Valenzuela (1–1) || Gardner || — || 14,878 || 18–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 3 || Cardinals || 1–3 || Osborne || Ashby (3–2) || Eckersley || 21,335 || 18–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 4 || Cardinals || 3–4 || Stottlemyre || Bergman (2–3) || Eckersley || 44,375 || 18–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || Cardinals || 10–4 || Hamilton (6–1) || Benes || — || 27,435 || 19–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 8 || @ Pirates || 5–4 || Tewksbury (4–1) || May || Hoffman (6) || — || 20–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 8 || @ Pirates || 3–4 || Christiansen || Sanders (0–1) || Cordova || 8,508 || 20–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 9 || @ Pirates || 7–1 || Ashby (4–2) || Wagner || — || 10,863 || 21–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 10 || @ Reds || 6–8 || McElroy || Florie (1–1) || Brantley || 22,508 || 21–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 11 || @ Reds || 0–1 || Smiley || Hamilton (6–2) || Brantley || 24,983 || 21–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 12 || @ Reds || 5–0 || Tewksbury (5–1) || Burba || — || 22,786 || 22–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 13 || Mets || 5–2 || Valenzuela (2–1) || Isringhausen || — || 12,829 || 23–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 14 || Mets || 9–4 || Ashby (5–2) || Wilson || — || 12,168 || 24–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 15 || Mets || 4–3 (10) || Worrell (3–0) || Franco || — || 12,166 || 25–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 16 || Mets || 3–6 || Harnisch || Hamilton (6–3) || Franco || 17,341 || 25–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 17 || Expos || 2–1 (12) || Hoffman (2–1) || Rojas || — || 26,469 || 26–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 18 || Expos || 2–3 || Urbina || Valenzuela (2–2) || Rojas || 31,749 || 26–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 19 || Expos || 4–3 || Worrell (4–0) || Veres || Hoffman (7) || 28,769 || 27–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 21 || Phillies || 4–5 || Mulholland || Bergman (2–4) || Bottalico || 11,954 || 27–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 22 || Phillies || 5–2 || Hamilton (7–3) || Grace || Hoffman (8) || 13,118 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 23 || Phillies || 7–5 || Sanders (1–1) || Springer || Hoffman (9) || 16,632 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 24 || @ Mets || 13–1 || Valenzuela (3–2) || Isringhausen || — || 24,751 || 30–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 25 || @ Mets || 7–2 || Ashby (6–2) || Wilson || — || 21,057 || 31–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 26 || @ Mets || 0–1 || Jones || Bergman (2–5) || Franco || 20,405 || 31–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 27 || @ Expos || 4–3 || Hamilton (8–3) || Fassero || Hoffman (10) || 44,636 || 32–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 28 || @ Expos || 3–2 (10) || Hoffman (3–1) || Scott || Bochtler (3) || 16,537 || 33–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || May 29 || @ Expos || 4–9 || Urbina || Valenzuela (3–3) || — || 14,386 || 33–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || May 31 || @ Phillies || 4–2 || Ashby (7–2) || Mulholland || Hoffman (11) || 22,110 || 34–20
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 1 || @ Phillies || 8–3 || Bergman (3–5) || Mimbs || — || 27,623 || 35–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 2 || @ Phillies || 8–9 (12) || Borland || Hoffman (3–2) || — || 32,035 || 35–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 3 || Cardinals || 0–3 || Benes || Tewksbury (5–2) || — || 13,625 || 35–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 4 || Cardinals || 5–11 || Petkovsek || Worrell (4–1) || — || 13,427 || 35–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 5 || Cardinals || 6–4 || Hoffman (4–2) || Fossas || — || 12,216 || 36–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 7 || Pirates || 0–10 || Smith || Bergman (3–6) || — || 20,312 || 36–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 8 || Pirates || 8–9 (14) || Cordova || Blair (0–3) || — || 41,378 || 36–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 9 || Pirates || 0–6 || Darwin || Tewksbury (5–3) || — || 30,932 || 36–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 10 || Reds || 3–6 || Smith || Bochtler (0–2) || Brantley || 41,120 || 36–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 11 || Reds || 1–4 || Jarvis || Valenzuela (3–4) || Brantley || 12,029 || 36–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 12 || Reds || 4–9 || Smiley || Florie (1–2) || — || 11,411 || 36–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 13 || @ Cubs || 3–6 (14) || Jones || Blair (0–4) || — || 28,953 || 36–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 14 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Trachsel || Tewksbury (5–4) || — || 30,877 || 36–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 15 || @ Cubs || 2–1 || Worrell (5–1) || Navarro || Hoffman (12) || 39,465 || 37–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 4–8 || Castillo || Valenzuela (3–5) || Bullinger || 33,376 || 37–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 17 || @ Braves || 3–9 || Maddux || Bergman (3–7) || — || 32,934 || 37–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 18 || @ Braves || 3–5 || Clontz || Hamilton (8–4) || Wohlers || 32,730 || 37–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 19 || @ Braves || 1–5 || Smoltz || Tewksbury (5–5) || — || 34,823 || 37–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 20 || Cubs || 2–3 || Navarro || Worrell (5–2) || Wendell || 19,969 || 37–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 21 || Cubs || 2–1 (10) || Hoffman (5–2) || Wendell || — || 49,503 || 38–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 22 || Cubs || 6–9 (16) || Myers || Blair (0–5) || — || 51,917 || 38–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 23 || Cubs || 5–4 || Hamilton (9–4) || Telemaco || Hoffman (13) || 30,672 || 39–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 25 || Astros || 4–9 || Jones || Sanders (1–2) || — || 13,458 || 39–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 26 || Astros || 3–4 || Wall || Worrell (5–3) || Wagner || 12,388 || 39–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 27 || @ Giants || 11–1 || Valenzuela (4–5) || Gardner || — || 12,325 || 40–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || June 28 || @ Giants || 6–1 || Ashby (8–2) || Fernandez || Hoffman (14) || 13,129 || 41–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || June 29 || @ Giants || 7–6 || Blair (1–5) || Beck || Hoffman (15) || 24,540 || 42–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || June 30 || @ Giants || 7–4 || Tewksbury (6–5) || VanLandingham || Hoffman (16) || 26,373 || 43–39
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 1 || Dodgers || 2–10 || Candiotti || Worrell (5–4) || — || 40,343 || 43–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 2 || Dodgers || 3–7 || Astacio || Valenzuela (4–6) || — || 28,294 || 43–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 3 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Hamilton (10–4) || Martinez || Hoffman (17) || 48,841 || 44–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 4 || Giants || 8–4 || Tewksbury (7–5) || Leiter || — || 14,111 || 45–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 5 || Giants || 7–6 (11) || Bergman (4–7) || Bautista || — || 22,589 || 46–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 6 || Giants || 7–3 || Worrell (6–4) || Bourgeois || Hoffman (18) || 51,021 || 47–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 7 || Giants || 10–3 || Valenzuela (5–6) || Fernandez || — || 32,693 || 48–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 11 || @ Rockies || 5–8 (10) || Ruffin || Hoffman (5–3) || — || 45,703 || 48–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 12 || @ Rockies || 12–13 || Holmes || Blair (1–6) || — || 48,053 || 48–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 13 || @ Rockies || 6–11 || Ritz || Sanders (1–3) || — || 48,009 || 48–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"