Preston Gomez’s Padres won their first three games in the inaugural 1969 season. They then lost six straight to drop below .500 for good during the Cuban manager’s stay in San Diego. The stint came to an end 11 games into his fourth season when he was fired and third base coach Don Zimmer took over a 4-7 team on this date — April 27 — in 1972.
Under Gomez, the Padres averaged 103 losses per season, including 110 during that inaugural 1969 campaign.
He is infamously known for pinch-hitting for pitcher Clay Kirby after eight shutout innings in July 1970.