Gomez must go. Gomez must go.
This was the chant from about 150 fans on this date — July 21 — in 1970 after second-year Padres manager Preston Gomez lifted pitcher Clay Kirby for a pinch-hitter after eight no-hit innings.
They didn’t care that the New York Mets were leading 1-0 when Gomez, whose Padres were on their way to their second straight last-place finish, ordered Cito Gaston to bat for a wildly effective Kirby.
Gomez didn’t care about the reaction.
“I knew fans would be upset,” Gomez told the San Diego Union, “but I play to win.