Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
If Benito Santiago had to do it over again, he might not have ever left the San Diego Padres.
"Probably my best years were in San Diego," Santiago said. "I played for a lot of teams, but my first seven seasons in the Major Leagues were with the Padres, and in their farm system before that.
"I remember San Diego the best because the Padres gave me my first opportunity."
And Padres fans still remember Santiago, who played with the Padres from the end of 1986 through 1992.