This is a guest post submitted by Jeff Herbst. Jeff has had a passion for sports ever since he could first walk and enjoys writing in his spare time. He works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wooden baseball bats such as their fungo bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world.

Baseball is unique in that, even though it’s a team sport, some perennially mediocre teams can produce amazing players.

Take the San Diego Padres, for example. Sure, they flirted with World Series glory in 1998, but they’ve had more downs than ups over the years. Yet that doesn’t change the fact that they’ve produced some legendary players. Here are my top seven Padres of all time – in random order.

Keep in mind that service with the team is a factor. The likes of Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff and Roberto Alomar had stellar careers but did most of their damage with other teams, so you won’t find them on this list. Let’s begin!

Trevor Hoffman (1993-2008)

Never again will baseball fans hear the AC/DC song “Hells Bells” without thinking of Trevor Hoffman. Between him and Mariano Rivera, it’s a tossup as to who deserves the title of baseball’s greatest-ever closer. For now, Hoffman has a leg up. He’s baseball’s all-time saves leader at 601, he’s a seven-time All-Star (six with the Padres) and he leads San Diego in all-time ERA, WHIP and strikeouts per nine innings.

Tony Gwynn (1982-2001)

When you ask Padre fans about the team’s greatest player, the debate usually comes down to Hoffman and this man. Gwynn was the definition of a professional hitter, batting a whopping .338 over 20 Hall-of-Fame seasons. The 15-time All-Star leads the Padres in average, hits, runs, RBI and even stolen bases. The only thing missing from his amazing resume is that elusive World Series ring. Not enough baseball fans talk about the absurd stretch from 1993 to 1997 in which he batted at least .353 five seasons in a row and hit .394 over 110 games in the strike-shortened 1994 campaign.

Dave Winfield (1973-1980)

After Hoffman and Gwynn, Dave Winfield is arguably the only other Padre that deserves No. 1 consideration. One of the greatest athletes, let alone baseball players, to ever live, Winfield was drafted to the NBA and NFL as well as Major League Baseball. He’ll always be remembered for his combination of power and superb outfield defense. Winfield was the first player to enter Cooperstown wearing a Padres cap.

Randy Jones (1973-1980)

Jones was never an overpowering pitcher but he posted some great seasons for San Diego in the mid-1970s. His crowning achievement as a Padre came in 1975, when he won 22 games, went the distance 25 times and captured the National League Cy Young award.

Adrian Gonzalez (2006-2010)

A-Gone’s time with the Padres was painfully short but anyone who watched him agrees that he’s among the most talented hitters ever to wear the San Diego uniform. He smashed 30-plus homers in each of his last four seasons with the team and matched his hitting with outstanding defense at first base. Exactly 0.0 Padre fans are surprised at Gonzalez’s monster numbers in his first season with the Boston Red Sox.

Jake Peavy (2002-2009)

Whereas the sky’s the limit for Gonzalez, whose offense was suppressed by PETCO Park, Jake Peavy probably left his best years behind him when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2009. The Padres’ all-time strikeout leader delivered on his considerable hype throughout the 2000s. He won the pitching Triple Crown in 2007, leading the NL in wins (19), ERA (2.54) and strikeouts (240) en route to NL Cy Young honors.

Benito Santiago (1986-1992)

No Ryan Klesko or Phi Nevin? I chose Benito Santiago for this list because, arguably, he had a greater impact on the game when he was in his prime. The All Star catcher made his biggest splash as a rookie in 1987, batting .300 with 18 homers, 79 RBI and 21 steals to win the NL Rookie of the Year.

Do you agree with our list of top Padres? Who would make your top 7?

Article source: The Top Seven San Diego Padres of All Time