Padres Retire Trevor Hoffman Number

The San Diego Padres retired relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman's number 51 this past Sunday against the Florida Marlins. Hoffman began his major league career in 1993 with the Marlins in their first year as a franchise. He set up Brian Harvey as a middle reliever and saved two games in 28 games pitched. In June he was traded to the San Diego Padres for third baseman Gary Sheffield in a five-player deal. Hoffman would accumulate 552 saves with the Padres from 1993 to 2008 on his way to becoming major league baseball's all-time saves leader with 601. During that time he and Tony Gwynn led San Diego to a National League championship in 1998. They were swept by the New York Yankees in the World Series. An AC/DC song Hells Bells would blast through the public address system whenever he would enter a ballgame from the bullpen during a home game. It's likely that he will be surpassed in the near future as the all-time saves leader by New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera who currently has 592 saves.