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Padres 50th anniversary: Trevor Hoffman shook off inauspicious debut and became fan favorite

(April 8 marks the 50th anniversary of the first major league game in Padres history. To commemorate the occasion, the Union-Tribune is producing a nine-part series on memorable debuts through the years. Today: Chapter Seven ... Trevor Time)

There were boos, not bells, ringing in Trevor Hoffman’s ears the first time he took the mound for the Padres.

And Hoffman didn’t blame the fans one bit.

“They had a right to boo,” Hoffman said after getting shelled in a one-inning relief appearance the first time stepped on the mound at Qualcomm Stadium. “I didn’t perform up to anyone’s expectations, and I have to improve on that.