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Padres history (April 9): Ray Kroc rants over the PA about ‘stupid ballplaying’

It’s a good thing Ray Kroc knew who the Padres were 46 years ago, even if his wife didn’t.

Kroc was reading the sports pages one day when he came across a story about the Padres being for sale.

“My God,” he thought, “San Diego is a gorgeous place. Why don’t I go over there and look at that ballpark?”

Kroc’s interest was sufficiently sparked that he told wife Joan, “I’m thinking of buying the Padres.”

“Why would you want to buy a monastery?” she replied.

Joan didn’t know much about baseball back then.