At the start of the day on June 21, 1996, the Padres were right where we've come to expect them recently, in the National League West cellar. However, the division race was so tight that the 37-36 Friars trailed the division-leading Dodgers by a mere two games, with the Rockies and Giants nestled between them with twin 36-33 records. By the end of the day San Diego would be part of a three-way tie for second, just one game behind Los Angeles. In order to get to that point, the eventual division champions took down their historical punching bags, the Chicago Cubs, 2-1 in ten innings.
Retro Recap: Gwynn scores winning run as Padres beat Cubs with extra-inning walk-off
