Padres fans petition to remove Bud Selig's name from stadium plaza
San Diego Padres fans have created a petition to remove MLB commissioner Bud Selig's name from a plaza at Petco Park.
On Tuesday, the Padres unveiled the Selig Hall of Fame Plaza, an area behind the Western Metal Supply Building that will serve as the location of the Padres Hall of Fame and will eventually house statues of team greats as well as a plaque honoring Selig.
As commissioner, Selig helped keep baseball in San Diego by allowing the franchise to work through its financial difficulties in 1993 and aiding the team in its efforts to build a new stadium.
Corey Kluber annoyed at MLB review policy
According to the petition, Padres fans unhappy at the team's inability to compete consistently place part of the blame at Selig.
Bud Selig has done nothing for the Padres fans or the city of San Diego. Selig sat by while the Padres were torn to pieces by Jeff Moorad and has been at the head of creating inequality in baseball and catering to large market teams. Honoring this man is a slap in the face to loyal fans that have supported this team.
Moorad became San Diego's CEO in 2009 while leading a group that agreed to buy the franchise from John Moores. He eventually pulled out of the group and stepped down in 2012 after facing resistance from MLB's other owners in his attempt to assume control of the team.
The Padres have had just one winning record in the last six years and are 62-70 this season. As of Thursday morning, the petition had gathered 750 signatures.
- Ben Estes
