The San Diego Padres have hosted some of the greatest, most talented and colorful baseball players going back to the organization’s founding in 1969.
The team’s best remembered players include Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Dave Winfield. And its contemporary stars include Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. But the team has also been home to some lesser known but nonetheless history making players as well.
And the Padres have now received word that one of those players, Chris Krug, has died at age 86.
Former Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres Player With Unique Los Angeles Dodgers History Dies
“Krug spent parts of two seasons with the Chicago Cubs (1965-66) and one with the expansion San Diego Padres (1969),” JP Hoonstra reported for The Big Lead. “A highly regarded defensive catcher, Krug retired with a .192 batting average, five home runs, and 25 RBIs in 79 games.”
In 1969, Krug joined the Padres as they arrived in MLB as one of four expansion teams. He appeared in just eight games that season, which proved to be his last as a professional player.
But despite his relatively short career in the majors, Krug was a key part of some history.
On the field, his most memorable moment came while facing the Padres’ biggest rival while he was still a member of the Cubs.
“Krug had a somewhat overlooked but significant role on the historic night at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 9, 1965, when (Sandy) Koufax became the first lefty in modern history to pitch a perfect game,” Sweeny Murti reported for MLB.com. “Koufax was locked in a scoreless duel with Cubs left-hander Bob Hendley when, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Dodgers outfielder Lou Johnson walked, then was sacrificed to second. As Johnson stole third and slid hard into Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, Krug’s throw sailed into left field and allowed Johnson to score what would be the only run in Koufax and the Dodgers’ 1-0 victory.”
Krug, who later acknowledged that he shouldn’t have attempted that throw, was also the first batter to face Koufax in the top of the ninth. He worked a seven-pitch at-bat before he struck out.
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Then Krug participated in another piece of baseball history following the end of his Padres career.
After his playing and coaching careers ended, Krug founded Athletic Turfs, Inc., which played a key role in one of the most famous films about the sport.
“He worked on many fields big and small in Southern California, including Angel Stadium,” Murti added. “His company’s claim to fame, however, was installing the turf in Dyersville, Iowa, during production of the 1989 movie ‘Field of Dreams.’”