Gaylord Perry was already an established superstar when the Texas Rangers traded him to San Diego before the 1978 season, and the 1972 American League Cy Young winner was poised to add more trophies to his mantle.

The spitball specialist led the NL in Wins in 1978 (21), and he made history as the first hurler to win the Cy Young in both leagues.  Perry turned 40 during his second year with San Diego but was still good, going to his fifth (and final) All-Star Game, while posting a 12-11 record with a 3.06 ERA.  He was traded back to Texas afterward, leaving San Diego with 33 Wins against 17 Losses and a 2.88 ERA.

While Perry’s sabermetrics hold him back on this list, and it could be argued that he should not have won the ’78 Cy Young, he DID win it, and it will never be taken from him.

Perry entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Clay Kirby, an original Padre, will always be best known for the no-hit attempt that he was denied to complete.

Kirby was taken from the Cardinals in the Expansion Draft, and had a rough rookie year, leading the NL in Losses (20), and had arguably a worse year in 1970, though in a game against the Mets, he had a no-hitter going into the ninth inning but was pulled for his at-bat.  It would take until Jos Musgrove in 2021 before the Padres ever recorded a no-hitter.

Kirby had a good year in 1971, winning a career-high 15 Games with a 2.83 ERA, and was tenth in the NL in bWAR.  After two average years, he was traded to Cincinnati, leaving the Padres with a record of 52-81.

A tricky one to rank, Tim Flannery was one of the most popular players in the history of Padres baseball, although the position player never had a season where he had more than 108 Hits.

Flannery was with San Diego for all of 11 Seasons, appearing at Second, Third, or Shortstop, showing solid defensive versatility.  While he was not a power hitter, Flannery was often used to pinch hit and would collect 631 Hits and bat .255 over his career.  

After his career ended, Flannery became a Coach and would win three World Series Rings with San Francisco.

The first man with the name of Dave Roberts to play for the San Diego Padres, this incarnation was a Pitcher who was an original Padre, arriving as an Expansion Draft Selection from the Pirates organization.

Roberts did not do much in San Diego's inaugural year, but he improved in 1970, going 8-14 over 181.2 Innings with a 3.81 ERA.  His 1971 Season proved to be Robert's best year in Baseball, when despite his losing 14-17 Record, he had a sweet ERA of 2.10, with a 1.109 WHIP.  Roberts was sixth in Cy Young voting, the only season he ever received Cy Young votes, and he was easily the best player on the team.  

Despite that strong campaign, San Diego traded him to Houston, but he never did equal 1971.