Padres Retire Hoffman's No. 51

The San Diego Padres honored career saves leader Trevor Hoffman Sunday by retiring his uniform number.

The seven-time All-Star known for his changeup and “Hell's Bells”
entrance to the game, retired during the last off-season after 601 saves in 18 seasons, 16 of them with the Padres.

MLB.com reported that the ceremony featured former teammates from Rickey Henderson to David Wells, a salute from Padres CEO Jeff Moorad and an emotional recording of Hoffman's late father performing the National Anthem. The site said Hoffman called the day “a non-stop rollercoaster ride of emotions.”

He first came up to the major leagues with the Florida Marlins, today's opponent, and ended his career with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hoffman, 43, now works in the Padres front office.

“I'm extremely flattered by this and really excited about it,” Hoffman
said on the Padres website. “Unlike (my retirement announcement in January), this will be more of a celebration, something that's in-season and that I can share with the fans.”

Hoffman's No. 51 will join Steve Garvey (No. 6), Randy Jones (35), Tony Gwynn (19) and Dave Winfield (31) as the former Padres whose uniforms have been retired.

City News Service contributed to this report.