Mitchell Makes Its Home as a Padre : Third Baseman Debuts in Jack Murphy Stadium After Trade

From sunrise Monday, Kevin Mitchell should have known it was going to be a busy day.

Shortly after awakening at 6 a.m., he couldn’t wait to bring his new pick-up truck home. The truck had been in the shop for 2 1/2 months receiving a $3,000 custom paint job.

Mitchell planned on spending the day in his Southeast San Diego yard making certain the truck was spic and span.

But all day, he was interrupted by friends who were calling and stopping by to wish him luck. Monday night would be Mitchell’s first appearance in a Padre uniform during the regular season in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Things didn’t go too well for Mitchell or the Padres in a 13-6 loss to San Francisco. Mitchell had a run-scoring single in four at bats and made a throwing error that led to three unearned runs in the Giants’ four-run fifth inning.

For years, Mitchell had longed to play in the major leagues--not necessarily in San Diego. He received his initial opportunity last year with the champion New York Mets, but this was his first time as the hometown boy playing in his own locale.

Mitchell’s boyhood dream of playing in the majors began several years ago when watched numerous Padre games at the stadium.

“I’ll tell you what I remember,” Mitchell said. “I remember Ozzie Smith. He looked like a swan out there. I had wished I would play with him one day.

“When I watched the games I’d say, ‘I could play with these guys.’ I’d go home and pray. I’d say I’d make it one day.”

Monday, Mitchell played third base for the Padres, a mere few steps from where Smith had played shortstop for the Padres from 1978 to 1981, before he was traded to St. Louis.

Before the home opener, Mitchell had been popular, leaving tickets for nine family members. He could have left a 10th ticket for a friend he calls “D. Dub,” but D. Dub was getting the clutch on his car adjusted.

(Mitchell said D. Dub’s first name is Duane. Mitchell does not know his last name.)

Between phone calls and visits with others, Mitchell and D. Dub spent much of Monday talking baseball. D. Dub told Mitchell he had been swinging the bat improperly last week, so Mitchell listened to his advice.

“D. Dub is just like Keith Hernandez,” Mitchell said. “Keith used to help me with my hitting. When Keith’s not around, D. Dub tells me things. D. Dub has taken a lot of interest in me. Especially when we’re on TV, D. Dub will tell me what I’m doing wrong.”

Numerous friends came by and told Mitchell he didn’t look good in a Padre uniform.

“They told me I look better in a Mets uniform,” Mitchell said. “I told them my heart is still in New York, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Josie Whitfield, Mitchell’s grandmother with whom he lives, told him he looks great in Padre pinstripes.

Whitfield is a die-hard Padre fan. Even when Kevin was with the Mets last year, she would cheer for the Padres against New York.

Now that Mitchell is a Padre, his grandmother always cheers for him. When Mitchell hit his first Padre home run Sunday, friends wouldn’t quit calling his grandmother.

Perhaps it was fitting Mitchell hit his first Padre homer the same day the team won its first game.

“Winning that game was like winning the World Series,” Mitchell said. “There just wasn’t any champagne. We were 0-5. It was good to be giving high-fives again.”