Some 700 feet from a home plate they could not see, dozens of Padres fans Sunday afternoon crowded onto a walkway and peered into coastal sunlight – just so they could try to watch the Padres beat the Diamondbacks in the regular-season finale.

The season’s 72nd capacity crowd had gathered inside the ballpark. The announced turnout of 45,072 pushed the season total to 3,437,201, Yet no one was surprised that the club record that landed small-market San Diego second of 30 Major League Baseball clubs in attendance, what with finishes of third, fifth, second and third since 2001.

“Man, they just bring it,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said after the 12-4 victory.

As the shadows lengthened over the green field, fans insisted this wouldn’t be the final Padres home game of 2025.

“See you next w

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