Today, we celebrate the birthday of one of the original members of the San Diego Padres, the late Mike Corkins. Though he passed away in 2023, Corkins’ legacy lives on as a dedicated athlete, a true competitor, and a memorable figure in Padres history.
Born in Riverside, California, Corkins was a standout athlete from an early age. At Rubidoux High School, he was not only a baseball star but also excelled in track and field and even served as the football team’s punter. Alongside his high school battery mate, Corkins was named First-Team All-District, capping off a perfect 16-0 season in 1964.
His athletic talent quickly caught the attention of Major League scouts. In 1965, the San Francisco Giants signed Corkins straight out of high school. He made an immediate impression, posting an 11-9 record in his first professional season. Initially groomed as a starting pitcher, he occasionally appeared out of the bullpen during his time in the Giants’ system.
In 1969, Corkins’ career took a significant turn when the newly formed San Diego Padres selected him 16th overall in the MLB expansion draft. He spent most of that season with the Double-A Elmira Pioneers, where he threw a no-hitter and struck out an impressive 16 batters in a single game. That performance earned him a call-up to the Padres later that year.
His major league debut, however, was rocky—allowing five earned runs over just 1 2/3 innings. That outing was even mentioned in Jim Bouton’s controversial book Ball Four. Despite the tough start, Corkins made history shortly after, becoming the pitcher who surrendered Willie Mays’s 600th career home run.
Corkins spent six seasons in the major leagues, all with the Padres. Over 157 appearances—44 of them starts—he compiled a 19-28 record. A competent hitter for a pitcher, he batted over .200 and hit five career home runs, including a grand slam against the Reds in 1970.
His career also had its off-field challenges. He once took the Padres to arbitration over a $340 expense related to his wife’s travel to Hawaii and later held out during spring training over a salary dispute. After retiring, he returned to Riverside and ran a successful tool company, enjoying fast cars and boats in his spare time.
Mike Corkins passed away in 2023 in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Today, we remember him not just as a ballplayer, but as a symbol of Padres history and Riverside pride.