Yesterday, Tommy Medica made his first career start and hit his first career home run to become the 357th person to hit a home run in a Padres uniform when he hit it over the left field wall off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee. Soon after, it was pointed out that Lee is a former Cy Young Award winner and it got me thinking "How many players have hit their first career home run as a Padre off a Cy Young winner?" The answer to that question took me much longer than I thought it would. I scanned through the archives, searched through the tombs, and have found what I was looking for.
As of today, 13 Padres players have hit their first career home runs off Cy Young Award winners. Though, only 10 of those players hit the home runs off pitchers who had already won the award. The other 3 players had their first career home runs off pitchers who would go on to win the award. In fact, Joe Lansford and Benito Santiago had their first career home runs off future Cy Young Padre pitcher Mark Davis. Lansford had his first (and last) in September 1983 and Santiago collected his in September 1986. The other player to strike before the Cy Young is awarded was John Kruk with his home run off Dennis Eckersley in May 1986.
The first Padre to hit his first career home run off a Cy Young award winner was Fred Kendall when he took the 2-time (and reigning) Cy Young award winner Bob Gibson deep in July of 1971. Dave Hilton had his home run off of 1971 winner Ferguson Jenkins in April 1973. The Cy Young winner from 1974 Mike Marshall gave up a home run to Jerry Turner in June 1976. Bob Davis had his first career homer in May of 1977 off 4 time Cy Young winner Steve Carlton in what became the year of Carlton's 2nd Cy Young Award.
In April of 1981, pitcher Tim Lollar hit his first career home run off 3-time award winner Tom Seaver. Another Padres pitcher, Calvin Schiraldi, got his first home run off 1981 award winner Fernando Valenzuela in September 1989. Tom Lampkin took 1986 award winner Mike Scott deep in July of 1990.Tom Glavine, a 2 time Cy Young Winner, gave up a home run to Mike Colangelo in May 2001.Justin Huber got his first home run off 5-time Cy Young award winner Randy Johnson in April of 2008
Last night, Tommy Medica became a member of this club with his home run off 2008 Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee. However, Medica does hold one advantage over the rest. His home run came off Lee in his Major League debut, a feat no other Padres player achieved. Congratulations to Tommy and hopefully he keeps moving up that list of Padres career home run leaders.
Also, if you can find someone I missed, please let me know in the comments. I don't want to have to go back into the tombs.