Watching. Waiting. Sharing the experience.
That was the scene for Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge and thousands of other San Diego Padres fans Tuesday night, as the team battled to stay in the playoffs.
‘Can’t imagine the feeling.’
Emotion in Baseball
The Padres went into the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 3 in the National League Division Series ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3. After losing the first two games, San Diego needed to secure a win to remain in the competition.
Suddenly, “All the Small Things,” a classic from Blink-182 released in 1999, filled the air at Petco Park.
This song has turned into a ritual at Padres home games when the team holds a lead going into the eighth inning. Fans join in to sing along, and the atmosphere was electric on Tuesday night.
But what really caught attention was DeLonge, who was spotted in the crowd. He appeared to well up with tears while listening to the crowd sing his song. For a brief moment, he seemed to drift away in thought, before joyfully waving a towel and joining in the singing.
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Homegrown Heroes
“What a cool moment here in San Diego,” one announcer noted.
“For those of us who grew up listening to Blink-182, their impressive catalog of late ’90s and 2000s pop-punk hits is undeniable,” he continued. “But to be in the stadium with over 43,000 people singing one of your biggest hits—can’t imagine the feeling.”
DeLonge, who grew up in Poway near San Diego, has been a longtime Padres fan, with Blink-182’s rise to fame aligning with one of the most prosperous periods in the team’s history.
In 1998, the Padres captured the National League pennant and made it to the World Series for the second time. Sadly, they faced the New York Yankees, who swept them in four games.
Then, in 1999, Blink-182 launched their breakthrough album, “Enema of the State,” which included hits like “What’s My Age Again?” and “Adam’s Song,” paving their path to becoming a prominent name in pop-punk.
While the band went on to perform in arenas worldwide, the Padres struggled to replicate their 1998 triumph.
They didn’t make it back to the postseason until 2005, faced another drought until 2006, and then returned again in 2020. They reached the National League Championship Series in 2022, losing to Philadelphia, and have not returned to the World Series since ’98.
However, the team has recently revived its success, making the playoffs five times in seven seasons, even though that elusive first World Series championship is still a goal unachieved.
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A Dedicated Fan
DeLonge has been there through the highs and lows. He’s frequently spotted at Petco Park and has even shared his reactions on social media as the crowd sang along to his band’s anthem.
During a 2023 interview, DeLonge expressed the significance of the tradition: “It’s magical,” he shared. “It’s an honor. … I’m just a huge Padres fan.”
He even claimed to be perhaps the team’s number one supporter, though he did have some thoughts on which Blink-182 songs should be featured in sports events.
Tuesday night seemed to clearly support the case for keeping this particular song as a staple. The Padres managed to hold on, beating the Brewers 4-3, which means the series will continue with another game tonight.
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