Petco to feature Hoffman giveaways, events

SAN DIEGO -- Trevor Hoffman is headed to the Hall of Fame, and the Padres are pulling out all the stops to salute him at Petco Park this summer.
That includes a statue of Hoffman's likeness to be unveiled at the ballpark, though the location has not yet been determined. And a number of fan giveaways commemorating Hoffman will occur throughout the year, including a trio of Hoffman bobbleheads.
• Thoughts on Hoffman's trip to Cooperstown
Hoffman, who was elected to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday, will be formally inducted in a ceremony on July 29. Sometime shortly thereafter, the Padres will unveil Hoffman's statue. A date has yet to be announced.
Hoffman joins two other franchise icons -- right fielder Tony Gwynn and broadcaster Jerry Coleman -- in having his likeness in bronze at Petco Park.

Gwynn's statue currently resides beyond the right-center-field seating on the grassy area known as "Park at the Park." Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the statue "will be consistent in character with the Tony Gwynn statue."
In fact, sculptor William Behrends -- who was tasked with creating Gwynn's statue in 2007 -- has been given the same job 11 years later for Hoffman. The statue of Hoffman will feature the right-hander at the apex of his leg kick.
• Hoffman follows Trammell's HOF example
Along with the statue, the Padres will celebrate Hoffman's induction in August during a weekend series against Arizona. Four all-fan giveaways are as follows:
Aug. 16: Replica Hoffman jersey
Aug. 17: "Hoffy" table book
Aug. 18: Cooperstown replica plaque
Aug. 19: Replica statue
The first bobblehead giveaway comes May 12, as part of a series commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1998 National League pennant-winning club. (Also in the series are Gwynn, Ken Caminiti and Greg Vaughn.) Then, on June 30, fans at Petco Park will receive a bobblehead commemorating Hoffman's 500th save. And on July 28, the day before Hoffman's induction, a separate bobblehead giveaway will look back on his number retirement ceremony.
On the day of Hoffman's induction, the Padres have plans to open Petco Park early, allowing fans to watch the ceremony on the videoboard at Petco Park. The first 15,000 fans that day will receive a flag featuring his number 51 -- which is already emblazoned among the club's retired numbers on the facing of the upper deck behind home plate.