SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The stars showed out Monday for the start of Padres spring training.
Big-time players like two-time All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. and newly-signed pitcher Nick Pivetta arrived in Peoria, Arizona. However, there was one surprise sighting that many San Diegans may recognize.
Former FOX 5 anchor and Kathleen Bade stopped by to talk with sports anchor Julian Del Gaudio during Monday’s 5 p.m. newscast.
“For 30 days this was a place of magic where Major League Baseball came to town in the Cactus League,” said Bade, who grew up in Peoria.
Bade signed off the air in July of last year after 31 years in the business.
“I can’t complain, I get to do things like this, getting to visit with you (Julian), getting to visit with Phil (Blauer), and Kristina (Audencial) and Megan (Healy), and I miss everybody so much, but being able to reclaim your time at this stage of life, I just racked up another birthday, so that’s a wonderful thing to be able to do, I can’t complain,” said Bade when asked what she’s up to post-retirement.
Bade explained her fandom for the Padres started with the San Diego Chicken, the former Padres mascot.
“I was there opening day when Major League Baseball came to town in 1998, opening day the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark, now Chase Field, and I never quite became a fan, I stuck with the Padres and I’m glad I did,” she said.
