1960-1969 Groundbreaking ceremony for San Diego Stadium.

First decade includes approval, construction and several debuts

Dec. 21, 1960

San Diego Union sports editor Jack Murphy writes a column suggesting the Los Angeles Chargers, a member of the fledgling American Football League, move 120 miles south to San Diego.

Jan. 1961

The Chargers, a member of the eight-team AFL, follow Murphy’s suggestion and move from Los Angeles to San Diego.

Sept. 11, 1963

Murphy writes in one of a number of columns that the Chargers need a new facility because Balboa Stadium (34,000 capacity), does not have enough good seats between the goal lines and possesses inadequate parking for the franchise’s long-term financial success.

Dec. 24, 1963

A citizens committee headed by Paul Carter, chairman of the Greater San Diego Sports Association, plans to study the feasibility of a multipurpose stadium for football and baseball.

Nov. 2, 1965

Proposition 1 is approved by 72 percent of San Diego voters, giving the go-ahead for a 50,000-seat multipurpose stadium. The cost is $27.75 million.

Dec. 18, 1965

Aug. 20, 1967

The Detroit Lions beat the Chargers 38-17 in a pro football exhibition game. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle was among the crowd of 45,988 who attended the first event at the new stadium.

Sept. 17, 1967

San Diego State defeated Tennessee State 16-8 in the Aztecs’ debut at the stadium before a crowd of 45,296. It was the 17th straight victory in the midst of a 25-game winning streak.

April 5, 1968

Cleveland edges San Francisco 5-4 in a Cactus League game played before a crowd of 18,611, in the first of three weekend exhibition games to introduce baseball to the stadium. The crowd was less than expected as many people were believed to have stayed home after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a day earlier. A moment of silence for the civil rights leader was observed before the game.

April 16, 1968

The defending champion PCL Padres opened the season with a 2-1 loss to the Indianpolis Indians before 10,196 fans in the club’s stadium debut. Starting pitcher Larry Colton went the distance for the Padres and drove in the team’s lone run with a fifth-inning triple.

May 27, 1968

Major League Baseball approves an expansion franchise for a San Diego ownership group led by financier C. Arnholt Smith, owner of the PCL Padres since 1957.

April 8, 1969

The Padres beat the Houston Astros 2-1 in the first regularseason major league game played at the stadium. A crowd numbering just 23,370 was in attendance.

Sept. 22, 1969

The Giants’ Willie Mays pinch hit for rookie George Foster and hit a pitch from rookie Mike Corkins for the 600th home run of his career. At the time, only Mays and Babe Ruth (714) had reached the milestone. Nine players now have at least 600 homers.

Dec. 5, 1969

San Diego and Escondido highs shared the CIF championship after playing to a 21-21 tie before 13,400 in the first prep title game played at the stadium.