07/12/2011 3:11 PM ET Padres to wear 1983 uniforms Thursday in honor of Dick Williams Tribute will include commemorative patch, moment of silence and pregame video

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The San Diego Padres today announced the team will wear the club's 1983 uniforms when they take on the San Francisco Giants Thursday, July 14, as part of a larger tribute to the late Dick Williams.

Also in honor of the Hall of Famer and former Padres manager Thursday, the team will wear a commemorative patch of Williams' initials. Thursday's pregame ceremony will include a moment of silence and a special video tribute to Williams. The Padres will also fly a flag in the PETCO Park flag court in his memory.

"Through his leadership and passion for the game, Dick Williams left an indelible mark on the Padres franchise," said Padres President and COO Tom Garfinkel. "It is only fitting that we honor him both on and off the field for the role he played in one of the greatest eras in Padres history."

Williams passed away last week at the age of 82. The Padres' manager from 1982-85, Williams led the Friars to a 337-311 record and .520 winning percentage over four years, finishing at .500 or better each season. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, in 2007 and to the Padres Hall of Fame in 2009.

Williams managed parts of 21 seasons in the Big Leagues, including stints with the Boston Red Sox (1967-69), Oakland Athletics (1971-73), California Angels (1974-76), Montreal Expos (1977-81), Padres (1982-85) and Seattle Mariners (1986-88). He posted a .520 career winning percentage (1,571-1,451), advancing to the postseason five times.

Primarily an outfielder, Williams played parts of 13 seasons at the Major League level with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1951-54, 1956), Baltimore Orioles (1956-57, 1958, 1961-62), Cleveland Indians (1957), Kansas City Athletics (1959-60) and Boston Red Sox (1963-64). He appeared in 1,023 games, hitting .260 (768-for-2,959) with 157 doubles, 12 triples, 70 home runs, 331 RBI and 358 runs scored.

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