Padres drop Selig's name from Hall of Fame Plaza

San Diego Padres fans who berated the club for naming its Hall of Fame after former commissioner Bud Selig are getting their wish granted.

Despite announcing in August 2014 that the franchise was changing the name of "Palm Court Plaza" to "Selig Hall of Fame Plaza" in honor of baseball's former head executive, Padres president Mike Dee admitted backlash from fans has led to a change in plans.

"When we made the announcement, we underestimated the sentiments of the fans," Dee told Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "And the reaction of the fans was something we heard. In processing the feedback from our fans - including those who may be writing this story - we made the decision to move in another direction.

"Since that time, when we planned out the Hall of Fame, we made a mid-course decision, and we still will honor commissioner Selig some way, but in our offices."

The Padres Hall of Fame, located just outside the left-field seats at Petco Park, is planned to contain plaques and statues commemorating the franchise's former greats.

But while the former commissioner's name will no longer grace the plaza, Dee says Selig isn't too bothered by the last-minute change.

"The commissioner is aware of it and supports our decision," Dee said, according to Canepa. "He's excited about what we will do. It won't be anything outwardly facing to the fans, but inside the footprint of Padres offices.

"This area should be branded Padres Hall of Fame Plaza, and we don't want to take anything away from the Hall."