Padres start trek to spring training in Arizona NBC 7 San Diego [Video]

Baseball teams need a lotta stuff.

The Padres keep that stuff at Petco Park, so, when it’s time for the six-week extravaganza that is spring training, that stuff is needed at the Peoria Sports Complex.

For the past 20 years, the endeavor of moving said stuff has been championed by one man, who loves his daunting job.

“I’m the biggest fan of us and the Padres,“ said T.J. Laidlaw, the Padres clubhouse and equipment manager.

Every December, Laidlaw starts putting together a plan to move an entire baseball operation to Arizona, packing more than two dozen pallets with gear. That’s a bunch of pitching machines, 300 batting helmets, even more bats, hats and uniforms.

And socks.

“Tons of socks,” Laidlaw said. “I mean, guys go through so many socks.”

Packing has been underway for several weeks now, but, still, inevitably, when you’re moving the equivalent of a baseball city, something is going to be overlooked.

“Always — we …