position to fifth to accommodate McCovey. Colbert struggled that season, shuffling between left field and first base while dealing with nagging injuries. He began having problems with his back, suffering from a congenital condition caused by degeneration of his vertebrae. After his batting average fell to .207, the Padres traded Colbert to the Detroit Tigers for Ed Brinkman, Bob Strampe, and Dick Sharon in a three-team deal on November 18, 1974, that involved Brinkman also being sent to the St. Louis Cardinals for Sonny Siebert, Alan Foster, and Rich Folkers. Danny Breeden went from the Padres to the Cardinals to subsequently complete the transactions. After batting .147 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games, the Tigers sold Colbert's contract to the Montreal Expos on June 15, 1975. He spent much of 1976 in the minor leagues before resurfacing very briefly with the Oakland Athletics at the end of the season. He attended spring training with the expansion Toronto Blue Jays in 1977, but back problems forced his retirement at 30. Colbert was the first star for the Padres and remains the franchise's career home run leader with 163. He also ranks among the top-10 in club history in RBIs (481), slugging percentage (.469), games played (866), runs scored (442) and base on balls (350). He was inducted as part of the inaugural class of the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in 1999. In 10 seasons covering 1,004 games, Colbert compiled a .243 average, 173 home runs, and 520 RBIs. He played on nine consecutive last-place teams from 1968 to 1976. Later life After his playing career, Colbert spent several years as a hitting instructor for the Padres during spring training. He later coached for them in the minor leagues, serving as a hitting coach with the Wichita Pilots (AA) and a first base coach for the Riverside Red Wave (A) from 1987 to 1990. He also became an ordained minister after graduating from St. Louis Baptist College (now Missouri Baptist University), and worked with disadvantaged youths. In 1991, Colbert pled guilty to committing fraud on bank loan documents, and he served a six-month sentence at a medium-security penitentiary in Lompoc, California. Personal life Colbert met his wife, Kasey, while playing with Oakland. They had nine children together. He died on January 5, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 76. See also List of