You can buy an autographed baseball in a million places, but there is one place where you can buy an autographed baseball for $75 from a U.S. Senate candidate.

The candidate, of course, is Steve Garvey, a household name in California not because of his life in politics but because of his distinguished career with the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

In the race against Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), Garvey is a decided underdog. No Republican has won a seat in the California Senate since 1988.

On Saturday — a month before Election Day — the two teams Garvey played for open their National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. That made Friday a good day to report to Garvey.

Dodgers. Padres. Who will win?

My team will win. (He laughed.)

You've spent most of your life with the Dodgers. You were a batboy for the Dodgers long before you were their first baseman – an eight-time All-Star, an extremely valuable player, a World Series champion. How did you become an important player in Padres history?

Back when the Dodgers made me an offer I could refuse (Garvey was a free agent after the 1982 season), I ended up staying with (Padres owner and McDonald's baron) Ray Kroc at his clifftop home. He said, “Stevie, I really want you here.” I know what can be done locally, but this community needs someone who understands the relationship between the people and the city. We haven't had that yet.'

He said there was just one problem: “I can only pay you in Big Macs and French fries.”

In 1983, your first year in San Diego, the Padres hit .500. The team had a winning record in its 15 seasons. In 1984, the Padres went to the World Series.

In year two we had acquired (closer Goose) Gossage and (third baseman Graig) Nettles. Tony Gwynn was in his third year. We had (shortstop Garry) Templeton and (catcher Terry) Kennedy and (outfielder Kevin) McReynolds, and (second baseman Alan) Wiggins showed up, and a damn good pitching staff.

'84 was the year. It was, so to speak, the beginning of the Padre story. Having been a part of the Dodger organization from batboy in 1956 to all the years that I was a part of this great historic franchise, being a part of it and making a significant contribution, and then going to San Diego and Helping them win for the first time and building their history is something I'm very proud of.

Who would have ever thought that I wouldn't be a Dodger all my life? And life happens. The fact that it worked out that way was pretty nice.

Her most memorable moment with the Padres may be the walkoff home run in Game 4 of the 1984 NL Championship Series that moved the team one win away from the World Series.

Wherever I go, people tell me where they have been, which is always a sign of a historical moment.

And your most memorable moment with the Dodgers?

The 1981 World Cup was truly the highlight of my career. If you play a team sport, winning the world championship is the ultimate. We were frustrated in 1974, 1977 and 1978. And then in 1981, when the strike unfolded, it seemed to be a shared destiny.

Do you find it strange that your number was retired by the Padres but not the Dodgers?

With Don Newcombe and (Fernando Valenzuela) and I, we formed the first class of Legends of Dodger Baseball that emerged in the last few years. This is also a great honor.

Everyone always asks me, “Why isn’t your number retired?” It’s entirely up to the organization. I am honored that San Diego and the Padres are retiring my number. I said it would probably happen in the future. I don't get up and think about it every day.

Are you being harassed while campaigning in the San Francisco Bay Area?

I don't. We just came from Northern California. It's really good-natured. Some people will say, 'Oh, he always beat us.' But a lot of people will say, 'Garvey, we hated the Dodgers, but we'll vote for you.' 'It's so bad up here and we pretty much know you Exactly.”

Our theme was – and my wife Candace came up with it – that I never took the field for Democrats or Republicans, but for all the fans.

In the best interest of California, do you have a plan to make the Giants great again?

The Giants great again?

That would give the state three great National League teams.

They had that streak (three championships in five years) that was a statement for this millennium in Giant history. Whenever your rivals are good, it's good for the game and good for both teams.

That's why the Padres' rise is good: everyone has been waiting for the time when they would actually be relatively equal to the Dodgers.

Across the San Francisco Bay, a major league team has left Oakland and plans to leave the state entirely to move to Las Vegas. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) has presented a bill That would require teams leaving a community to compensate that community given their support for the team and often their contributions to a stadium. Would you support this bill?

It is free will and free choice. It's a business. It's capitalism. If you have a smaller market, you know the challenges and limitations. Ultimately, it is up to the owner to decide its future fate.

It's obviously very emotional for them and for the people of Oakland and the great players that came out of there – Dave Stewart and Dusty Baker and all those guys. But it is a purely business decision made by the owners. People don't necessarily like it because they're local and have a great history there. It's just the nature of doing business in America.

So you don’t see the federal government playing a role in franchise relocation?

No. God, lower taxes, smaller government and the pursuit of happiness. Ronald Reagan told me that.

In sports, your team works together to beat the other team. That's what's happening in Congress now. This is causing dysfunction in Washington. How could your sports background help you solve this problem?

Our theme was common sense, compassion and consensus. I said if I'm elected a U.S. senator in California, I'm going to go to all the other 99 senators on day one – walk into their office, hold out my hand and say, “I'm Steve Garvey,” and I want to go “Work with you in the best interests of my state, your state and the country.” I don't think too many people are willing to do that or have done it.

One last try: Dodgers. Padres. Who are you supporting in this series?

My team will win. (He laughed again.)

Avoid a question? Maybe you have a future in politics.

I hope so. At least six years. A term.