California League
From BR Bullpen
There were various attempts in the 1800's and early 1900's to form a California League. The first lasted from 1887-1889, then 1891, 1893, and 1899-1902. After the National Association was formed in 1902, the California League operated outside the NA as an independent in 1902 and again from 1907-1909. Unfortunately this led to huge differences in the quality of teams competing with each other. In 1907 San Francisco was 3-34, while in 1908 San Francisco was 9-67 and Oakland was 4-71. Oakland and San Francisco competed in every year of these various leagues, with San Francisco having two teams 1887-1888.
The current California League is a class A minor league that began play in 1941. Due to World War II, the league suspended operations from 1942 to 1945. The circuit was initially classified as a "C" league and became an "A" league when the minor league system was restructured in 1963. Over the years, the California League has produced eight Hall of Fame players and one Hall of Fame manager (Sparky Anderson). The league currently operates as a ten team circuit, with two divisions of five teams each.
Contents |
[edit] Current Teams, Managers, and Affiliations
| North Division | South Division | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Manager | Parent Team | Team | Manager | Parent Team | |
| Bakersfield Blaze | Steve Buechele | Texas Rangers | High Desert Mavericks | Jim Horner | Seattle Mariners | |
| Modesto Nuts | Jerry Weinstein | Colorado Rockies | Inland Empire 66ers | Carlos Subero | Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| San Jose Giants | Andy Skeels | San Francisco Giants | Lake Elsinore Storm | Carlos Lezcano | San Diego Padres | |
| Stockton Ports | Aaron Nieckula | Oakland Athletics | Lancaster Jethawks | Wes Clements | Houston Astros | |
| Visalia Rawhide | Mike Bell | Arizona Diamondbacks | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Keith Johnson | Los Angeles Angels | |
[edit] League Champions and MVPs
- In 2001, co-champions were named in 2001, after the remainder of the postseason was were cancelled on September 12, 2001 due to the attacks on the United States occuring on the previous day. The Lake Elsinore Storm had won the South Division title, while the San Jose Giants were leading 2 - 1 over the Bakersfield Blaze the North Division semifinal series.
[edit] Hall of Fame Alumni
- Clark Griffith (1893 Oakland Colonels)
- Harry Hooper (1907 Oakland Commuters, 1907 Sacramento Cordovas, 1908 Sacramento Senators)
- Don Drysdale (1954 Bakersfield Indians)
- Joe Morgan (1963 Modesto Colts)
- Don Sutton (1965 Santa Barbara Dodgers)
- Rollie Fingers (1966 Modesto Reds)
- Reggie Jackson (1966 Modesto Reds)
- Sparky Anderson (Manager, 1967 Modesto Reds)
- George Brett (1972 San Jose Bees)
- Dennis Eckersley (1972 and 1973 Reno Silver Sox)
- Rickey Henderson (1977 Modesto A's)
- Kirby Puckett (1983 Visalia Oaks)
[edit] Other Notable Alumni
- Mark McGwire (1984 and 1985 Modesto A's)
- Ken Griffey, Jr. (1988 San Bernardino Spirit)
- Pedro Martinez (1991 Bakersfield Dodgers)
- Ben Sheets (1999 Stockton Ports and 2000 Mudville Nine)
[edit] Cities Represented
[edit] 1887-1889, 1891, 1893, 1899-1902, 1907-1909
- Alameda, CA: Alameda Grays 1907; Alameda Encinals 1908
- Fresno, CA: Fresno Tigers 1908; Fresno Raisin Growers 1909
- Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles Angels 1893, 1901; Los Angeles 1902
- Oakland, CA: Oakland G & Ms 1887-1888; Oakland Colonels 1889, 1891, 1893; Oakland Dudes 1899-1900; Oakland Commuters 1901; Oakland Clamdiggers 1902; Oakland Commuters 1907-1908; Oakland Invaders 1909
- Sacramento, CA: Sacramento Altas 1887, 1889; Sacramento Senators 1891, 1893; Sacramento Brewers 1899-1900; Sacramento Senators 1901; Sacramento Gilt Edges 1902; Sacramento Cordovas 1907; Sacramento Senators 1908, 1909
- San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Pioneers 1887-1888; San Francisco Haverly 1887-1888; San Francisco 1889; San Francisco Friscos 1891, 1893, 1899-1900; San Francisco Wasps 1901; San Francisco 1902, 1907-1908; San Francisco Orphans 1909
- San Jose, CA: San Jose Dukes 1891; San Jose Prune Pickers 1899, 1907-1909
- Santa Cruz, CA: Santa Cruz Beachcombers 1899; Santa Cruz Sand Crabs 1908-1909
- Stockton, CA: Stockton 1888-1889; Stockton River Pirates 1893; Stockton Wasps 1900; Stockton Millers 1907-1908; Stockton Tigers 1909
- Watsonville, CA: Watsonville Hayseeds 1899
[edit] 1941-present
- Adelanto, CA: High Desert Mavericks 1991-present
- Anaheim, CA: Anaheim Aces 1941
- Bakersfield, CA: Bakersfield Badgers 1941-1942; Bakersfield Indians 1946-1955 ; Bakersfield Boosters 1956; Bakersfield Bears 1957-1967; Bakersfield Dodgers 1968-1975; Bakersfield Outlaws 1978-1979; Bakersfield Mariners 1982-1983; Bakersfield Dodgers 1984-1994; Bakersfield Blaze 1995-present
- Fresno, CA: Fresno Cardinals 1941-1942, 1946-1956; Fresno Sun Sox 1957; Fresno Giants 1958-1987; Fresno Suns 1988
- Lake Elsinore, CA: Lake Elsinore Storm 1994-present
- Lancaster, CA: Lancaster JetHawks 1996-present
- Las Vegas, NV: Las Vegas Wranglers 1958
- Lodi, CA: Lodi Crushers 1966-1969; Lodi Padres 1970-1971; Lodi Orions 1972; Lodi Lions 1973; Lodi Orioles 1974-1975; Lodi Dodgers 1976-1983; Lodi Crushers 1984
- Merced, CA: Merced Bears 1941
- Modesto, CA: Modesto Reds 1946-1961; Modesto Colts 1962-1964; Modesto Reds 1966-1974; Modesto A's 1975-2004; Modesto Nuts 2005-present
- Palm Springs, CA: Palm Springs Angels 1986-1993
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1993-present
- Reno, NV: Reno Silver Sox 1955-1981; Reno Padres 1982-1987; Reno Silver Sox 1988-1992
- Riverside, CA: Riverside Reds 1941; Riverside Red Wave 1988-1990; Riverside Pilots 1993-1995
- Rohnert Park, CA: Redwood Pioneers 1980-1985
- Salinas, CA: Salinas Packers 1954-1958; Salinas Mets 1963-1964; Salinas Indians 1965; Salinas Packers 1973-1975; Salinas Angels 1976-1980; Salinas Spurs 1982-1987; Salinas Spurs 1989-1992
- San Bernardino, CA: San Bernardino Stars 1941; San Bernardino Spirit 1987-1995; San Bernardino Stampede 1996-2002; Inland Empire 66ers 2003-present
- San Jose, CA: San Jose Owls 1942; San Jose Red Sox 1947-1955; San Jose JoSox 1956-1957; San Jose Pirates 1958; San Jose Bees 1962-1976; San Jose Missions 1979-1981; San Jose Expos 1982; San Jose Bees 1983-1987; San Jose Giants 1988-present
- Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Saints 1941-1942; Santa Barbara Dodgers 1946-1953; Channel Cities Oilers 1954-1955; Santa Barbara Rancheros 1962-1963; Santa Barbara Dodgers 1964-1967
- Santa Clara, CA: Santa Clara Padres 1979
- Stockton, CA: Stockton Fliers 1941; Stockton Ports 1946-1972; Stockton Mariners 1978; Stockton Ports 1979-1983; Stockton Mudville Nine 1984; Stockton Ports 1985-1999; Mudville Nine 2000-2001; Stockton Ports 2002-present
- Thousand Oaks, CA: Ventura County Gulls 1986
- Ventura, CA: Ventura Yankees 1947-1949; Ventura Braves 1950-1952; Ventura Oilers 1953
- Ventura, CA & Santa Barbara, CA: Channel Cities Oilers 1954-1955; Channel Cities Oilers 1954-1955
- Visalia, CA: Visalia Cubs 1946-1952; Visalia Stars 1953; Visalia Cubs 1954-1956; Visalia Redlegs 1957-1959; Visalia Athletics 1960-1961; Visalia White Sox 1962; Visalia Mets 1968-1975; Visalia Oaks 1977-1992; Central Valley Rockies 1993-1994; Visalia Oaks 1995-present
