California League

California League
	; California League logo
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1941
No. of teams	10
Country(ies)	United States
Most recent champion(s)	San Jose Giants
Official website	Official Website

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The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth step between Rookie ball and the Major Leagues. Although Minor League Baseball, the umbrella organization for Minor Leagues that are affiliated with Major League Baseball, has eliminated the distinction between High-A and other full-season A leagues, most Major League teams still use such leagues as a standard promotion step. A few draftees, generally early-round draftees with college experience, will be assigned to a High-A team upon signing a professional contract, but generally players will not arrive at this level until their third or fourth year of professional play.

The league was founded in 1941, and contained teams in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Stockton. The following year, as a result of World War II, the league dropped to four teams, then ceased operations altogether. It came back in 1946, adding teams in Visalia, San Jose and Ventura by 1947. Reno, Nevada joined the league in 1955 and continued as a member for 37 years.

All of the current teams are playing in stadiums that have been built or extensively renovated since 1990. League attendance continues to increase each season, with over one million fans attending games per year. The league is divided into a Northern Division and a Southern Division.

Near the end of the 2008 season, it was rumored that the Bakersfield Blaze and another unnamed team would move to the Carolina League after the following season. However, Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner announced in February 2009 that both teams would remain.^[1]

[edit] Current teams

Division	Team	MLB Affiliation	City	Stadium	Capacity
Northern	Bakersfield Blaze	Texas Rangers	Bakersfield, California	Sam Lynn Ballpark	3,500
	Modesto Nuts	Colorado Rockies	Modesto, California	John Thurman Field	4,000
	San Jose Giants	San Francisco Giants	San José, California	San José Municipal Stadium	4,200
	Stockton Ports	Oakland Athletics	Stockton, California	Banner Island Ballpark	5,300
	Visalia Rawhide	Arizona Diamondbacks	Visalia, California	Recreation Park	2,468
Southern	High Desert Mavericks	Seattle Mariners	Adelanto, California	Stater Bros. Stadium	3,808
	Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino	Los Angeles Dodgers	San Bernardino, California	Arrowhead Credit Union Park	5,000
	Lake Elsinore Storm	San Diego Padres	Lake Elsinore, California	Lake Elsinore Diamond ¹	7,866
	Lancaster JetHawks	Houston Astros	Lancaster, California	Clear Channel Stadium	6,860
	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	Rancho Cucamonga, California	The Epicenter	6,200

¹ Hosted 2009 California/Carolina League All-Star Game

[edit] Current team rosters

Main article: California League rosters

[edit] Champions (since 1960)

2009 San Jose Giants
2008 Stockton Ports
2007 San Jose Giants
2006 Inland Empire 66ers
2005 San Jose Giants
2004 Modesto A's
2003 Inland Empire 66ers
2002 Stockton Ports
2001 San Jose Giants and Lake Elsinore Storm*
2000 San Bernardino Stampede
1999 San Bernardino Stampede
1998 San Jose Giants
1997 High Desert Mavericks
1996 Lake Elsinore Storm
1995 San Bernardino Spirit
1994 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
1993 High Desert Mavericks
1992 Stockton Ports
1991 High Desert Mavericks
1990 Stockton Ports
1989 Bakersfield Dodgers
1988 Riverside Red Wave
1987 Fresno Giants
1986 Stockton Ports
1985 Fresno Giants
1984 Modesto A's
1983 Redwood Pioneers
1982 Modesto A's
1981 Lodi Dodgers
1980 Stockton Ports
1979 San Jose Missions
1978 Visalia Oaks
1977 Lodi Dodgers
1976 Reno Silver Sox
1975 Reno Silver Sox
1974 Fresno Giants
1973 Lodi Lions
1972 Modesto A's
1971 Visalia Mets
1970 Bakersfield Dodgers
1969 Stockton Ports
1968 Fresno Giants
1967 San Jose Bees
1966 Modesto Reds
1965 Stockton Ports
1964 Fresno Giants
1963 Stockton Ports
1962 San Jose Bees
1961 Reno Silver Sox
1960 Reno Silver Sox

*Teams declared co-champions in wake of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

[edit] Complete team list (1941-42, 1946-present)

Anaheim Aces (1941), folded by onset of World War II, one of six minor league baseball teams in Orange County, California from 1901 to 1955.
Bakersfield (1941-42, 1946-75, 1978-79, 1982-present) as Baskersfield Badgers in 1941-42; as Bakersfield Indians in 1946-55; as Bakersfield Boosters in 1956; as Bakersfield Bears in 1957-67) under affiliations with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves.
Bakersfield Outlaws (1978-79).
Bakersfield Blaze (1995-present), as Bakersfield Mariners in 1982-83; as Bakersfield Dodgers in 1968-75, 1984-94), and the Blaze under affiliations with the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.
Central Valley Rockies see Visalia Oaks.
Chico Cubs (1942), folded by onset of World War II.
Eastside Eagles (1942), folded by onset of World War II.
Fresno Cardinals (1941-42), folded by onset of World War II.
High Desert Mavericks (1982-present, as Salinas Spurs 1982-87; as Riverside Red Wave in 1988-90)
Inland Empire 66ers (1941-42, 1946-present, as Fresno Cardinals in 1941-42, 1946-56; as Fresno Sun Sox in 1957; as Fresno Giants in 1958-87; as Fresno Suns in 1988; as Salinas Spurs in 1989-92; as San Bernardino Spirit in 1993-95; as San Bernardino Stampede in 1996-02 under affiliations with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners).
Lake Elsinore Storm (1979-present, as Santa Clara Padres in 1979; as Redwood Pioneers in 1980-85; as Palm Springs Angels in 1986-93).
Lancaster Jethawks (1966-present, as Reno Silver Sox in 1966-81; as Reno Padres in 1982-87; as Reno Silver Sox under affiliation with the Chicago White Sox in 1988-92; as Riverside Pilots under affiliation with the Seattle Mariners in 1993-95; and played some games in Palm Springs).
Las Vegas Wranglers (1947-58, as San Jose Red Sox in 1947-55; as San Jose JoSox in 1956-57; as San Jose Pirates in 1958; moved to Salinas in mid-season 1958 and Las Vegas during 1959 season).
Long Beach Angels (1962-66), as Santa Barbara Angels (1968-71), as Santa Clara Angels (1972-75) and as Salinas Angels (1976-80).
Los Angeles Cubbies in Wrigley Field, Long Beach and Hollywood Field (1946-49).
Merced Bears (1941), folded by onset of World War II, no California League team there ever since.
Modesto Colts (1946-64, as Modesto Reds in 1946-61), folded by 1962.
Modesto Nuts (1946-present, as Modesto Reds in 1946-61; as Modesto Yankees 1962-69, Modesto Cardinals 1970-74 and Modesto A's 1975-2004)
Oakland Oaks (1941, moved to Visalia as a result of World War II 1942-45); Oakland became a Pacific Coast League city, while Visalia Oaks folded by 1944.
Palm Springs Angels (1985-93) before relocation to Lake Elsinore in 1994. Palm Springs was the former spring training camp for the then-California Angels from 1961 to 1993. Palm Springs held other minor league and collegiate teams in the 1990s and 2000s.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1966-present, as Lodi Crushers under affiliation with the San Francisco Giants in 1966-69; as Lodi Padres in 1970-71; as Lodi Orioles in 1972; as Lodi Lions in 1973; as Lodi Orions 1974-75 all under affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles; as Lodi Dodgers in 1976-83; as Lodi Crushers under affiliation with the Seattle Mariners in 1984; merged with a previous team the Ventura County Gulls under affiliation with the San Diego Padres in 1981-82, Toronto Blue Jays in 1983-84 and Seattle Mariners in 1985-86; as San Bernardino Spirit in 1987-92) but another team with the name appeared.
Redding Reds (1940s), folded by onset of World War II.
Reno Silver Sox (1947-64, as Ventura Yankees in 1947-49; as Ventura Braves in 1950-52; as Ventura Oilers in 1953; as Channel Cities Oilers under affiliation with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954-55; moved to Reno during 1955 season; as Reno Oilers in 1955; became Reno Silver Sox during 1955 season) to become Kansas City/Oakland A's and Minnesota Twins affiliate in 1961 to 1969.
Riverside Reds (1941), when the city was the spring training camp for the Cincinnati Reds until the outbreak of World War II.
Sacramento Senators (mid 1940s) but was also a member of the Pacific Coast League.
Salinas Packers (1941-42, 1946-1958, as Santa Barbara Saints in 1941-42; as Santa Barbara Dodgers in 1946-53).
Salinas Indians (1946-65, as Visalia Cubs in 1946-56; as Visalia Redlegs in 1957-59; as Visalia A's in 1960-61; as Visalia White Sox in 1962, as Salinas Mets in 1963-64).
Salinas Angels (1946-80, as Stockton Ports in 1946-72; as Salinas Packers under affiliation with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973-75), team merged with Salinas Angels 1976.
San Bernardino Stars (1941) folded by onset of World War II.
San Diego Browns (1942-43), folded by onset of World War II.
San Jose Giants (1988-present)
San Jose Expos (1982) was the Las Vegas Expos in 1980-81.
San Jose Missions (1979-1981) (Pacific Coast League 1977-1978).
San Jose Bees (1962-1976) under affiliation of the Oakland A's, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners.
San Jose Bees (1983-1987), two team: one under affiliation of the Baltimore Orioles, and the former Fresno team affiliated by the San Francisco Giants.
San Jose Pirates (1958) relocated to Salinas in mid-season and to Las Vegas in 1959.
San Jose Red Sox (1947-1955), *San Jose JoSox (1956-1957) under affiliation with the Boston Red Sox.
San Jose Owls (1942), folded in mid-season.
Stockton Flyers (1941), merged with the Anaheim Aces as both teams folded by onset of World War II.
Stockton Ports (1978-present, as Stockton Mariners in 1978; as Stockton Ports in 1979-99; as Mudville Nine in 2000-01)
Visalia Mets (1962-75, as Santa Barbara Rancheros in 1962-63; as Santa Barbara Dodgers in 1964-67) before relocation to Bakersfield.
Visalia Rawhide (1946-1962, 1968-1975, 1977-Present), (1946-1952 & 1954-56 as Visalia Cubs, 1953 as Visalia Stars, 1957-59 as Visalia Redlegs, 1960-61 as Visalia A's, 1962 as Visalia White Sox, 1968-75 as Visalia Mets, 1978-1992 & 1995-2008 as Visalia Oaks, Central Valley Rockies in 1993-94) while playing half of their games in Fresno.

The Los Angeles area, Riverside, San Bernardino, Palm Springs, Yuma (AZ) and Las Vegas (NV) were also major league spring training site cities, as well possessed California League teams on different occasions except for Yuma, Arizona.

[edit] Cities that have had California League Teams (current in bold)

Adelanto (1990-)
Anaheim (1941) ^AL
Bakersfield (1941-42, 1946-75, 1978-79, 1982-)
Chico (1940's)
Eastside [Los Angeles] (1940's)
Fresno (1941-42, 1946-1988) ^PCL
Lake Elsinore (1994-)
Lancaster (1996-)
Las Vegas, NV (1959) ^PCL
Lodi (1966-86)
Long Beach (1946-49, 1962-66)
Merced (1941)
Modesto (1946-64, 1966-)
Oakland (1941) ^AL
Palm Springs (1985-93)

Rancho Cucamonga (1993-)
Redding (1940's)
Reno, NV (1955-64, 1966-92) ^PCL
Riverside (1941, 1993-95)
Sacramento (1940s) ^PCL
Salinas (1954-58, 1963-65, 1973-80, 1982-87, 1989-92)
San Bernardino (1941, 1987-)
San Diego (1942) ^NL
San Jose (1942, 1947-58, 1962-76, 1979-)
Santa Barbara (1941-42, 1946-53, 1962-71)
Santa Clara (1972-75, 1979)
Santa Rosa (1980-85)
Stockton (1941, 1946-72, 1978-)
Ventura (1947-55, 1986)
Visalia (1946-62, 1968-75, 1977-)

Modesto has hosted a California League team longer than any other city, hosting a team in all but two of the CL's 65 seasons.

[edit] References

^ "2 Cal League teams no longer moving to Carolina League". Bakersfield.com. March 27, 2009. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/sports/blaze/x1819528815/2-Cal-League-teams-no-longer-moving-to-Carolina-League. Retrieved 2009-09-14.

[edit] See also

Sports league attendances

[edit] External links

California League web site

[0] "2 Cal League teams no longer moving to Carolina League". Bakersfield.com. March 27, 2009. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/sports/blaze/x1819528815/2-Cal-League-teams-no-longer-moving-to-Carolina-League. Retrieved 2009-09-14.

[1]

California League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] Current teams

[edit] Current team rosters

[edit] Champions (since 1960)

[edit] Complete team list (1941-42, 1946-present)

[edit] Cities that have had California League Teams (current in bold)

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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California League logo
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1941
No. of teams	10
Country(ies)	United States
Most recent champion(s)	San Jose Giants
Official website	Official Website