Bakersfield Blaze

• Location: Bakersfield, CA
• League: California League 1995-2016
• Affiliation: co-op 1995-1996; San Francisco Giants 1997-2000; Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2001-2004; Texas Rangers 2005-2010; Cincinnati Reds 2011-2014; Seattle Mariners 2015-2016
• Ballpark: Sam Lynn Ballpark
• Famous Alumni: Hideo Nomo (1995), Rocco Baldelli (2002), Josh Hamilton (2002), Jonny Gomes (2002)

Team History

In 1995 the Bakersfield Blaze received players from the Cleveland Indians (12 players), Kansas City Royals (2), Los Angeles Dodgers (24), and San Diego Padres (1). In 1996 they received players from 11 different teams. The 1996 team, managed by former Yankee great Graig Nettles, set a California League record by losing their final 22 games of the season, finishing dead last at 39-101. Baseball America named the '96 Blaze "The worst minor league baseball team for the decade of the 1990s". From 1997 to 2000 the San Francisco Giants had two high-A affiliates, the Blaze and the San Jose Giants, both in the California League.

In the summer of 2004, the Blaze were bought out by owners of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Lake Elsinore Storm and Lancaster JetHawks. This was in response that Bakersfield could lose their franchise, unless major improvements were made to the stadium. Fortunately, the next year, the Blaze underwent a complete makeover, and Sam Lynn Ballpark was voted best ballpark in the minor leagues in 2005.

On July 17th, 2007, Chris Davis tied a 15 year-old California League record by hitting in 35 consecutive games against the Stockton Ports in Stockton, California. The streak ended the next day. He shares the record with Brent Gates, from the 1992 Modesto A's.

Towards the end of the 2016 season, the California League announced that it would contract two teams at the end of the season - Bakersfield and the High Desert Mavericks. The move was made to allow the Carolina League to expand by two teams.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs	Hitting coach	Pitching coach
1995	58-82	8th (t)	Greg Mahlberg
1996	39-101	10th	Graig Nettles
1997	62-78	8th	Glenn Tufts (33-43) / Keith Bodie (29-35)		Keith Bodie	Bryan Hickerson
1998	49-91	10th	Frank Reberger			Shawn Barton
1999	64-76	7th	Keith Comstock		Mike Felder	Bert Bradley
2000	80-60	2nd	Lenn Sakata	Lost in 1st round		Steve Renko
2001	71-69	5th (t)	Charlie Montoyo	Lost in 2nd round*	Jorge Robles	Marty DeMerritt
2002	69-72	6th (t)	Charlie Montoyo		Steve Livesey	Marty DeMerritt
2003	70-70	8th	Omer Munoz		Ramon Ortiz	Marty DeMerritt
2004	59-81	8th	Mako Oliveras		Ramon Ortiz	Marty DeMerritt
2005	68-72	7th	Arnie Beyeler		Bob Skube	David Chavarria
2006	58-82	10th	Carlos Subero		Pedro Lopez	David Chavarria
2007	57-83	9th	Carlos Subero		Brant Brown	Mike Anderson
2008	62-78	9th	Damon Berryhill		Brant Brown	David Chavarria
2009	75-65	3rd (t)	Steve Buechele	Lost in 2nd round	Jason Wood	David Chavarria
2010	67-73	8th	Bill Haselman		Jason Wood	David Chavarria
2011	66-74	7th	Ken Griffey Sr.		Tony Jaramillo	Rigo Beltran
2012	72-68	5th	Ken Griffey Sr.	Lost in 2nd round	Eli Marrero	Rigo Beltran
2013	55-85	10th	Ken Griffey Sr.		Ray Martinez	Rigo Beltran
2014	78-62	2nd(t)	Pat Kelly	Lost in 2nd round	Ray Martinez	Tom Browning
2015	61-79	8th(t)	Eddie Menchaca		Max Venable	Andrew Lorraine
2016	76-64	5th	Eddie Menchaca	Lost in 1st round	Max Venable	Ethan Katz

* San Jose led Bakersfield 2 games to 1 in the best-of-5 series when the playoffs were canceled due to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center.

External Link

• Official Website of the Bakersfield Blaze