California League
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 it as an independent league 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 in 1887-1888.
The longer-lasting California League was 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. It played its last season in 2019, then before the 2021 season, a number of its teams were transferred to the Low-A West section of the Professional Development League. The name was then revived in 2022 when the Low-A West rebranded itself as the California League.
Over the years, the California League has produced eight Hall of Fame players and one Hall of Fame manager (Sparky Anderson). The league operated as an eight-team circuit in its final year, with two divisions of four teams each, following the contraction of two teams afrer the 2016 season.
In 2016 the league celebrated its 75th anniversary with the opening of the California League Hall of Fame.
Current Teams, Managers, and Affiliations[edit]
North Division | South Division | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Manager | Parent Team | Team | Manager | Parent Team | |
Fresno Grizzlies | Steve Soliz | Colorado Rockies | Inland Empire 66ers | Dave Stapleton | Los Angeles Angels | |
Modesto Nuts | Zach Vincej | Seattle Mariners | Lake Elsinore Storm | Lukas Ray | San Diego Padres | |
San Jose Giants | Ydwin Villegas | San Francisco Giants | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | John Shoemaker | Los Angeles Dodgers | |
Stockton Ports | Javier Godard | Oakland Athletics | Visalia Rawhide | Darrin Garner | Arizona Diamondbacks |
League Champions and MVPs[edit]
- In 2001, co-champions were named after the remainder of the postseason was were cancelled on September 12th due to the attacks on the United States occurring 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 in the North Division semifinal series.
Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]
- Clark Griffith, 1893 Oakland Colonels
- Harry Hooper, 1907 Oakland Commuters, 1907 Sacramento Cordovas, 1908 Sacramento Senators
- Dick Williams, 1948 Santa Barbara Dodgers
- Sparky Anderson , 1953, Santa Barbara Dodgers, Manager, 1967 Modesto Reds
- Don Drysdale, 1954 Bakersfield Indians
- Doug Harvey , 1958-1960 (umpire)
- Pat Gillick, 1959, Stockton Ports
- Bobby Cox, 1960 Reno Silver Sox
- Joe Morgan, 1963 Modesto Colts
- Don Sutton, 1965 Santa Barbara Dodgers
- Rollie Fingers, 1966 Modesto Reds
- Reggie Jackson, 1966 Modesto Reds
- Tony LaRussa, 1966 Modesto Reds
- Ted Simmons, 1968 Modesto Reds
- George Brett, 1972 San Jose Bees
- Dennis Eckersley, 1972-1973 Reno Silver Sox
- Rickey Henderson, 1977 Modesto A's
- Kirby Puckett, 1983 Visalia Oaks
- Roberto Alomar, 1986 Reno Padres
- Ken Griffey, Jr., 1988 San Bernardino Spirit
- Pedro Martinez, 1991 Bakersfield Dodgers
- Mike Piazza, 1991 Bakersfield Dodgers
- Adrian Beltre, 1996 San Bernardino Stampede
Alumni: Most Valuable Player Award Winners[edit]
13 California League alumni have been recipients of 14 Most Valuable Player Awards:
- Don Baylor (1968, Stockton) 1979 AL Most Valuable Player
- George Brett (1972, San Jose) 1980 AL Most Valuable Player
- Jose Canseco (1984, Modesto) 1988 AL Most Valuable Player
- Josh Donaldson (2008, Stockton) 2015 AL Most Valuable Player
- Dennis Eckersley (1972-1973, Reno) 1992 AL Most Valuable Player
- Rollie Fingers (1966, Modesto) 1981 AL Most Valuable Player
- Ken Griffey, Jr. (1988, San Bernardino) 1997 Al Most Valuable Player
- Reggie Jackson (1966, Modesto) 1973 AL Most Valuable Player
- Miguel Tejada (1996, Modesto) 2002 AL Most Valuable Player
- Josh Hamilton (2002, Bakersfield) 2010 AL Most Valuable Player
- Joe Morgan (1963, Modesto) 2 × NL Most Valuable Player (1975, 1976)
- Buster Posey (2008, San Jose) 2012 NL Most Valuable Player
- Mike Trout (2010, Rancho Camonga) 2014 AL Most Valuable Player
Alumni: Cy Young Award Winners[edit]
16 California League Alumni have been recipients of 17 Cy Young Awards:
- John Denny (1972, Modesto) 1983 NL Cy Young Award
- Don Drysdale (1954, Bakersfield) 1962 Cy Young Award
- Dennis Eckersley (1972-1973, Reno) 1991 AL Cy Young Award
- Rollie Fingers (1966, Modesto) 1981 AL Cy Young Award
- Orel Hershiser (1991, Bakersfield) 1988 NL Cy Young Award
- Dallas Keuchel (2010, Lancaster) 2015 AL Cy Young Award
- Corey Kluber (2008, Lake Elsinore) 2014 AL Cy Young Award
- Tim Lincecum (2006, San Jose) 2 × NL Cy Young Award (2008–2009)
- Mike Marshall (1962, Bakersfield) 1974 NL Cy Young Award
- Pedro Martinez (1991 Bakersfield) 3 × Cy Young Award (1997, 1999, 2000)
- Jake Peavy (2001, Lake Elsinore) 2007 NL Cy Young Award
- Max Scherzer (2007, Visalia) 2013 AL Cy Young Award
- Steve Stone (1969, Fresno) 1980 AL Cy Young Award
- Rick Sutcliffe (1979, Bakersfield) 1984 NL Cy Young Award
- Fernando Valenzuela (1979, Lodi) 1991 NL Cy Young Award
- Brandon Webb (2001, Lancaster) 2006 NL Cy Young Award
- Barry Zito (1999, Visalia) 2002 AL Cy Young Award
Alumni: Rookie of the Year[edit]
24 California League Alumni have been named Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award:
- Andrew Bailey (2007, Stockton) 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
- Jose Canseco (1984, Modesto) 1986 AL Rookie of the Year
- Marty Cordova (1991, Visalia) 1995 AL Rookie of the Year
- Carlos Correa (2014, Lancaster) 2015 AL Rookie of the Year
- Ozzie Guillen (1982, Reno) 1985 AL Rookie of the Year
- Ron Hansen (1956, Stockton) 1960 AL Rookie of the Year
- Eric Karros (1989, Bakersfield) 1992 NL Rookie of the Year
- Chuck Knoblauch (1989, Visalia) 1991 AL Rookie of the Year
- Jim Lefebvre (1962, Reno) 1965 NL Rookie of the Year
- Pat Listach (1989, Stockton) 1992 AL Rookie of the Year
- Evan Longoria (2006, Visalia) 2008 AL Rookie of the Year
- Mark McGwire (1984, Modesto) 1987 AL Rookie of the Year
- Gary Matthews (1970, Fresno) 1973 NL Rookie of the Year
- Raúl Mondesí (1991, Bakersfield) 1994 NL Rookie of the Year
- Hideo Nomo (1995, Bakersfield) 1995 NL Rookie of the Year
- Mike Piazza (1991, Bakersfield) 1993 NL Rookie of the Year
- Buster Posey (2008, San Jose) 2010 NL Rookie of the Year
- Tim Salmon (1990, Palm Springs) 1993 Rookie of the Year
- Benito Santiago (1984, Reno) 1987 Rookie of the Year
- Rick Sutcliffe (1979, Bakersfield) 1979 NL Rookie of the Year
- Mike Trout (2010, Rancho Camonga) 2012 AL Rookie of the Year
- Fernando Valenzuela (1979, Lodi) 1981 NL Rookie of the Year
- Walt Weiss (1985, Modesto) 1988 AL Rookie of the Year
- Todd Worrell (1993, Bakersfield) 1986 NL Rookie of the Year
Alumni: League Leaders[edit]
- Nolan Arenado (2011, Modesto) 2015 NL home run co-leader; 2015 NL RBI leader
- Jose Altuve (2010, Lancaster) 2014 AL Batting Champion
- Dante Bichette (1986, Palm Springs) NL home run leader (1995); NL RBI leader (1995)
- Madison Bumgarner (2009, San Jose) AP Male Athlete of the Year (2014)
- John Burkett (1985, Fresno) 1993 NL Wins Leader
- Will Clark (1985, Fresno) 1988 NL RBI Leader
- Mike Garcia (Bakersfield, 1946) 2 × AL ERA Leader (1949, 1954)
- Jim Gentile (1952, Santa Barbara) 1961 AL RBI leader
- Paul Goldschmidt (2010, Visalia) NL home run leader (2013); NL RBI leader (2013)
- Bobby Grich (1968, Stockton) 1981 AL Home Run Leader
- Ken Harrelson (1961, Visalia) 1968 AL RBI Leader
- Mike Hampton (1991, San Bernadino) 1999 NL Wins Leader
- Derrek Lee (1993, Rancho Cucamonga) 2005 NL Batting Champion
- Bill Mueller (1994, San Jose) 2003 AL Batting Champion
- Russ Ortiz (1995, San Jose) 2003 NL Wins Leader
- Gary Sheffield (1987, Stockton) 1992 NL Batting Champion
- David Wells (Ventura County, 1986) 2000 AL Wins Leader
- Jordan Zimmermann 2013 NL Wins Leader
Cities Represented[edit]
1886-1889, 1891-1893, 1898-1902, 1907-1909[edit]
- Alameda, CA: Alameda Grays 1907; Alameda Encinals 1908
- Fresno, CA: Fresno Tigers 1908; Fresno Raisin Growers 1909
- Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles Angels 1892-1893, 1901; Los Angeles Looloos 1902
- Oakland, CA: Oakland G & Ms 1886-1888; Oakland Colonels 1889-1893; Oakland Reliance 1898, 1903; Oakland Dudes 1899-1902; Oakland Heeseman's 1903-1904; Oakland Commuters 1905-1908; Oakland Invaders 1909
- Sacramento, CA: Sacramento Altas 1886-1887, 1889; Sacramento Senators 1890-1891, 1893, 1901; Sacramento Gilt Edges 1899-1900; Sacramento Sacts 1902; Sacramento Senators 1904, 1908-1909; Sacramento Cordovas 1906-1907;
- San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Stars 1886; San Francisco Pioneers 1886-1888; San Francisco Haverlys 1886-1888; San Francisco Friscos 1889, 1891, 1898; San Francisco Metropolitans 1890, 1892-1893; San Francisco Wasps 1899-1902; San Francisco Jesse Moores 1903-1904; San Francisco 1905, 1907-1908; San Francisco Presidio Soldiers 1905-1906; San Francisco Orphans 1909
- San Jose, CA: San Jose Dukes 1891; San Jose Drakes 1892; San Jose Florists 1898; San Jose Prune Pickers 1899, 1903-1909
- Santa Cruz, CA: Santa Cruz Beachcombers 1899; Santa Cruz Sand Crabs 1908-1909
- Stockton, CA: Stockton 1888-1890; Stockton River Pirates 1893; Stockton Terriers 1898; Stockton Pirates 1900; Stockton Poppies 1903-1905; Stockton Millers 1906-1908; Stockton Tigers 1909
- Watsonville, CA: Watsonville Hayseeds 1899
1941-2019[edit]
- Adelanto, CA: High Desert Mavericks 1991-2016
- 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 1995-2016
- 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 1994-2019
- Lancaster, CA: Lancaster JetHawks 1996-2019
- 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 2005-2019
- Palm Springs, CA: Palm Springs Angels 1986-1993
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1993-2019
- 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 2003-2019
- 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 1988-2019
- 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 2002-2019
- 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
- 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 1995-2008; Visalia Rawhide 2009-2019
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