Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
(Redirected from Inland Empire 66ers)
- Location: San Bernardino, CA
- League: California League 2003-2019; Low-A West 2021; California League 2022-
- Affiliation: Seattle Mariners 2003-2006; Los Angeles Dodgers 2007-2010; Los Angeles Angels 2011-present
- Ballpark: San Manuel Stadium
Biographical Information[edit]
The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino, of the California League and briefly in Low-A West, took that full moniker in 2016 - before that, they were simply known as the Inland Empire 66ers, with no other geographic qualification. The Los Angeles Angels farmhands play their home games at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, CA.
On the question of their brands, these partners went in exactly opposite directions in the same season. In 2016, the 66ers agreed to tack "of San Bernardino" onto their official name during negotiations for a new lease and accompanying ballpark repairs.[1] In the same season, coincidentally, the Angels dropped the much-criticized "of Anaheim" from their official branding.[2]
Some sources had used the "of San Bernardino" reference long before, possibly because the Halos were then still officially the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim". The franchise that moved from Salinas originally went by San Bernardino - with the nickname Spirit from 1993 and 1994, then Stampede from 1996 through 2002. The change to "Inland Empire" followed the loss of Riverside from the Cali League ranks and may have been intended to appeal to Riverside fans - but in 2002 the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Lake Elsinore Storm, and High Desert Mavericks all also played in cities considered to be in the Empire.
MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization lowered the 66ers, and most of the Cali league, one level.
The franchise was founded as a charter member of the Cali, the Fresno Cardinals, in 1941. A year after losing a 30-season affiliation with the San Francisco Giants, it moved to Salinas in 1989 and on to San Bernardino in 1993. Starting out as the San Bernardino Spirit, the club remained unaffiliated until signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. From 1996 through 2002, the team was called the San Bernardino Stampede. In 2001, the Stampede changed parents to the Seattle Mariners, and just before the next season the farm club hosted its new parent in an exhibition game - the first baseball game involving a big-league team in The Berdoo in 30 years. Bull Durham (1988), Field of Dreams (1989) and For Love of the Game (1999) star Kevin Costner played shortstop and pitched for the hosts. A year later, the club took the regional name and a nickname saluting the famed U.S. highway.
The 66ers play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Cucuys de San Bernardino (a cucuy is similar to the American "boogeyman" - a mythical monster that takes away unruly children).
Year-by-Year Record[edit]
External Link[edit]
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