Lodi Orions

From BR Bullpen


The Lodi Orions were a California League team based in Lodi, CA that played for one season in 1972. The team played its games at Lawrence Park. In December 1971, Nagayoshi Nakamura, the owner of Nippon Pro Baseball's Lotte Orions, bought the Lodi franchise of the Class A California League which had been named the Lodi Padres. The team's name was changed to the Lodi Orions, after Nakamura's other team, and its affiliation was also changed to the Baltimore Orioles. On the team were three Japanese players under contract with the Lotte Orions: pitchers Masao Sato and Junji Nakamura, and catcher Masaji Ishizuka. Ichize Aoki was the team’s manager, and Marty Kuehnert was the team's general manager. The following year the team's name was changed to the Lodi Lions after Nakamura bought the Nishitetsu Lions. Nakamura sold the team after the 1973 season, and the team became the Lodi Orioles.


Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1972 67-73 6th Jimmie Schaffer