California League
California League | |
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Sport | Baseball |
Founded | 1941 |
No. of teams | 10 |
Country/ Countries |
United States |
Most recent champion(s) | San Jose Giants |
Official website | Official Website |
The California League is a 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.
Contents |
Current Member Teams and Stadiums
Champions:
- 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
- 1987 Fresno Giants
- 1986 Stockton Ports
- 1985 Fresno Giants
- 1984
- 1983 Redwood Pioneers
- 1982
- 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
- 1972
- 1971
- 1970 Bakersfield Dodgers
- 1969 Stockton Ports
- 1968 Fresno Giants
- 1967
- 1966
- 1965 Stockton Ports
- 1964 Fresno Giants
- 1963 Stockton Ports
- 1962
- 1961 Reno Silver Sox
- 1960 Reno Silver Sox
Complete team list (1941-42, 1946-present)
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See also
External links
California League | ||
Northern Division | Southern Division | |
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Bakersfield Blaze | Modesto Nuts | San Jose Giants | Stockton Ports | Visalia Oaks | High Desert Mavericks | Inland Empire 66ers | Lake Elsinore Storm | Lancaster JetHawks | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes |