Category: California League

1963 San Jose Bees baseball program from the California League

San Jose Bees (1962-1976)

California League (1962-1976) Born: 1962 Displaced: October 1976 – The Bees are displaced by the arrival of Class AAA baseball in San Jose First Game: April

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Redwood Pioneers California League Baseball

Redwood Pioneers

The Redwood Pioneers were a minor league baseball outfit based in the small planned community of Rohnert Park, California. The California League club arrived from Santa Clara in 1980. Original team owner Thomas Leonard signed a 10-year lease with Rohnert Park civic officials which included an “initials clause”.  The clause stated that the team must use the initials “R-P” in its name for the term of the lease. Thus the name Redwood Pioneers stood as a rather confounding and indirect tribute to the ball club’s host community of Rohnert Park.

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Reno Padres California League

Reno Padres

California League (1981-1987) Born: October 9, 1980 – Re-branded from Reno Silver Sox Re-Branded: 1987 (Reno Silver Sox) First Game: April 10, 1981 (L 11-9

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Fresno Giants California League Baseball

Fresno Giants

California League (1958-1987) Born: December 12, 1957 – Affiliation change from Fresno Sun Sox Re-Branded: 1988 (Fresno Suns) First Game: April 22, 1958 (W 9-3

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Bakersfield Outlaws

The Bakersfield Outlaws were a short-lived Class A minor league baseball team in the California League. The Outlaws played two last place seasons operating as an independent club, without a Major League parent organization to provide players and share costs. Nevertheless, the Outlaws had a success story in Onix Concepcion. The 21-year old infielder spent the entire 1979 season in Bakersfield before breaking into the Majors the following year. He would go on start at shortstop for the Kansas City Royals during their 1985 World Series championship season.

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