| Bakersfield Blaze Founded in 1941 Bakersfield, California |
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| League titles | 2 (1970, 1989) | ||||
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| Owner(s)/Operated by: Bakersfield Sports Group LLC | |||||
| Manager: Ken Griffey | |||||
| General Manager: Elizabeth Martin | |||||
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, United States. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark. Opened in 1941, the stadium is well known for facing the setting sun and its shallow 354-foot center field fence, and seats 3,500 fans. Their mascot is "Torch" the Dragon, who replaced "Heater" at the beginning of the 2012 season.
Near the end of the 2008 season, it was rumored that the Blaze would move to the Carolina League after the following season. However, Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner announced in February 2009 that they would remain in the California League.[1]
The Blaze were sold to local Bakersfield businessmen Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway just prior to the 2012 season. The new ownership renovated the venerable Sam Lynn Ballpark in time for Opening Day and announced in November of 2012 that a new ballpark would be ready for the 2014 season.[2]
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Notable former Bakersfield players [edit]
- Rocco Baldelli
- Johnny Callison
- John Danks
- Chris Davis
- Don Drysdale
- Scott Feldman
- Mike Garcia
- Jonny Gomes
- Josh Hamilton
- Tommy Hunter
- Eric Karros
- Mark Langston
- Pedro Martínez
- Ramón Martínez
- Travis Metcalf
- Joe Nathan
- Hideo Nomo
- José Offerman
- Mike Piazza
- James Shields
- Edinson Volquez
- John Wetteland
- C. J. Wilson
- Ron Cey
- Steve Yeager
- Didi Gregorius
- Yasmani Grandal
- Billy Hamilton
Year-by-year record [edit]
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 73–67 | 3rd | Frank Morehouse / Les Powers | Lost in 1st Round 3 games to 1 vs Santa Barbara |
| 1942 | 22–45 | 4th | Jack Colbern / Rex Cecil / Lee Dempsey | League suspended operations on June 28 |
| 1946 | 72–58 | 3rd | Martin Metrovich / Tony Governor | Lost in 1st Round 3 games to 2 vs Stockton |
| 1947 | 66–74 | 5th | Tony Governor | |
| 1948 | 70–70 | 5th (t) | Harry Griswold | |
| 1949 | 85–54 | 1st | Harry Griswold | Lost in 1st Round 3 games to 2 vs Ventura |
| 1950 | 61–79 | 6th | Harry Griswold | |
| 1951 | 58–89 | 8th | Wimpy Quinn | |
| 1952 | 70–70 | 5th | Gene Lillard | |
| 1953 | 75–65 | 2nd | Ray Perry | Lost in 1st Round 3 games to 0 vs Stockton |
| 1954 | 80–60 | 2nd (t) | Ray Perry | Lost in 1st Round 3 games to 1 vs San Jose |
| 1955 | 61–85 | 5th | Doc Alexson | |
| 1956 | 48–92 | 8th | Art Lilly / Dick Wilson | |
| 1957 | 64–75 | 6th | Dick Wilson / Babe Herman | |
| 1958 | 84–55 | 2nd | Paul Owens | Lost in 1st Round 2 games to 1 vs Visalia |
| 1959 | 70–71 | 4th | Paul Owens | Lost League Finals 4 games to 2 vs Modesto |
| 1960 | 74–66 | 3rd | Lou Kahn | |
| 1961 | 82–58 | 2nd | Lou Kahn | |
| 1962 | 67–72 | 6th (t) | Bob Wellman | |
| 1963 | 78–62 | 2nd | Bob Wellman | |
| 1964 | 56–83 | 8th | Moose Johnson | |
| 1965 | 66–74 | 5th | Dick Teed | |
| 1966 | 68–72 | 6th | Dick Teed | |
| 1967 | 70–68 | 4th | Nolan Campbell | |
| 1968 | 61–79 | 7th | Don Williams | |
| 1969 | 67–73 | 6th | Don LeJohn | |
| 1970 | 93–46 | 1st | Don LeJohn | League Champs – Best Overall Regular Season Record – No Playoffs |
| 1971 | 56–82 | 8th | Don LeJohn | |
| 1972 | 88–52 | 1st | Don LeJohn | Lost League Finals 2 games to 0 vs Modesto |
| 1973 | 70–70 | 4th | George Freese | Lost League Finals 2 games to 0 vs Lodi |
| 1974 | 65–75 | 5th | George Freese | |
| 1975 | 60–80 | 8th | Ron Brand | |
| 1978 | 48–92 | 8th | George Culver | |
| 1979 | 63–77 | 9th | Ron Mihal | |
| 1982 | 64–76 | 8th | Ken Pape | |
| 1983 | 68–72 | 6th | Greg Mahlberg | |
| 1984 | 68–72 | 4th | Don LeJohn | Won 1st Round 2 games to 1 vs Fresno, Lost League Finals 3 games to 1 vs Modesto |
| 1985 | 65–80 | 6th | Mel Queen | |
| 1986 | 40–102 | 10th | Don LeJohn | |
| 1987 | 78–65 | 4th | Kevin Kennedy | |
| 1988 | 71–71 | 6th | Gary LaRocque | |
| 1989 | 82–60 | 3rd | Tim Johnson | Won 1st Round 3 games to 1 vs San Bernardino League Champs Defeated Stockton 3 games to 0 |
| 1990 | 80–62 | 3rd | Tom Beyers | Won 1st Round 3 games to 2 vs Visalia, Lost League Finals 3 games to 2 vs Stockton |
| 1991 | 85–51 | 2nd | Tom Beyers | Lost in 1st Round 3 games to 0 vs High Desert |
| 1992 | 68–68 | 7th | Tom Beyers | |
| 1993 | 42–94 | 10th | Rick Dempsey | |
| 1994 | 69–67 | 5th | John Shelby | |
| 1995 | 58–82 | 8th (t) | Greg Mahlberg | |
| 1996 | 39–101 | 10th | Graig Nettles | |
| 1997 | 62–78 | 8th | Glenn Tufts / Keith Bodie | |
| 1998 | 49–91 | 10th | Frank Reberger | |
| 1999 | 64–76 | 7th | Keith Comstock | |
| 2000 | 80–60 | 2nd | Lenn Sakata | Lost in 1st round 2 games to 1 to Visalia |
| 2001 | 71–69 | 5th (t) | Charlie Montoyo | Defeated Stockton 2 games to 1 in 1st Round, Trailed 2 games to 1 in Division Finals vs San Jose when post season cancelled due to 9/11* |
| 2002 | 69–72 | 6th (t) | Charlie Montoyo | |
| 2003 | 70–70 | 8th | Omer Munoz | |
| 2004 | 59–81 | 8th | Mako Oliveras | |
| 2005 | 68–72 | 7th | Arnie Beyeler | |
| 2006 | 58–82 | 10th | Carlos Subero | |
| 2007 | 57–83 | 9th | Carlos Subero | |
| 2008 | 62–78 | 9th | Damon Berryhill | |
| 2009 | 75–65 | 5th | Steve Buechele | Defeated Modesto 2 games to 1 in 1st Round, Lost North Div Finals 3 games to 2 vs San Jose |
| 2010 | 67-73 | 7th | Bill Haselman | |
| 2011 | 66-74 | 6th | Ken Griffey, Sr. | |
| 2012 | 72-68 | 5th | Ken Griffey, Sr. | Won first half championship. Lost North Div Finals in 5 games to Modesto |
| 2013 | Ken Griffey, Sr. |
Current roster [edit]
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Bakersfield Blaze roster
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Infielders
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References [edit]
- ^ "2 Cal League teams no longer moving to Carolina League". Bakersfield.com. March 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ "2 Long-awaited plans unveiled for a new Bakersfield Blaze ballpark". Bakersfield.com. November 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
External links [edit]
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| Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Rookie |
| Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos |
Bakersfield Blaze Dayton Dragons |
Billings Mustangs AZL Reds DSL Reds DSL Rojos |
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