 | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| No. of teams | 3 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | San Rafael Pacifics (2019) |
| Most titles | San Rafael Pacifics (4) |
| Official website | pacproclubs.pointstreaksites.com |
The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs is an independent baseball league based in Northern California. The league was founded in 2013 by four former North American League teams.[1]
History
During the initial season, two Hawaii-based teams, the Hawaii Stars and the Maui Warriors, played inter-league games against the Baseball Challenge League of Japan; California teams played against the Freedom Pro League of Arizona.[2]
Both Hawaii teams, the Stars and the Warriors, ceased operations after playing the 2013 season due to the travel costs of bringing in opponents from Northern California.[3] The East Bay Lumberjacks also did not return for a second season.
Two expansion clubs were added in 2014 (Sonoma Stompers and Pittsburg Mettle) bringing the total number of teams to four.
In 2017 San Francisco businessman and entrepreneur Jonathan Stone was named league commissioner.[4]
Expansion came again in 2018 with the addition of Martinez Clippers and Napa Silverados.[5][6] This brought the league to an all-time high of six member clubs.
Before the 2019 season the league lost two teams, Martinez and Pittsburg, which both folded and replaced by Pecos League teams in 2020. To replace them the Salina Stockade were added to the league as a travel team.[7]
Prior to the 2020 season, San Rafael left the league for the Pecos League and were replaced by the California Dogecoin. The Salina Stockade moved back to The Western League, bringing the Pacific Association back down to four clubs. After the season was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dogecoin were removed from the league website without having played a game. The 2020 season was officially cancelled on July 17, 2020. Later, the California Dogecoin joined the inaugural season of the Liberation Professional Baseball League.[8]
Teams
| Team | First Season | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa Silverados | 2018 | Napa, California | Miner Family Field | |
| Sonoma Stompers | 2014[9] | Sonoma, California | Arnold Field | 1,400[10] |
| Vallejo Admirals | 2013 | Vallejo, California | Wilson Park | 500[10] |
Former teams
- East Bay Lumberjacks (2013)
- Hawaii Stars (2013)
- Martinez Clippers (2018)[11]
- Na Koa Ikaika Maui (2013)
- Pittsburg Diamonds (2014-2018) - club went on hiatus for 2019 season[12]
- Salina Stockade (2019)
- San Rafael Pacifics (2013-2019)
League timeline
League members Former Team
Champions
| Season | 1st Half Winner | 2nd Half Winner | League Champion | Playoff Game Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Na Koa Ikaika Maui | San Rafael Pacifics | Na Koa Ikaika Maui | 6-1 |
| 2014 | San Rafael Pacifics | San Rafael Pacifics | San Rafael Pacifics[13] | none |
| 2015 | Sonoma Stompers | San Rafael Pacifics | San Rafael Pacifics | 4-3[14] |
| 2016 | Sonoma Stompers | Sonoma Stompers | Sonoma Stompers | none |
| 2017 | Sonoma Stompers | Vallejo Admirals | Vallejo Admirals | 11-8[15] |
| Regular season winner | Record | Playoff Champion | Playoff Result | |
| 2018 | Sonoma Stompers | 57-23 | San Rafael Pacifics | 6-0[16] |
| 2019 | Sonoma Stompers | 45-19 | San Rafael Pacifics | 2-1 (best of three)[17] |
Awards
| Season | League MVP | Pitcher of the Year | Reliever of the Year | Rookie of the Year | Manager of the Year | Executive of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Jayce Ray, Sonoma | Patrick Conroy, San Rafael | Collin Allen, San Rafael | Jordan Hinshaw, Vallejo | Garry Templeton II, Vallejo | none |
| 2015 | Matt Chavez, San Rafael | Max Beatty, San Rafael | Sean Conroy, Sonoma | Mark Hurley, Sonoma | Aaron Miles, Pittsburg | Mike Shaprio, San Rafael |
| 2016 | Joel Carranza, Sonoma[18] | Patrick Conroy, San Rafael[19] | JR Bunda, San Rafael[20] | Marquis Hutchinson, Vallejo[21] | Takashi Miyoshi, Sonoma[18] | Theo Fightmaster, Sonoma |
| 2017 | Tillman Pugh, Vallejo [22] | Tyler Garkow, Sonoma [23] | Sammy Gervacio, Vallejo [24] | Michael Rizzitello, San Rafael[24] | PJ Phillips, Vallejo / Takashi Miyoshi, Sonoma [25] | Kevin Reilly, Vallejo |
| 2018 | Javion Randle, San Rafael | Jared Koenig, San Rafael | Jacob Cox, Sonoma | Kenny Meimerstorf, Sonoma | Zack Pace, Sonoma | Brett Creamer, Sonoma |
| 2019 | Raúl Navarro, San Rafael | Dakota Freese, Vallejo | Jailen Peguero, San Rafael / Ryan Richardson, Sonoma | Zane Gelphman, Salina/San Rafael | Zack Pace, Sonoma | Brett Creamer, Sonoma |
Alumni
Max Beatty, San Rafael Pacifics - Chicago White Sox[26]
Matt Chavez, San Rafael Pacifics - San Diego Padres[27]
Tim Holmes, Vallejo Admirals - New York Yankees[28]
Brian McKenna, Vallejo Admirals - Miami Marlins[29]
Jayce Ray, Sonoma Stompers - Boston Red Sox[30]
Santos Salvidar, Sonoma Stompers - Milwaukee Brewers[31]
Nathan Tomaszewski, Vallejo Admirals - Pittsburgh Pirates[32]
Cole Watts, Sonoma Stompers - Kansas City Royals[33]
References
- ^ "New for 2013: Pacific Association". Ballpark Digest. January 12, 2013.
- ^ "Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs Announced". Baseball de World. January 14, 2013.
- ^ "Hawaii Stars baseball team suspended". West Hawaii Today. March 18, 2014.
- ^ "Jonathan Stone Named Pacific Association Commissioner". Ballpark Digest. May 5, 2017.
- ^ "New for 2018: Napa Silverados". Ballpark Digest. June 29, 2017.
- ^ "Stompers get two new opponents". Sonoma Index-Tribune. February 8, 2018.
- ^ "Bay Area independent baseball league's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad offseason continues". The Mercury News. April 5, 2019.
- ^ "Liberation Professional Baseball League". July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Pacific Association returns in 2014 with new Sonoma team". Ballpark Digest. January 15, 2014.
- ^ a b Knight, Graham. "2017 Professional Baseball Ballparks". www.baseballpilgrimages.com. Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Martinez Clippers baseball team defunct after one season; FBI investigates team owners". The Mercury News. March 30, 2019.
- ^ "Vallejo Admirals league loses another team". Vallejo Times Herald. April 6, 2019.
- ^ "BR Bullpen". Baseball Reference. February 22, 2016.
- ^ "San Rafael Pacifics Win 2015 Pacific Association Championship". Independent Baseball. September 2, 2015.
- ^ "Vallejo Admirals are 2017 Pacific Association champions!". Vallejo Times-Herald. September 2, 2017.
- ^ "San Rafael Pacifics blank Stompers to capture championship". Marin Independent Journal. September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Pacifics win Game 3, defend Pacific Association title". Marin Independent Journal. September 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Latest News". Sonoma Stompers Baseball. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Pacifics Baseball Club - Patrick Conroy Named Pitcher of the Year". www.pacificsbaseball.com. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Pacifics Baseball Club - JR Bunda Named Reliever of the Year". www.pacificsbaseball.com. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Marquis Hutchinson Named Pacific Association 2016 Rookie of the Year | Vallejo Admirals". vallejoadmirals.com. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Pugh Named League MVP | Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs". pacproclubs.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Garkow Named 2017 Pitcher of the Year | Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs". pacproclubs.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ a b "Rizzitello, Gervacio receive Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year Honors | Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs". pacproclubs.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "League Honors Dual Managers of the Year in Miyoshi, Phillips | Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs". pacproclubs.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Pacifics enjoy thrill ride". San Rafael News Pointer. June 16, 2016.
- ^ "Slugging first baseman Matt Chavez signs with San Diego Padres". Marin Independent Journal. August 19, 2015.
- ^ "Vallejo Admirals closer Tim Holmes signs with New York Yankees organization". Vallejo Times-Herald. June 17, 2016.
- ^ "Freedom's McKenna signs with Marlins; third player plucked from the roster by a MLB team this season". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism. July 20, 2019. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Ray Receives Affiliated Opportunity". OurSportsCentral. October 20, 2015.
- ^ "Brewers sign Santos Saldivar from Sonoma Stompers". Today's Knuckleball. May 19, 2016.
- ^ "Ex-Vallejo Admirals slugger playing in Pirates' organization". Vallejo Times-Herald. May 24, 2014.
- ^ "Royals announce signings of early draft picks, but no Bobby Witt Jr (yet)". The Kansas City Star. June 10, 2019. Retrieved 2019.
External links
This article uses material from the Wikipedia page available here. It is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.