Bakersfield Blaze

Bakersfield Blaze
Founded in 1941
Bakersfield, California

Team Logo

Cap Insignia
Class-level
  • Class A – Advanced
Minor league affiliations
Major league affiliations
Name
  • Bakersfield Blaze (1995–present)
  • Bakersfield Dodgers (1968–1975, 1984–1994)
  • Bakersfield Mariners (1982–1983)
  • Bakersfield Outlaws (1978–1979)
  • Bakersfield Bears (1957–1967)
  • Bakersfield Boosters (1956)
  • Bakersfield Indians (1946–1955)
  • Bakersfield Badgers (1941–1942)
Ballpark
Minor league titles
League titles 2 (1970, 1989)
Division titles
Owner(s)/Operated by: D. G. Elmore
Manager: Ken Griffey
General Manager: Elizabeth Martin

The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. 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 "Heater" the Dragon (not to be confused with the former mascot of the Western Baseball League's Chico Heat).

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 at the very least.[1] In September 2009, a further announcement was made that the Blaze would remain in Bakersfield for at least through the 2010 season.[2]

Contents

Notable former Bakersfield players

Year-by-year record

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

Current roster

Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 27 Tim Crabbe
  • 20 Matt Fairel
  • 18 Tyree Hayes
  • -- Daniel Jensen
  • 21 Christopher Manno
  • 38 Daniel Renken
  • 23 Mark Serrano
  • 10 Clayton Shunick
  • 15 J.C. Sulbaran
  • 44 Mace Thurman
  • -- Jamie Walczak
  • -- Chase Ware ‡

Catchers

  • 26 Julio Morillo
  • 25 Jordan Wideman

Infielders

  •  9 Alex Buchholz
  •  3 Jose Gualdron
  • 33 Jorge Jimenez
  • 18 Devin Lohman
  • 32 Chris Richburg

Outfielders

  • 29 Stephen Hunt
  • 13 Andrew Means
  • 12 Dayne Reed

Manager

Coaches

7-day disabled list
* On Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster
∞ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
‡ Restricted list
# Rehab assignment
Roster updated September 6, 2011
Transactions
More rosters

References

External links