| Classification | Class D (1910–1911) |
|---|---|
| Sport | Minor League Baseball |
| First season | 1910 |
| Ceased | July 9, 1911 |
| President | E.H. Raymond (1910) D.C. Anderson (1910–1911) E.T. Shortall (1910–1911) |
| No. of teams | 15 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Most titles | 1 Alameda Alerts (1910) San Leandro Cherry Pickers (1911) |
| Related competitions | Southern California Trolley League |
The Central California League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1910 and 1911 seasons. The Class D level league franchises were based exclusively in California. The league had a multitude of franchise relocations, before it permanently folded during the 1911 season. The 1910 Alameda Alerts and 1911 San Leandro Cherry Pickers captured league championships.
The league franchises were unstable during two seasons of play. The league began play on April 17, 1910 and played through November 6, 1910. [1] Of the eight original teams that started 1910 league play, seven of the eight teams moved during the season, with three teams moving twice or more, while three teams disbanded. In all, 15 different sites were used in the 1910 season, with two cities hosting two different Central California League teams. [2] [3] In 1911, two teams moved and two folded before the league permanently folded on July 9, 1911. [4] The league played a full schedule, but only the weekend games counted in the standings. [3]
1910 Central California League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Merchants | 18 | 10 | .643 | – | John Luce [6] |
| Healdsburg Grapevines / San Leandro Grapevines | 17 | 11 | .607 | 1.0 | Pop Wieland |
| St. Helena Fruitvale / Alameda Alerts | 19 | 13 | .594 | 1.0 | Nathan Coombs |
| Santa Rosa Prune Pickers / Alameda Bracketts / Oakland Basches / Berkeley | 14 | 15 | .483 | 4.5 | William Bailey / Tom Walton |
| Petaluma Incubators / Elmhurst | 8 | 18 | .308 | 9.0 | Dennis Healy / W.D. Thomas |
| San Rafael / Hayward / Fruitvale | 7 | 17 | .292 | 9.0 | George Englefield / William Hull / C. Heyer |
| Vallejo | 4 | 2 | .667 | NA | Charles McCauley |
| Napa | 3 | 4 | .429 | NA | Earl Raymond |
The league played a full schedule but only the weekend games counted.
Healdsburg moved to San Leandro April 24; St. Helena moved to Fruitvale April 24, then to Alameda July 10; Santa Rosa moved to Alameda May 5, then to Oakland July 10, then to Berkeley July 31.
Valleyjo and Napa disbanded May 29; Petaluma moved to Elmhurst June 5; San Rafael moved to Hayward June 12, then to Fruitvale July 10. The franchise disbanded October 9.
Playoff: Alameda Alerts 2 games, Richmond 0.
1911 Central California League
schedule
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Leandro Cherry Pickers | 10 | 3 | .769 | – | Pop Wieland [7] |
| Alameda Alerts | 8 | 5 | .615 | 2.0 | Tom Walton [8] |
| Vallejo Pastimes | 8 | 5 | .615 | 2.0 | Dave Orr [9] |
| Richmond Merchants | 8 | 6 | .571 | 2.5 | John Luce [10] |
| Berkeley Clarions | 5 | 6 | .455 | 4.0 | Jim Kane [11] |
| Elmhurst Carroll Tildens / Oakland Emery Arms | 4 | 7 | .364 | 5.0 | George Worthington [12] |
| Hayward Cubs | 4 | 9 | .308 | 6.0 | Len Schroeder [13] |
| Fruitvale Travelers / Alameda Monday Models | 4 | 10 | .286 | 6.5 | NA |
Fruitvale (1–7) moved to Alameda May 28; Elmhurst moved to Oakland June 4, disbanded June 18; Berkeley disbanded June 23
The league disbanded July 9.
The San Francisco and Alameda Railroad (SF&A) was a short-lived railroad company in the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area. The railroad line opened 1864–1865 from Alameda Terminal on Alameda Island to Hayward, California, with ferry service between Alameda Terminal and San Francisco started in 1864. After being bankrupted by the 1868 Hayward earthquake, it was acquired by a subsidiary of the Central Pacific Railroad in August 1869. Part of the SF&A line between Alameda Terminal and San Leandro served as a portion of the First transcontinental railroad starting in September 1869, while the southern section was abandoned in 1873.
There were at least three class D California State Leagues in operation at some point in minor league baseball history. Two lasted just a single season and the other lasted three seasons 1913 through 1915.
The Tulare Merchants were a minor league baseball team based in Tulare, California. In 1910 and 1911, the Merchants played exclusively as members of the Class D level San Joaquin Valley League, winning the 1911 league championship in their final season of play.
The Watsonville Pippins were a minor league baseball team based in Watsonville, California. The Pippins played briefly as members of the Class D level California State League in 1913. The Pippins were preceded in minor league play by teams that played partial seasons in two other leagues. The Watsonville "Babies" played briefly at the end of the 1898 Pacific Coast League season and were followed the next season by the Watsonville "Hayseeds" of the 1899 California League, who folded during the season. The Watsonville Pippins hosted 1913 home games at Loma Vista Park.
The Sapulpa Sappers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Between 1909 and 1923, Sapulpa teams played as members of the Western Association from 1909 to 1911, Southwestern League in 1921, Southwestern Association in 1922 and Southwestern League in 1923, capturing the 1922 league championship.
The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League, known informally as the "MINK" League, was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1910 to 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League consisted of teams based in the four states, but not always at the same time. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League permanently folded midway through the 1913 season.
The Southern California Trolley League was a short–lived minor league baseball league that played in the 1910 season. The Class D level, six–team Southern California Trolley League consisted of franchises based in California. With all the league teams being located within the greater Los Angeles area, teams and fans could access the league ballparks via trolley, leading to the league name. The Southern California Trolley League permanently folded before completing the 1910 season.
The Pasadena Silk Sox were a short–lived minor league baseball team based in Pasadena, California in 1910. Pasadena teams played as members of the Class D level Southern California Trolley League in 1910 and the 1913 Southern California League, with both teams having short tenures of play. The two teams have been the only minor league teams based in Pasadena.
The Redondo Beach Wharf Rats were a minor league baseball team based in Redondo Beach, California. In 1910, the Wharf Rats played as members of the short– lived Class D level Southern California Trolley League, winning the championship in the league's only season of play.
The Long Beach Beachcombers was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Long Beach, California in 1910 and 1913. Long Beach teams played as members of the Class D level Southern California Trolley League in 1910 and the Southern California League in 1913.
The Lemoore Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Lemoore, California. In 1911, the Lemoore Cubs played a partial season as members of the Class D level San Joaquin Valley League, which permanently folded before the conclusion of the season.
The Hanford Braves were a minor league baseball team based in Hanford, California, United States. In 1911, the Hanford Braves played a partial season as members of the Class D level San Joaquin Valley League, which permanently folded during the 1911 season. The Braves hosted home minor league games at the Hanford Ball Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Aurora, Illinois, in various seasons between 1888 and 1915.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Petersburg, Virginia and neighboring Colonial Heights, Virginia in various seasons between 1885 and 1954. Playing under numerous monikers, Petersburg teams played as members of the Virginia League beginning in 1885 and ending in 1951 and the 1954 Piedmont League. Petersburg teams won five league championships. Petersburg teams were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1923 and Cincinnati Reds in 1954.
The Richmond Merchants were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, California. In the 1910 and 1911 seasons, the Merchants played as members of the Class D level Central California League, winning the league pennant in the 1910 season.
The San Leandro Cherry Pickers were a minor league baseball team based in San Leandro, California. In 1910 and 1911, San Leandro teams played as members of the Class D level Central California League, with the Cherry Pickers winning the 1911 championship, as the league permanently folded during the season. The 1910 "San Leandro Grapevines" played a partial season, when the Healdsburg team relocated to San Leandro. Pop Wieland managed the team in both seasons. San Leandro hosted minor league home games at San Leandro Park
The Hayward Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Hayward, California. In 1910 and 1911, Heyward teams played as members of the Class D level Central California League. The 1910 Heyward team played a partial season after San Rafael relocated to Heyward, who then moved to Fruitvale. The 1911 Cubs resumed league play and finished in seventh place. The Heyward teams hosted minor league home games at the Boosters' Club Baseball Grounds.
The Oakland Emery Arms were a minor league baseball team based in Oakland, California. In 1910 and 1911, Oakland teams played as members of the Class D level Central California League. The 1910 "Oakland Basches" preceded the Emery Arms and played a partial season in the league.
The Berkeley Clarions were a minor league baseball team based in Berkeley, California. In the 1910 and 1911 seasons, the Clarions played as members of the Class D level Central California League, with the team playing partial seasons in both years. Berkeley hosted home minor league games at the Dwight Way Grounds.