Pacific Coast League

From BR Bullpen

PCLlogo.jpg

The Pacific Coast League was one of the three strongest minor leagues for over a century. The league played as an independent league in 1903 before joining the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues in 1904 and for a half-century had strongholds in Los Angeles, CA (the Angels and the Hollywood Stars), San Francisco, CA (the Seals and Missions), Oakland, CA (the Oaks), Seattle, WA (the Rainiers), and San Diego, CA (the Padres) - all five cities were eventually lost to big-league expansion; the only traditional cities to have maintained a foothold in the PCL were the Portland Beavers and Sacramento (formerly home to the Solons, now home to the River Cats).

The PCL has generally received much more publicity than the International League and American Association - until the 1950s, it was home to the best baseball on the west coast and it also featured bigger cities than the other top-tier minors. As a result, some have proclaimed it the top minor league, especially in its pre-1958 "heyday." A brief study of the rosters of the PCL, AA and IL for these years would seem to indicate that the talent level was probably pretty equivalent. In 1943 the league opened the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame at Wrigley Field; it would go dormant in the 1950s but was revitalized in 2003.

The PCL was the only minor league ever to be given the classification of "Open" - an experiment conducted from 1952-1957 to have a tier nominally above AAA. The PCL had hoped to become a third major league. This plan was abandoned when major league owners discovered the riches on the west coast. Television and transcontinental flight were twin contributing factors, with TV sending live images of MLB games into the West and air travel making West Coast MLB teams feasible. This was the period when Steve Bilko won three straight MVP Awards and home run titles. The PCL of that time had very few prospects, mostly consisting of over-the-hill ex-major-leaguers like Max West, Eddie Basinski and Elmer Singleton.

The PCL was a class AAA minor league from 1958 until its dissolution following the cancelled 2020 season. After one season, the Triple-A West was re-rebranded as the Pacific Coast League in 2022, reviving the league - again in AAA.

Current Teams, Managers, and Affiliations[edit]

East Division West Division
Team Manager Affiliation Team Manager Affiliation
Albuquerque Isotopes Pedro Lopez Colorado Rockies Las Vegas Aviators Fran Riordan Oakland Athletics
El Paso Chihuahuas Pete Zamora San Diego Padres Reno Aces Blake Lalli Arizona Diamondbacks
Oklahoma City Baseball Club Travis Barbary Los Angeles Dodgers Sacramento River Cats Dave Brundage San Francisco Giants
Round Rock Express Doug Davis Texas Rangers Salt Lake Bees Keith Johnson Los Angeles Angels
Sugar Land Space Cowboys Mickey Storey Houston Astros Tacoma Rainiers John Russell Seattle Mariners

League Champions[edit]

Year Champion Runner-up Results Manager
1903 Los Angeles Angels Sacramento Senators no series Cap Dillon
1904 Tacoma Tigers Los Angeles Angels 5-4-1 Charlie Graham
1905 Los Angeles Angels Tacoma Tigers 5-1 Cap Dillon
1906 Portland Beavers Seattle Siwashes no series Walt McCredie
1907 Los Angeles Angels San Francisco Seals no series Cap Dillon
1908 Los Angeles Angels Portland Beavers no series Cap Dillon
1909 San Francisco Seals Portland Beavers no series Kid Mohler
1910 Portland Beavers Oakland Oaks no series Walt McCredie
1911 Portland Beavers Vernon Tigers no series Walt McCredie
1912 Oakland Oaks Vernon Tigers no series Bud Sharpe
1913 Portland Beavers Sacramento Sacts no series Walt McCredie
1914 Portland Beavers Los Angeles Angels no series Walt McCredie
1915 San Francisco Seals Salt Lake City Bees no series Harry Wolverton
1916 Los Angeles Angels Vernon Tigers no series Frank Chance
1917 San Francisco Seals Los Angeles Angels no series Red Downs
1918 Los Angeles Angels Vernon Tigers 5-21 Red Killefer
1919 Vernon Tigers Los Angeles Angels no series Bill Essick
1920 Vernon Tigers Seattle Rainiers no series Bill Essick
1921 Los Angeles Angels Sacramento Senators no series Red Killefer
1922 San Francisco Seals Vernon Tigers no series Dots Miller
1923 San Francisco Seals Sacramento Senators no series Bert Ellison
1924 Seattle Indians Los Angeles Angels no series Red Killefer
1925 San Francisco Seals Salt Lake City Bees no series Bert Ellison
1926 Los Angeles Angels Oakland Oaks no series Marty Krug
1927 Oakland Oaks San Francisco Seals no series Del Howard
1928 San Francisco Seals Sacramento Senators no series Nick Williams
1929 Hollywood Stars Mission Reds 4-2 Ossie Vitt
1930 Hollywood Stars Los Angeles Angels 4-1 Ossie Vitt
1931 San Francisco Seals Hollywood Stars 4-0 Nick Williams
1932 Portland Beavers Hollywood Stars no series Spencer Abbott
1933 Los Angeles Angels Portland Beavers no series Jack Lelivelt
1934 Los Angeles Angels Mission Reds no series Jack Lelivelt
1935 San Francisco Seals Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Lefty O'Doul
1936 Portland Beavers Oakland Oaks 4-1 Bill Sweeney
1937 San Diego Padres Portland Beavers 4-0 Frank Shellenback
1938 Sacramento Solons San Francisco Seals 4-1 Bill Killefer
1939 Sacramento Solons Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Benny Borgmann
1940 Seattle Rainiers Los Angeles Angels 4-1 Jack Lelivelt
1941 Seattle Rainiers Sacramento Solons 4-3 Bill Skiff
1942 Seattle Rainiers Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Bill Skiff
1943 San Francisco Seals Seattle Rainiers 4-2 Lefty O'Doul
1944 San Francisco Seals Los Angeles Angels 4-3 Lefty O'Doul
1945 San Francisco Seals Seattle Rainiers 4-2 Lefty O'Doul
1946 San Francisco Seals Oakland Oaks 4-2 Lefty O'Doul
1947 Los Angeles Angels Oakland Oaks 4-1 William Kelly
1948 Oakland Oaks Seattle Rainiers 4-1 Casey Stengel
1949 Hollywood Stars San Diego Padres 4-2 Fred Haney
1950 Oakland Oaks2 San Diego Padres no series Chuck Dressen
1951 Seattle Rainiers Hollywood Stars 4-1 Rogers Hornsby
1952 Hollywood Stars2 Oakland Oaks no series Fred Haney
1953 Hollywood Stars2 Seattle Rainiers no series Bobby Bragan
1954 Oakland Oaks San Francisco Seals 2-1 Chuck Dressen
1955 Seattle Rainiers San Diego Padres no series Fred Hutchinson
1956 Los Angeles Angels Seattle Rainiers no series Bob Scheffing
1957 San Francisco Seals Vancouver Mounties no series Joe Gordon
1958 Phoenix Giants
1959 Salt Lake City Bees
1960 Spokane Indians
1961 Tacoma Giants
1962 San Diego Padres
1963 Oklahoma City 89ers Spokane Indians 4-3
1964 San Diego Padres Arkansas Travelers 4-3
1965 Oklahoma City 89ers Portland Beavers 4-1
1966 Seattle Angels Tulsa Oilers 4-3
1967 San Diego Padres Spokane Indians 4-3
1968 Tulsa Oilers Spokane Indians 4-1
1969 Tacoma Cubs Eugene Emeralds 3-2
1970 Spokane Indians Hawaii Islanders 4-0
1971 Salt Lake City Angels Tacoma Cubs 3-1
1972 Albuquerque Dukes Eugene Emeralds 3-1
1973 Spokane Indians Tucson Toros 3-0
1974 Spokane Indians Albuquerque Dukes 3-0
1975 Hawaii Islanders Salt Lake City Gulls 4-2
1976 Hawaii Islanders Salt Lake City Gulls 3-2
1977 Phoenix Giants Hawaii Islanders 4-2
1978 Albuquerque Dukes/Tacoma Yankees3
1979 Salt Lake City Gulls Hawaii Islanders 3-0
1980 Albuquerque Dukes Hawaii Islanders 3-2
1981 Albuquerque Dukes Tacoma Tigers 3-0
1982 Albuquerque Dukes Spokane Indians 4-2
1983 Portland Beavers Albuquerque Dukes 3-0
1984 Edmonton Trappers Hawaii Islanders 2-0
1985 Vancouver Canadians Phoenix Giants 3-0
1986 Las Vegas Stars Vancouver Canadians 3-2
1987 Albuquerque Dukes Calgary Cannons 3-1
1988 Las Vegas Stars Vancouver Canadians 3-2
1989 Vancouver Canadians Albuquerque Dukes 3-1
1990 Albuquerque Dukes Edmonton Trappers 3-0 Kevin Kennedy
1991 Tucson Toros Calgary Cannons 3-2 Bob Skinner
1992 Colorado Springs Sky Sox Vancouver Canadians 3-0 Charlie Manuel
1993 Tucson Toros Portland Beavers 4-2 Rick Sweet
1994 Albuquerque Dukes Vancouver Canadians 3-2 Rick Dempsey
1995 Colorado Springs Sky Sox Salt Lake City Buzz 3-2 Brad Mills
1996 Edmonton Trappers Phoenix Firebirds 3-1 Gary Jones
1997 Edmonton Trappers Phoenix Firebirds 3-1 Gary Jones
1998 New Orleans Zephyrs Calgary Cannons 3-1 John Tamargo
1999 Vancouver Canadians Oklahoma RedHawks 3-1 Mike Quade
2000 Memphis Redbirds Salt Lake City Buzz 3-1 Gaylen Pitts
2001 New Orleans Zephyrs/Tacoma Rainiers4 Tony Pena/Dan Rohn
2002 Edmonton Trappers Salt Lake Stingers 3-1 John Russell
2003 Sacramento River Cats Nashville Sounds 3-0 Tony DeFrancesco
2004 Sacramento River Cats Iowa Cubs 3-0 Tony DeFrancesco
2005 Nashville Sounds Tacoma Rainiers 3-0 Frank Kremblas
2006 Tucson Sidewinders Round Rock Express 3-0 Chip Hale
2007 Sacramento River Cats New Orleans Zephyrs 3-0 Tony DeFrancesco
2008 Sacramento River Cats Oklahoma RedHawks 3-1 Todd Steverson
2009 Memphis Redbirds Sacramento River Cats 3-0 Chris Maloney
2010 Tacoma Rainiers Memphis Redbirds 3-0 Jose Castro
2011 Omaha Storm Chasers Sacramento River Cats 3-0 Mike Jirschele
2012 Reno Aces Omaha Storm Chasers 3-1 Brett Butler
2013 Omaha Storm Chasers Salt Lake Bees 3-1 Mike Jirschele
2014 Omaha Storm Chasers Reno Aces 3-2 Brian Poldberg
2015 Fresno Grizzlies Round Rock Express 3-2 Tony DeFrancesco
2016 El Paso Chihuahuas Oklahoma City Dodgers 3-1 Rod Barajas
2017 Memphis Redbirds El Paso Chihuahuas 3-2 Stubby Clapp
2018 Memphis Redbirds Fresno Grizzlies 3-1 Stubby Clapp
2019 Sacramento River Cats Round Rock Express 3-0 Dave Brundage
2020 Season Cancelled
2021 see Triple-A West
2022 Reno Aces El Paso Chihuahuas 1-0 Gil Velazquez
1 The season was suspended on July 14 due to wartime travel restrictions.
2 The championship series were canceled for financial reasons.
3 The championship series canceled because of weather at semifinal series. The Albuquerque Dukes had won one semifinal series, but the other between the Tacoma Yankees and Portland Beavers was tied at two games apiece when heavy rain washed out the rest of the series. League president Roy Jackson, named the Albuquerque and Tacoma teams co-champions, as Tacoma had a better record.
4 All Minor League Baseball championships were canceled because of terrorist attacks on September 11; both the New Orleans Zephyrs and Tacoma Rainiers had already won their conference finals.

Award Winners[edit]

Year Most Valuable Player, Position
Team
Manager of the Year
Team
Rookie of the Year
Team
Pitcher of the Year
Team
1927 Lefty O'Doul, OF
San Francisco Seals
1932 Jigger Statz, OF
Los Angeles Angels
1933 Bobo Newsom, P
Los Angeles Angels
1934 Frank Demaree, OF
Los Angeles Angels
1935 Joe DiMaggio, OF
San Francisco Seals
1936 Willie Ludolph, P
Oakland Oaks
1937 Art Garibaldi, 3B
Sacramento Solons
1938 Fred Hutchinson, P
Seattle Rainiers
1939 Dom DiMaggio, OF
San Francisco Seals
1940 George Archie, 1B
Seattle Rainiers
1941 Yank Terry, P
San Diego Padres
1942 Ray Mueller, C
Sacramento Solons
1943 Andy Pafko, OF
Los Angeles Angels
1944 Les Scarsella, OF
Oakland Oaks
1945 Bob Joyce, P
San Francisco Seals
1946 Les Scarsella, OF
Oakland Oaks
1947 Tony Lupien, 1B
Hollywood Stars
1948 Jack Graham, 1B/OF
San Diego Padres
1949 Irv Noren, OF
Hollywood Stars
1950 Catfish Metkovich, OF
Oakland Oaks
1951 Jim Rivera, OF
Seattle Rainiers
1952 Johnny Lindell, P-OF
Hollywood Stars
1953 Dale Long, 1B
Hollywood Stars
1954 Jack Phillips,3B-1B-SS
Hollywood Stars
1955 Steve Bilko, 1B
Los Angeles Angels
1956 Steve Bilko, 1B
Los Angeles Angels
1957 Steve Bilko, 1B
Los Angeles Angels
1958 Earl Averill, OF
San Diego Padres
1959 Dick Hall, P
Salt Lake City Bees
1960 Willie Davis, OF
Spokane Indians
1961 Dick Phillips, 1B-OF
Tacoma Giants
1962 Jesse Gonder, C
San Diego Padres
1963 Billy Cowan, OF
Salt Lake City Bees
1964 Tony Perez, 1B
San Diego Padres
1965 Dave Roberts, OF
Oklahoma City 89ers
1966 Duane Josephson, C
Indianapolis Indians
1967 Rick Joseph, 3B
San Diego Padres
Johnny Lipon
Portland Beavers
1968 Jim Hicks, OF
Tulsa Oilers
Warren Spahn
Tulsa Oilers
1969 Denny Doyle, 2B
Eugene Emeralds
Whitey Lockman
Tacoma Cubs
1970 Bobby Valentine, SS
Spokane Indians
Tommy Lasorda
Spokane Indians
Chuck Tanner
Hawaii Islanders
1971 Tom Hutton, 1B
Spokane Indians
Del Rice
Salt Lake City Angels
1972 Tom Paciorek, 1B
Albuquerque Dukes
Andy Seminick
Eugene Emeralds
1973 No Awards No Awards No Awards No Awards
1974 Tom Robson, DH
Spokane Indians
Rocky Bridges
Phoenix Giants
1975 Not Awarded Roy Hartsfield
Hawaii Islanders
1976 Not Awarded Jimy Williams
Salt Lake City Gulls
1977 Not Awarded Rocky Bridges
Phoenix Giants
1978 Not Awarded Not Awarded
1979 Not Awarded Jimy Williams
Salt Lake City Gulls
1980 Dennis Lewallyn, P
Albuquerque Dukes
Jimmy Johnson
Tucson Toros
1981 Mike Marshall, 1B
Albuquerque Dukes
Ed Nottle
Tacoma Tigers
1982 Ron Kittle, OF
Edmonton Trappers
Moose Stubing
Spokane Indians
1983 Kevin McReynolds, OF
Las Vegas Stars
John Felske
Portland Beavers
1984 Alejandro Sanchez, OF
Phoenix Giants
Tommy Sandt
Hawaii Islanders
1985 Danny Tartabull, SS
Calgary Cannons
Jim Lefebvre
Phoenix Giants
1986 Tim Pyznarski, 1B
Las Vegas Stars
Jim Lefebvre
Phoenix Giants
1987 Mike Campbell, P
Calgary Cannons
Keith Lieppman
Tacoma Tigers
1988 Sandy Alomar, Jr., C
Las Vegas Stars
Terry Collins
Albuquerque Dukes
1989 Sandy Alomar, Jr., C
Las Vegas Stars
Mike Hargrove
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
1990 Jose Offerman, SS
Albuquerque Dukes
Kevin Kennedy
Albuquerque Dukes
1991 Tino Martinez, 1B
Calgary Cannons
Bob Skinner
Tucson Toros
1992 Tim Salmon, OF
Edmonton Trappers
Charlie Manuel
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
1993 James Mouton, 2B
Tucson Toros
Scott Ullger
Portland Beavers
1994 Billy Ashley, OF
Albuquerque Dukes
Rick Sweet
Tucson Toros
1995 Donne Wall, P
Tucson Toros
Don Long
Vancouver Canadians
1996 Steve Mintz, P
Phoenix Giants
Gary Jones
Edmonton Trappers
1997 Paul Konerko, 3B
Albuquerque Dukes
Ron Wotus
Phoenix Giants
1998 Chris Hatcher, OF-DH
Omaha Royals
Terry Kennedy
Iowa Cubs
Jeremy Giambi, OF
Omaha Royals
1999 Calvin Murray, OF
Fresno Grizzlies
Greg Biagini
Oklahoma Redhawks
Mark Quinn, OF
Omaha Golden Spikes
2000 Jose Ortiz, 2B-SS
Sacramento River Cats
Phil Roof
Salt Lake Buzz
Nate Rolison, 1B
Calgary Cannons
2001 Phil Hiatt, 3B-DH
Las Vegas 51s
Dan Rohn
Tacoma Rainiers
Sean Burroughs, 3B
Portland Beavers
Denny Stark
Tacoma Rainiers
2002 Robb Quinlan, OF
Salt Lake Stingers
Brad Mills
Las Vegas 51s
Robb Quinlan, OF
Salt Lake Stingers
Jeriome Robertson
New Orleans Zephyrs
2003 Graham Koonce, 1B-DH
Sacramento River Cats
Tony DeFrancesco
Sacramento River Cats
Bobby Crosby, SS
Sacramento River Cats
Justin Duchscherer
Sacramento River Cats
2004 Dan Johnson, 1B
Sacramento River Cats
Dan Rohn
Tacoma Rainiers
Chris Burke, 2B
New Orleans Zephyrs
Scott Downs
Edmonton Trappers
2005 Andy Green, 2B-OF
Tucson Sidewinders
Dan Rohn
Tacoma Rainiers
Felix Hernandez, P
Tacoma Rainiers
Felix Hernandez
Tacoma Rainiers
2006 Scott McClain, 3B
Sacramento River Cats
Chip Hale
Tucson Sidewinders
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Salt Lake Bees
Jason Hirsh
Round Rock Express
2007 Geovany Soto, C
Iowa Cubs
Frank Kremblas
Nashville Sounds
Wladimir Balentien, OF
Tacoma Rainiers
R.A. Dickey
Nashville Sounds
2008 Nelson Cruz, OF
Oklahoma RedHawks
Pat Listach
Iowa Cubs
Josh Whitesell, 1B
Tucson Sidewinders
Shane Loux
Salt Lake Bees
2009 Randy Ruiz, 1B
Las Vegas 51s
Tim Wallach
Albuquerque Isotopes
Eric Young, Jr., 2B
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Bud Norris
Round Rock Express
2010 J.P. Arencibia, C
Las Vegas 51s
Ryne Sandberg
Iowa Cubs
Peter Bourjos, OF
Salt Lake Bees
Michael Kirkman
Oklahoma RedHawks
2011 Bryan LaHair, 1B
Iowa Cubs
Bobby Jones
Round Rock Express
Collin Cowgill, OF
Reno Aces
Luis Mendoza
Omaha Storm Chasers
2012 Adam Eaton, 1B
Reno Aces
Lorenzo Bundy
Albuquerque Isotopes
Adam Eaton, 1B
Reno Aces
John Ely
Albuquerque Isotopes
2013 Chris Owings, SS
Reno Aces
Keith Johnson
Salt Lake Bees
Chris Owings, SS
Reno Aces
Johnny Hellweg
Nashville Sounds
2014 Joc Pederson, OF
Albuquerque Isotopes
Wally Backman
Las Vegas 51s
Joc Pederson, OF
Albuquerque Isotopes
Jimmy Nelson
Nashville Sounds
2015 Matt Duffy, 3B
Fresno Grizzlies
Damon Berryhill
Oklahoma City Dodgers
Alex Dickerson, OF
El Paso Chihuahuas
Carlos Pimentel
Iowa Cubs
2016 Hunter Renfroe, OF
El Paso Chihuahuas
Steve Scarsone
Nashville Sounds
Carlos Asuaje, 2B
El Paso Chihuahuas
Brady Rodgers
Fresno Grizzlies
2017 Christian Walker, 1B
Reno Aces
Stubby Clapp
Memphis Redbirds
Amed Rosario, SS
Las Vegas 51s
Wilmer Font
Oklahoma City Dodgers
2018 Josh Fuentes, IF
Albuquerque Isotopes
Stubby Clapp
Memphis Redbirds
Josh Fuentes, IF
Albuquerque Isotopes
Dakota Hudson
Memphis Redbirds
2019 Ty France, 3B
El Paso Chihuahuas
Fran Riordan
Las Vegas 51s
Ty France, 3B
El Paso Chihuahuas
Colin Rea
Iowa Cubs

League Presidents[edit]

Cities Represented[edit]

Alberta[edit]

Arizona[edit]

Arkansas[edit]

British Columbia[edit]

California[edit]

Colorado[edit]

Hawaii[edit]

Indiana[edit]

Iowa[edit]

Kansas[edit]

Louisiana[edit]

Nebraska[edit]

Nevada[edit]

New Mexico[edit]

Oklahoma[edit]

Oregon[edit]

Tennessee[edit]

Texas[edit]

Utah[edit]

Washington[edit]

Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

External Links[edit]

Professional Development League

AAA AA High-A Low-A Complex Leagues Partner Leagues
International League
Pacific Coast League
Eastern League
Southern League
Texas League
Midwest League
Northwest League
South Atlantic League
California League
Carolina League
Florida State League
Arizona Complex League
Florida Complex League
Dominican Summer League
Mexican League
American Association
Atlantic League
Frontier League
Appalachian League
Pioneer League

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