Santa Barbara Rancheros
January 23, 2017
The Santa Barbara Rancheros formed in 1962 as part of an expansion of the Class C California League from six to eight clubs. During the summer of 1962 the Rancheros were affiliated with Major League Baseball’s New York Mets expansion franchise. The Los Angeles Dodgers replaced the Mets as the Rancheros’ parent club in 1963. The Dodgers re-branded their Santa Barbara farm club as the Santa Barbara Dodgers for the 1964 season. Top future Major Leaguers to play at Santa Barbara’s Laguna Park during the Rancheros’ era included outfielders Paul Blair and Wes Parker.
