Tombstone
Born: 1962
Re-Branded: 1964 (Santa Barbara Dodgers)
First Game: April 24, 1962 (W 7-6 vs. Reno Silver Sox)
Last Game: September 8, 1963 (W @ 15-8 San Jose Bees)
California League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner:
Major League Affiliations:
- 1962: New York Mets
- 1963: Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance
Background
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. Only one player from the 1962 Rancheros – 18-year old outfielder Paul Blair – went on to play in the Majors.
Minor League Baseball revised its classification system in 1963. The “Class C” level was done away with and the California League took on the Class A designation it still holds today. The Los Angeles Dodgers replaced the Mets as the Rancheros’ parent club in 1963. The Dodgers’ top prospect in Santa Barbara was outfielder Wes Parker, who went onto to a 9-year Major League career with L.A. from 1964 until 1972.
The Dodgers re-branded their Santa Barbara farm club as the Santa Barbara Dodgers for the 1964 season. Some California newspapers continued referring to the team as the “Rancheros” in press accounts that summer. The Santa Barbara Dodgers played until 1967. The team moved to Bakersfield in 1968. Pro baseball has not returned to Santa Barbara since the Dodgers’ departure.
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