Tombstone
Born: 1974 Re-Branded from Lodi Lions
Affiliation Change: September 1975 (Lodi Dodgers)
First Game: April 16, 1974 (W 2-0 vs. Modesto Reds)
Last Game: August 31, 1975 (L 6-5 vs. Salinas Packers)
California League Championships: None
Stadium
Lawrence Park (2,177)11975 San Jose Bees Program
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners: Dick Sanborn, Dr. Gordon Roget, Ted Katzakian, Herb Horstmann, Bud Sullivan & Ron Thomas
Major League Affiliation: Baltimore Orioles
Attendance
Background
From 1972 until 1975 the Central Valley city of Lodi, California (pop. ~30,000) hosted a Baltimore Orioles farm club in the Class A California League. In 1972 the team was known as the Lodi Orions. In 1973, as the Lodi Lions, they won the league championship. For Lodi’s final two seasons with Baltimore in 1974 and 1975, the team adopted the parent club’s “Orioles” nickname as their own.
Lodi produced a handful of future Major Leaguers during the Baltimore era of 1972-1975, including Bobby Brown, Kiko Garcia, Larry Harlow and Mike Parrott. But only Garcia, Baltimore’s starting shortstop in 1979, went on to play a meaningful role for either the Orioles’ 1979 or 1983 American League pennant winning clubs.
The 1975 Lodi Orioles were notable as one of only four Minor League Baseball franchises that year with a female General Manager, 42-year old Nadine Horst.
The Orioles announced their withdrawal from Lodi in September 1975. The Los Angeles Dodgers later took over as Lodi’s parent club for the 1976 California League season.
Lodi Orioles Shop
Downloads
7-29-1975 Lodi Orioles vs. Bakersfield Dodgers Game Notes
Links
###
