The 1963 California League was a Class A baseball season played between April 23 and September 8. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, as the winner of each half of the season qualified for the California League championship round.
The Stockton Ports won the California League championship, as they defeated the Modesto Colts in the final round of the playoffs.
League changes A significant reorganization of the minor leagues took place in 1963, caused by the contraction of clubs and leagues during the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1949, the peak of the postwar minor league baseball boom, 448 teams in 59 leagues were members of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, with the number of teams falling to 324 in 1952, and 243 in 1955. By the end of 1963, only 15 leagues above Rookie-level survived in the United States and Canada.
As part of the reorganization of the minor leagues, the California League was designated as from a Class C league to a Class A league.
Team changes The Visalia White Sox ended their affiliation with the Chicago White Sox and were relocated to Salinas, California. The club would be renamed to the Salinas Mets and begin an affiliation with the New York Mets. The Reno Silver Sox ended their affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers and began a new affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Santa Barbara Rancheros ended their affiliation with the New York Mets and began a new affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Teams 1963 California League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Bakersfield Bears Bakersfield, California Philadelphia Phillies Sam Lynn Ballpark Fresno Giants Fresno, California San Francisco Giants John Euless Park Modesto Colts Modesto, California Houston Colt .45s Del Webb Field Reno Silver Sox Reno, Nevada Pittsburgh Pirates Moana Stadium Salinas Mets Salinas, California New York Mets Salinas Municipal Stadium San Jose Bees San Jose, California Los Angeles Angels San Jose Municipal Stadium Santa Barbara Rancheros Santa Barbara, California Los Angeles Dodgers Laguna Ball Park Stockton Ports Stockton, California Baltimore Orioles Billy Hebert Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Stockton Ports finished with the best record in the regular season for the first time since 1947.
Standings California League Team Win Loss % GB Stockton Ports 87 52 – Bakersfield Bears 78 62 9.5 Fresno Giants 73 67 14.5 Modesto Colts 72 68 15.5 Reno Silver Sox 71 69 16.5 Santa Barbara Rancheros 67 72 20 San Jose Bees 62 78 25.5 Salinas Mets 49 91 20
League Leaders Batting leaders Stat Player Total AVG José Vidal, Reno Silver Sox .340 H Damaso Blanco, Fresno Giants 187 R Damaso Blanco, Fresno Giants 127 2B Don Bridges, Bakersfield Bears 38 3B Richard Yencha, Stockton Ports 15 HR José Vidal, Reno Silver Sox 40 RBI José Vidal, Reno Silver Sox 162 SB Sonny Jackson, Modesto Colts 61
Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bob Olson, Stockton Ports 19 ERA John Hogg, Stockton Ports 2.21 CG Bob Olson, Stockton Ports 17 SHO Danny Coombs, Modesto Colts Francisco Rivas, Fresno Giants Dick Selma, Salinas Mets 3 IP Bob Olson, Stockton Ports 218.0 SO Dick Selma, Salinas Mets 221
Playoffs The final round was shortened from a best-of-seven series to a best-of-three series. The Stockton Ports won their third California League championship, defeating the Modesto Colts in two games.
Playoff bracket
Awards California League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player José Vidal, Reno Silver Sox
See also 1963 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website