The Far West League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1948 to 1951. The Far West League was a Class D level league, with franchises based in California, Nevada and Oregon. The Santa Rosa Pirates (1948), Pittsburg Diamonds (1949), Redding Browns (1950) and Klamath Falls Gems (1951) won league championships.
History The Far West League had eight teams in each of its first three seasons, before reducing to six teams in its final season of 1951. The league began play in 1948 with the Klamath Falls Gems, Marysville Braves, Medford Nuggets, Oroville Red Sox, Pittsburg Diamonds, Redding Browns, Santa Rosa Pirates and Willows Cardinals as the charter members.
In 1948, the Klamath Falls Gems were a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate; the Marysville Braves a Boston Braves affiliate; the Medford Nuggets, a Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate; the Oroville Red Sox, a Boston Red Sox affiliate; the Pittsburg Diamonds, a New York Giants affiliate; the Redding Browns, a St. Louis Browns affiliate; the Santa Rosa Pirates, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate and the Willows Cardinals were a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate.
The league held four–team playoffs from 1948 to 1950 and a two–team final in 1951. League championships were won by the Santa Rosa Pirates (1948), Pittsburg Diamonds (1949), Redding Browns (1950), and Klamath Falls Gems (1951).
The Far West League permanently folded following the conclusion of the 1951 season.
Cities represented Chico, CA - Chico Red Sox (1949) Eugene, OR – Eugene Larks (1950–1951) Klamath Falls, OR – Klamath Falls Gems (1948–1951) Marysville, CA – Marysville Braves (1948–1949); Marysville Peaches (1950) Medford, OR – Medford Nuggets (1948–1949); Medford Rogues (1950–1951) Oroville, CA – Oroville Red Sox (1948) Pittsburg, CA – Pittsburg Diamonds (1948, 1949–1951) Redding, CA – Redding Browns (1948–1951) Reno, NV – Reno Silver Sox (1950–1951) Roseville, CA – Roseville Diamonds (1948) Santa Rosa, CA – Santa Rosa Pirates (1948); Santa Rosa Cats (1949) Vallejo, CA – Vallejo Chiefs (1949) Willows, CA – Willows Cardinals (1948–1950)
Standings & statistics 1948 Far West Leagueschedule Team standingsW – LGB Managers Oroville Red Sox 67–51 – Nino Bongiovanni Medford Nuggets 66–56 3 Larry Shepard Klamath Falls Gems 67–58 3½ Joe Gantenbein Santa Rosa Pirates 63–59 6 Dan Reagan Willows Cardinals 62–63 8 James Tyack / Bill Krueger Redding Browns 61–62 8½ Ray Perry Marysville Braves 59–63 10 Edward Wheeler / James Keller / Spencer Harris Pittsburg Diamonds / Roseville Diamonds 38–71 24½ Gus Suhr / Arnold Rose / Bill Shewey Pittsburg (31–48) moved to Roseville July 30 Playoffs: Klamath Falls 3 games, Oroville 1; Santa Rosa 3 games, Medford 1 Finals: Santa Rosa 4 games, Klamath Falls 3. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Ray Perry ReddingBA.411Larry ShepardMedfordW22 Don Taylor MedfordRuns139 Jules Hudson OrovilleSO237 Ray Perry ReddingHits179 Ronald Lee MedfordERA2.53 Ray Perry ReddingRBI163Larry ShepardMedfordPct.880; 22–3 Ray Perry ReddingHR36
1949 Far West League Team standingsW – LGB Managers Pittsburg Diamonds 84–43 – Vince DiMaggio Klamath Falls Gems 78–46 4½ Hub Kittle Willows Cardinals 68–58 15½ Bert Bonomi / Fred Fass Redding Browns 63–64 21 Ray Perry Marysville Braves 59–66 24 Rex Carr Medford Nuggets 39–84 43 Dan Reagan Santa Rosa Cats 43–49 NA Joe Abreu / Alvin Kruk / Lembert Serpa / Lou Vezilich Vallejo Chiefs 34–58 NA Lou Vezilich Vallejo disbanded July 31; Santa Rosa disbanded August 4. Playoffs: Pittsburg 3 games, Willows 2; Redding 3 games, Klamath Falls 2 Finals: Pittsburg 4 games, Redding 3. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Lou Vezilich Vallejo/Santa RosaBA.406 William Carr PittsburgW21 Ray Perry Ted HessReddingKlamath FallsRuns135135 James Howard ReddingSO226 Ted Hess Klamath FallsHits188 William Carr PittsburgERA3.28 Ray Perry ReddingRBI155 Blair Simpson PittsburgPct..882; 15–2 Ray Perry ReddingHR45
1950 Far West Leagueschedule Team standingsW – LGB Managers Klamath Falls Gems 87–52 – Hub Kittle Redding Browns 86–54 1½ Ray Perry Reno Silver Sox 75–63 11½ Joe Borich Medford Rogues 69–70 18 Tommy Nelson / Wilfred Jonas Pittsburg Diamonds 67–73 20½ Vince DiMaggio Eugene Larks 62–77 25 Lou Vezilich Marysville Peaches 56–82 30½ Bert Kenmuir / Charles Welchel Willows Cardinals 54–85 33 Ray Malgradi Playoffs: Klamath Falls 3 games, Reno 2; Redding 3 games, Medford 0 Finals: Redding 3 games, Klamath Falls 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Joe Borich RenoBA.387 Andy SierraKlamath FallsW22 Ray Perry ReddingRuns162 Andy Sierra Klamath FallsSO258 George TriandosKlamath FallsHits183 Eugene Valentine PittsburgERA1.82 Ray Perry ReddingRBI170Hub KittleKlamath FallsPct1.000; 10–0 Ray Perry ReddingHR44 1951 Far West Leagueschedulerevised schedule after Pittsburg disbanded Team StandingsW – LGB Managers Redding Browns 76–55 – Ray Perry Klamath Falls Gems 74–54 ½ Bill DeCarlo Reno Silver Sox 52–65 17 Cotton Pippen Eugene Larks 51–70 20 Duster Mails / George Matile / Cliff Dapper Medford Rogues 47–67 20½ Frank Lucchesi Pittsburg Diamonds 29–18 NA Vince DiMaggio Pittsburg disbanded June 14 Playoff Final: Klamath Falls 3 games, Redding 0
References
External links Far West League team chart