The Bakersfield Blaze were a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California. They played in the California League at the Class A-Advanced level, hosting home games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Opened in 1941, the stadium is well known for facing the setting sun and its shallow center field fence, and seats 3,500 fans.
Near the end of the 2008 season, it was rumored that the Blaze would move to the Carolina League after the following season. However, Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner announced in February 2009 that they would remain in the California League.
The Blaze were sold by David Elmore of the Elmore Sports Group to local Bakersfield businessmen Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway just prior to the 2012 season. The new ownership renovated Sam Lynn Ballpark in time for Opening Day and announced in November 2012 that a new ballpark would be ready for the 2014 season. However, financing plans for a new stadium failed to meet the $30 million target and team ownership was reclaimed by former owner David G. Elmore. As a result, the California League began looking for a new home for the team. However, in August 2016, the California League announced that the Blaze would not be returning for the 2017 season. The team played its final game on September 12, 2016.
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers replaced the Blaze at the Advanced-A level, however the Fayetteville Woodpeckers are not the continuation of the Blaze.
Year-by-year record Year Record Finish in Northern Division Manager Playoffs 1941 73–67 3rd Frank Morehouse / Les Powers Lost in 1st round 3 games to 1 vs Santa Barbara 1942 22–45 4th Jack Colbern / Rex Cecil / Lee Dempsey League suspended operations on June 28 1946 72–58 3rd Martin Metrovich / Tony Governor Lost in 1st round 3 games to 2 vs Stockton 1947 66–74 5th Tony Governor 1948 70–70 5th (t) Harry Griswold 1949 85–54 1st Harry Griswold Lost in 1st round 3 games to 2 vs Ventura 1950 61–79 6th Harry Griswold 1951 58–89 8th Wimpy Quinn 1952 70–70 5th Gene Lillard 1953 75–65 2nd Ray Perry Lost in 1st round 3 games to 0 vs Stockton 1954 80–60 2nd (t) Ray Perry Lost in 1st round 3 games to 1 vs San Jose 1955 61–85 5th Doc Alexson 1956 48–92 8th Art Lilly / Dick Wilson 1957 64–75 6th Dick Wilson / Babe Herman 1958 84–55 2nd Paul Owens Lost in 1st round 2 games to 1 vs Visalia 1959 70–71 4th Paul Owens Lost League Finals 4 games to 2 vs Modesto 1960 74–66 3rd Lou Kahn 1961 82–58 2nd Lou Kahn 1962 67–72 6th (t) Bob Wellman 1963 78–62 2nd Bob Wellman 1964 56–83 8th Moose Johnson 1965 66–74 5th Dick Teed 1966 68–72 6th Dick Teed 1967 70–68 4th Nolan Campbell 1968 61–79 7th Don Williams 1969 67–73 6th Don LeJohn 1970 93–46 1st Don LeJohn League Champs – Best Overall Regular Season Record – No Playoffs (Best Record in Bakersfield History) 1971 56–82 8th Don LeJohn 1972 88–52 1st Don LeJohn Lost League Finals 2 games to 0 vs Modesto 1973 70–70 4th George Freese Lost League Finals 2 games to 0 vs Lodi 1974 65–75 5th George Freese 1975 60–80 8th Ron Brand 1978 48–92 8th George Culver 1979 63–77 9th Ron Mihal 1982 64–76 8th Ken Pape 1983 68–72 6th Greg Mahlberg 1984 68–72 4th Don LeJohn Won 1st round 2 games to 1 vs Fresno, Lost League Finals 3 games to 1 vs Modesto 1985 65–80 6th Mel Queen 1986 40–102 10th Don LeJohn 1987 78–65 4th Kevin Kennedy 1988 71–71 6th Gary LaRocque 1989 82–60 3rd Tim Johnson Won 1st round 3 games to 1 vs San Bernardino League Champs Defeated Stockton 3 games to 0 1990 80–62 3rd Tom Beyers Won 1st round 3 games to 2 vs Visalia, Lost League Finals 3 games to 2 vs Stockton 1991 85–51 2nd Tom Beyers Lost in 1st round 3 games to 0 vs High Desert 1992 68–68 7th Tom Beyers 1993 42–94 10th Rick Dempsey 1994 69–67 5th John Shelby 1995 58–82 8th (t) Greg Mahlberg 1996 39–101 10th Graig Nettles 1997 62–78 8th Glenn Tufts / Keith Bodie 1998 49–91 10th Frank Reberger 1999 64–76 7th Keith Comstock 2000 80–60 2nd Lenn Sakata Lost in 1st round 2 games to 1 to Visalia 2001 71–69 5th (t) Charlie Montoyo Defeated Stockton 2 games to 1 in 1st round, Trailed 2 games to 1 in Division finals vs San Jose when post season cancelled due to 9/11* 2002 69–72 6th (t) Charlie Montoyo 2003 70–70 8th Omer Munoz 2004 59–81 8th Mako Oliveras 2005 68–72 7th Arnie Beyeler 2006 58–82 10th Carlos Subero 2007 57–83 9th Carlos Subero 2008 62–78 9th Damon Berryhill 2009 75–65 5th Steve Buechele Defeated Modesto 2 games to 1 in 1st round, Lost North Div Finals 3 games to 2 vs San Jose 2010 67–73 7th Bill Haselman 2011 66–74 6th Ken Griffey, Sr. 2012 72–68 5th Ken Griffey, Sr. Won first half championship. Lost North Div Finals in 5 games to Modesto 2013 55–85 5th Ken Griffey, Sr. 2014 78–62 2nd Pat Kelly First Half Champion (lost to Visalia in Divisional Finals) 2015 61–79 5th Eddie Menchaca 2016 76–64 8th (t) Eddie Menchaca Defeated San Jose 2 games to 1 in 1st round, Lost Nort Div Finals 3 games to 0 vs Visalia
Notable former Bakersfield players
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni Don Drysdale (1954) Inducted, 1984 Pedro Martínez (1991) Inducted, 2015 Mike Piazza (1991) Inducted, 2016 Don Sutton (1987) Inducted 1998
Notable alumni
Pedro Astacio (1990) Elvis Andrus (2007) 2x MLB All-Star Richard Bleier (2009) Larry Bowa (1967) 5x MLB All-Star; 2001 NL Manager of the Year Phil Bradley (1982) MLB All-Star Johnny Callison (1957) 4x MLB All-Star Ron Cey (1969) 6x MLB All-Star; 1981 World Series MVP John Danks (2005) Chris Davis (2007) MLB All-Star; 2013 AL RBI Leader Ivan DeJesus (1971, 1973) Don Demeter (1954) Rick Dempsey (1993, Mgr) 1983 World Series MVP Edwin Díaz (2015) 3x MLB All-Star; 3x Reliever of the Year Scott Feldman (2005) Jonny Gomes (2002) Juan Guzman (1987) MLB All-Star; 1996 AL ERA Leader Tom Goodwin (1990) Yasmani Grandal (2011) MLB All-Star Juan Guzman (1987) MLB All-Star; 1996 AL ERA Leader Josh Hamilton (2002) 5x MLB All-Star; 2010 AL MVP Jason Hammel (2004) Orel Hershiser (1991) 1988 NL Cy Young Award Derek Holland (2008) Todd Hollandsworth (1992) 1996 NL Rookie of the Year Jay Howell (1992) 3x MLB All-Star Tommy Hunter (2008) Grant Jackson (1962-) MLB All-Star Eric Karros (1989) 1992 NL Rookie of the Year Kevin Kennedy (1987, Mgr) Lee Lacy (1970) Mark Langston (1982) 4x MLB All-Star Paul LoDuca (1994) 4x MLB All-Star Mike Marshall (1962) 2x MLB All-Star; 1974 NL Cy Young Award Ramón Martínez (1986) Raul Mondesi (1991) MLB All-Star; 1994 NL Rookie of the Year Jon Moscot (2013) Joe Nathan 6x MLB All-Star Jeff Nelson (1986) MLB All-Star Graig Nettles (1986, Mgr) 6x MLB All-Star Hideo Nomo 1995 NL Rookie of the Year José Offerman (1989) 2x MLB All-Star Tyler O'Neill (2015) Tom Paciorek (1968) MLB All-Star Henry Rodríguez (1989) MLB All-Star Jerry Royster (1971) Bill Russell (1968) 3x MLB All-Star James Shields (2003-2004) MLB All-Star Mario Soto (1988) 3x MLB All-Star Rick Sutcliffe (1975) 3x MLB All-Star; 1979 NL Rookie of the Year; 1982 AL ERA Leader; 1984 NL Cy Young Award John Tudor (1989) Edinson Vólquez (2006-2007) John Wetteland (1986) 3x MLB All-Star; 1996 World Series MVP C. J. Wilson (2005) 2x MLB All-Star Rick Wise (1963) 2x MLB All-Star Todd Worrell (1993) 1986 NL Rookie of the Year Steve Yeager (1969)
References
External links Bakersfield Blaze official website