The 1949 California League was a Class C baseball season played between April 22 and September 5. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, as the top four teams qualified for the playoffs.
The San Jose Red Sox won the California League championship, defeating the Ventura Yankees in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Modesto Reds ended their affiliation with the St. Louis Browns and began a new affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Stockton Ports began an affiliation with the Chicago White Sox.
Teams 1949 California League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Bakersfield Indians Bakersfield, California Cleveland Indians Sam Lynn Ballpark Fresno Cardinals Fresno, California St. Louis Cardinals Fresno State College Park Modesto Reds Modesto, California Pittsburgh Pirates Modesto Field San Jose Red Sox San Jose, California Boston Red Sox San Jose Municipal Stadium Santa Barbara Dodgers Santa Barbara, California Brooklyn Dodgers Laguna Park Stockton Ports Stockton, California Chicago White Sox Oak Park Field Ventura Yankees Ventura, California New York Yankees Babe Ruth Field Visalia Cubs Visalia, California Chicago Cubs Recreation Ballpark
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Bakersfield Indians finished with the best record in the regular season for the first time in team history.
Standings CALL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed October 8, 2025 California League Team Win Loss % GB Bakersfield Indians 85 54 – Fresno Cardinals 83 57 2.5 Ventura Yankees 80 60 5.5 San Jose Red Sox 76 64 9.5 Santa Barbara Dodgers 75 65 10.5 Stockton Ports 64 76 21.5 Modesto Reds 54 85 31 Visalia Cubs 42 98 43.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1949 CALL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed October 8, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Max Macon, Modesto Reds .383 H Wimpy Quinn, Bakersfield Indians 196 R Jess Pike, Bakersfield Indians 167 2B Wimpy Quinn, Bakersfield Indians 39 3B Harry Clements, Stockton Ports Vincent Moreci, Fresno Cardinals 11 HR Jess Pike, Bakersfield Indians 37 RBI Jess Pike, Bakersfield Indians 156 SB Milt Joffe, Santa Barbara Dodgers 47
Pitching leaders 1949 CALL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed October 8, 2025 Stat Player Total W Earl Escalante, Bakersfield Indians 28 ERA Drex Waters, Santa Barbara Dodgers 2.54 CG Earl Escalante, Bakersfield Indians 29 SHO Fred Hahn, Fresno Cardinals Chet Kehn, Santa Barbara Dodgers 4 IP Earl Escalante, Bakersfield Indians 300.0 SO Armand Castro, Modesto Reds 237
Playoffs The San Jose Red Sox won their first California League championship, defeating the Ventura Yankees in five games.
Playoff bracket
Awards California League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Earl Escalante, Bakersfield Indians
See also 1949 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website