The 1951 California League was a Class C baseball season played between April 20 and September 9. Eight teams played a 148-game schedule, as the top four teams qualified for the playoffs.
The Santa Barbara Dodgers won the California League championship, defeating the Visalia Cubs in the final round of the playoffs.
Teams 1951 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 None Oak Park Field Ventura Braves Ventura, California Boston Braves Babe Ruth Field Visalia Cubs Visalia, California Chicago Cubs Recreation Ballpark
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Santa Barbara Dodgers finished with the best record in the regular season for the first time since 1942.
Standings CALL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed October 9, 2025 California League Team Win Loss % GB Santa Barbara Dodgers 88 59 – San Jose Red Sox 80 67 8 Stockton Ports 79 68 9 Visalia Cubs 76 71 12 Modesto Reds 74 73 14 Ventura Braves 72 75 16 Fresno Cardinals 61 86 27 Bakersfield Indians 58 89 30
League Leaders Batting leaders 1951 CALL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed October 9, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Dick Wilson, Modesto Reds .371 H Dick Wilson, Modesto Reds 205 R Jim Warner, Modesto Reds 145 2B Dick Wilson, Modesto Reds 55 3B Lee Walls, Modesto Reds 16 HR Dick Wilson, Modesto Reds 40 RBI Gabe Gabler, Santa Barbara Dodgers 153 SB Alfred Facchini, Ventura Braves 54
Pitching leaders 1951 CALL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed October 9, 2025 Stat Player Total W Tony Freitas, Modesto Reds 25 ERA Stan McWilliams, San Jose Red Sox 2.55 CG Tony Freitas, Modesto Reds 28 SHO Frank Aguilar, Ventura Braves Frank Dasso, Modesto Reds Stan McWilliams, San Jose Red Sox 4 IP Earl Escalante, Stockton Ports 286.0 SO Frank Dasso, Modesto Reds 210
Playoffs The playoff semi-finals format is changed from 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 to 1 vs. 3 and 2 vs. 4. The Santa Barbara Dodgers won their third California League championship, defeating the Visalia Cubs in five games.
Playoff bracket
See also 1951 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website