The 1959 California League was a Class C baseball season played between April 21 and September 7. Six teams played a 140-game schedule, as the winner of each half of the season qualified for the California League championship round.
The Modesto Reds won the California League championship, defeating the Bakersfield Bears in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Las Vegas Wranglers fold. The Salinas Packers fold. The Stockton Ports ended their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals and began a new affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles.
Teams 1959 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 Reds Modesto, California New York Yankees Del Webb Field Reno Silver Sox Reno, Nevada Los Angeles Dodgers Moana Stadium Stockton Ports Stockton, California Baltimore Orioles Billy Hebert Field Visalia Redlegs Visalia, California Cincinnati Reds Recreation Ballpark
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Modesto Reds 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 10, 2025 California League Team Win Loss % GB Modesto Reds 86 55 – Reno Silver Sox 81 58 4 Stockton Ports 76 63 9 Bakersfield Bears 70 71 16 Visalia Redlegs 63 77 22.5 Fresno Giants 44 96 41.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1959 CALL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed October 10, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Pedro González, Modesto Reds .371 H Willie Davis, Reno Silver Sox 187 R Willie Davis, Reno Silver Sox 135 2B Willie Davis, Reno Silver Sox 40 3B Willie Davis, Reno Silver Sox 16 HR Rich Barry, Modesto Reds 37 RBI Ronald Wiley, Bakersfield Bears 125 SB Chico Ruiz, Visalia Redlegs 61
Pitching leaders 1959 CALL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed October 10, 2025 Stat Player Total W Hal Reniff, Modesto Reds 21 ERA George Gaffney, Stockton Ports 2.49 CG Richard Gray, Modesto Reds Robert Hurvitz, Reno Silver Sox Hal Reniff, Modesto Reds 12 SHO Dennis Bennett, Bakersfield Bears James Farland, Bakersfield Bears George Gaffney, Stockton Ports 3 IP Richard Gray, Modesto Reds 215.0 SO Paul Underwood, Visalia Redlegs 193
Playoffs The playoffs were shortened to only the final round. The championship series was lengthened to a best-of-seven series. The winners of each half of the season qualified for the post-season. The Modesto Reds won their third California League championship, defeating the Bakersfield Bears in six games.
Playoff bracket
Awards California League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Willie Davis, Reno Silver Sox
See also 1959 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website