Far West League (1948–1951)

Far West League
ClassificationClass D (1948–1951)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1948
Ceased1951
PresidentJerry Donovan (1948–1951)
No. of teams11
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1
Santa Rosa Pirates (1948)
Pittsburg Diamonds (1949)
Redding Browns (1950)
Klamath Falls Gems (1951)

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.[1]

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 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.[1]

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).[2][3]

The Far West League permanently folded following the conclusion of the 1951 season.[4][3]

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1948 Far West League
schedule

Team standings W – L GB Managers
Oroville Red Sox 67–51 – Nino Bongiovanni
Medford Nuggets 66–56 3.0 Larry Shepard
Klamath Falls Gems 67–58 3.5 Joe Gantenbein
Santa Rosa Pirates 63–59 6.0 Dan Reagan
Willows Cardinals 62–63 8.5 James Tyack / Bill Krueger
Redding Browns 61–62 8.5 Ray Perry
Marysville Braves 59–63 10.0 Edward Wheeler /
James Keller / Spencer Harris
Pittsburg Diamonds /
Roseville Diamonds		 38–71 24.5 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.[3]

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ray Perry Redding BA .411 Larry Shepard Medford W 22
Don Taylor Medford Runs 139 Jules Hudson Oroville SO 237
Ray Perry Redding Hits 179 Ronald Lee Medford ERA 2.53
Ray Perry Redding RBI 163 Larry Shepard Medford Pct .880; 22–3
Ray Perry Redding HR 36

1949 Far West League

Team standings W – L GB Managers
Pittsburg Diamonds 84–43 – Vince DiMaggio
Klamath Falls Gems 78–46 4.5 Hub Kittle
Willows Cardinals 68–58 15.5 Bert Bonomi / Fred Fass
Redding Browns 63–64 21.0 Ray Perry
Marysville Braves 59–66 24.0 Rex Carr
Medford Nuggets 39–84 43.0 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.[3]

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lou Vezilich Vallejo/Santa Rosa BA .406 William Carr Pittsburg W 21
Ray Perry
Ted Hess		 Redding
Klamath Falls		 Runs 135
135		 James Howard Redding SO 226
Ted Hess Klamath Falls Hits 188 William Carr Pittsburg ERA 3.28
Ray Perry Redding RBI 155 Blair Simpson Pittsburg Pct. .882; 15–2
Ray Perry Redding HR 45

1950 Far West League
schedule

Team standings W – L GB Managers
Klamath Falls Gems 87–52 – Hub Kittle
Redding Browns 86–54 1.5 Ray Perry
Reno Silver Sox 75–63 11.5 Joe Borich
Medford Rogues 69–70 18.0 Tommy Nelson / Wilfred Jonas
Pittsburg Diamonds 67–73 20.5 Vince DiMaggio
Eugene Larks 62–77 25.0 Lou Vezilich
Marysville Peaches 56–82 30.5 Bert Kenmuir / Charles Welchel
Willows Cardinals 54–85 33.0 Ray Malgradi

Playoffs: Klamath Falls 3 games, Reno 2; Redding 3 games, Medford 0
Finals: Redding 3 games, Klamath Falls 1.[3]

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Joe Borich Reno BA .387 Andy Sierra Klamath Falls W 22
Ray Perry Redding Runs 162 Andy Sierra Klamath Falls SO 258
George Triandos Klamath Falls Hits 183 Eugene Valentine Pittsburg ERA 1.82
Ray Perry Redding RBI 170 Hub Kittle Klamath Falls Pct 1.000; 10–0
Ray Perry Redding HR 44

1951 Far West League
schedule
revised schedule after Pittsburg disbanded

Team Standings W – L GB Managers
Redding Browns 76–55 – Ray Perry
Klamath Falls Gems 74–54 0.5 Bill DeCarlo
Reno Silver Sox 52–65 17.0 Cotton Pippen
Eugene Larks 51–70 20.0 Duster Mails /
George Matile / Cliff Dapper
Medford Rogues 47–67 20.5 Frank Lucchesi
Pittsburg Diamonds 29–18 NA Vince DiMaggio

Pittsburg disbanded June 14
Playoff Final: Klamath Falls 3 games, Redding 0[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "1948 Far West League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1949 Far West League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Lloyd Johnson; Miles Wolff, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  4. ^ "1951 Far West League". Baseball-Reference.com.