End of Season Notes
Published on September 4, 2012 under California League (CalL1) News Release
Oxnard, CA - With the 2012 California League playoffs starting tomorrow, below are some highlights of the regular season which ended on Labor Day.
A total of 51 former Cal League Players have made their Major League Debut so far this season. Thirty percent of the players to make their debut in the Big Leagues have roots in the Cal League. Inland Empire leads the League this year and has seen 7 of their players debut in the Major Leagues.
The High Desert Mavericks had the best overall record in the League (83-57) and won both halves. They will have a first round bye and await the winner of the Wild-Card Series between the Lancaster JetHawks and Lake Elsinore Storm. Game one of the Wild-Card Series starts tomorrow night in Lake Elsinore.
In the North Division, the Bakersfield Blaze won the First Half Title thanks in part to the Cal League Most Valuable Player, Billy Hamilton who has since been promoted to Double- and set Minor League Baseball's single season stolen base record, and will play either the 2011 Cal League Organization of the Year, Modesto Nuts or the 2009 & 2010 Cal League Champions San Jose Giants. Game one begins at San Jose tomorrow with Games two and three in Modesto on Thursday and Friday.
The Cal League saw an attendance drop in 2012 despite 60% of the teams ending the season with an increase from 2011. The overall attendance decreased from 1,593,398 to 1,582,174. The Lake Elsinore Storm led the League for the third year in a row with 227,000 fans. Bakersfield, High Desert, Lake Elsinore, Lancaster, Rancho Cucamonga, and Visalia each increased their attendance from a year ago and Visalia set new all time attendance record for the 4th year in a row.
For more information about the 2012 playoffs visit www.californialeague.com.
California League Stories from September 4, 2012
- End of Season Notes - CalL1
- San Jose Giants Begin Playoffs at Municipal Stadium Wednesday, September 5 - San Jose Giants
- Rawhide's Donny Baarns Named MiLB Broadcaster Of The Year - Visalia Rawhide
- Storm Playoff Tickets on Sale - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Quakes Eliminated from Post-Season Contention - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 66ers Season Ends in Defeat - Inland Empire 66ers
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