The 1946 California League was a Class C baseball season played between May 3 and September 6. Six teams played a 130-game schedule, as the top four teams qualified for the playoffs.
The Stockton Ports won the California League championship, defeating the Modesto Reds in the final round of the playoffs.
Off-season Following the conclusion of World War II, the league reorganized and came back in 1946.
Team changes The San Jose Owls did not return to the league. The Modesto Reds join the league as an expansion team. The Stockton Ports join the league as an expansion team. The Visalia Cubs join the league as an expansion team. The club began an affiliation with the Chicago Cubs. The Bakersfield Badgers began an affiliation with the Cleveland Indians. The club was renamed to the Bakersfield Indians. The Santa Barbara Saints are renamed to the Santa Barbara Dodgers. The club remained affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Teams 1946 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 None Modesto Field Santa Barbara Dodgers Santa Barbara, California Brooklyn Dodgers Laguna Park Stockton Ports Stockton, California None Oak Park Field Visalia Cubs Visalia, California Chicago Cubs Recreation Ballpark
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Stockton Ports finished with the best record in the regular season for the first time in club history.
Standings CALL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed September 30, 2025 California League Team Win Loss % GB Stockton Ports 78 52 – Santa Barbara Dodgers 74 56 4 Bakersfield Indians 72 58 6 Modesto Reds 69 61 9 Fresno Cardinals 58 72 20 Visalia Cubs 39 91 39
League Leaders Batting leaders 1946 CALL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed September 30, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Alfonso Prieto, Bakersfield Indians .380 H Irv Noren, Santa Barbara Dodgers 188 R Tommy Glaviano, Fresno Cardinals 142 2B Irv Noren, Santa Barbara Dodgers 33 3B Irv Noren, Santa Barbara Dodgers 14 HR Harry Goorabian, Stockton Ports 24 RBI Irv Noren, Santa Barbara Dodgers 129 SB Tommy Glaviano, Fresno Cardinals 64
Pitching leaders 1946 CALL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed September 30, 2025 Stat Player Total W Donald Belton, Stockton Ports 23 ERA Mike Garcia, Bakersfield Indians 2.56 CG Mike Garcia, Bakersfield Indians 20 SHO Joseph DeSanti, Bakersfield Indians 4 IP Donald Belton, Stockton Ports 246.0 SO Mike Garcia, Bakersfield Indians 186
Playoffs The league semi-finals were a best-of-five series. The league finals were a best-of-seven series. The Stockton Ports won their first California League championship, defeating the Modesto Reds in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards California League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Tommy Glaviano, Fresno Cardinals
See also 1946 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website