The 1988 California League was a Class A baseball season played between April 9 and August 30. Ten teams played a 142-game schedule, and the winners of each half of the season qualified for the playoffs.
The Riverside Red Wave won the league championship, defeating the Stockton Ports in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Salinas Spurs relocated to Riverside, California and were renamed to the Riverside Red Wave. The club ended their affiliation with the Seattle Mariners and began a new affiliation with the San Diego Padres. The team moved from the North Division to the South Division. The Fresno Giants ended their affiliation with the San Francisco Giants. The club was renamed to the Fresno Suns. The club moved from the South Division to the North Division. The Reno Padres ended their affiliation with the San Diego Padres. The club was renamed to the Reno Silver Sox. The San Jose Bees began an affiliation with the San Francisco Giants. The club was renamed to the San Jose Giants. The San Bernardino Spirit began an affiliation with the Seattle Mariners.
Teams 1988 California League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium North Fresno Suns Fresno, California None John Euless Park Modesto A's Modesto, California Oakland Athletics John Thurman Field Reno Silver Sox Reno, Nevada None Moana Stadium San Jose Giants San Jose, California San Francisco Giants San Jose Municipal Stadium Stockton Ports Stockton, California Milwaukee Brewers Billy Hebert Field South Bakersfield Dodgers Bakersfield, California Los Angeles Dodgers Sam Lynn Ballpark Palm Springs Angels Palm Springs, California California Angels Angels Stadium Riverside Red Wave Riverside, California San Diego Padres Riverside Sports Complex San Bernardino Spirit San Bernardino, California Seattle Mariners Perris Hill Park Visalia Oaks Visalia, California Minnesota Twins Recreation Park
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Stockton Ports finished with the best record in the regular season for the second consecutive season.
Standings
North Division Team Win Loss % GB Stockton Ports 94 49 – San Jose Giants 91 52 3 Modesto A's 54 88 39.5 Fresno Suns 53 89 40.5 Reno Silver Sox 39 103 54.5South Division Team Win Loss % GB Riverside Red Wave 85 57 – Visalia Oaks 80 62 5 San Bernardino Spirit 74 68 11 Bakersfield Dodgers 71 71 14 Palm Springs Angels 70 72 15
League Leaders Batting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Adam Brown, Bakersfield Dodgers .352 H Marty Lanoux, Visalia Oaks 185 R Gregg Ritchie, San Jose Giants 118 2B Mark Leonard, San Jose Giants 50 3B Warren Newson, Riverside Red Wave Tony Triplett, Fresno Suns 7 HR Warren Newson, Riverside Red Wave 22 RBI Mark Leonard, San Jose Giants 118 SB Ted Williams, San Bernardino Spirit 71
Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Colin Charland, Palm Springs Angels Tom Meagher, San Jose Giants 17 ERA Rich Holsman, Riverside Red Wave 2.31 CG Colin Charland, Palm Springs Angels 12 SHO Eric Gunderson, San Jose Giants Dennis Springer, Bakersfield Dodgers 4 SV Doug Robertson, San Jose Giants 23 IP Gil Heredia, San Jose Giants 206.1 SO Paul Abbott, Visalia Oaks 205
Playoffs The division finals was lengthened to a best-of-five series. The finals were shortened to a best-of-five series. The Riverside Red Wave won their first California League championship, as they defeated the Stockton Ports in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards California League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Paul Faries, Riverside Red Wave
See also 1988 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website