Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | |||||
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Minor league affiliations | |||||
Class | Single-A (2022–present) | ||||
Previous classes |
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League | California League (2022–present) | ||||
Conference | South Division | ||||
Previous leagues |
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Major league affiliations | |||||
Team | Los Angeles Dodgers (2011–present) | ||||
Previous teams | (see list) | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (3) |
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Division titles (10) |
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First-half titles (1) |
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Team data | |||||
Name | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1993–present) | ||||
Previous names | (see list) | ||||
Mascots | Tremor and Aftershock | ||||
Ballpark | LoanMart Field (1993–present) | ||||
Previous parks |
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Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | George Brett and Bobby Brett / Brett Sports & Entertainment | ||||
General manager | Grant Riddle | ||||
Manager | John Shoemaker |
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and play their home games at LoanMart Field.
The franchise was founded in Lodi, California, in 1966 as members of the California League, with its home ballpark as Tony Zupo Field. The team then went through several new names and ownership changes before arriving in Rancho Cucamonga in 1993. In the 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the California League disbanded and was replaced by the Low-A-West, but this was renamed the California League in 2022.
The Quakes have three California League championships (1994, 2015, and 2018).
History
Early years
The Quakes franchise began in 1966 in Lodi, California as the Lodi Crushers after a team of investors from the city pooled together $2,500 a few years earlier. Until 1984, the team played at Lawrence Park (now Tony Zupo Field) for home games. Several times in its early history, the team was sold from one group of collaborating town residents to another. Since 1966, the franchise has been affiliated with several major league teams, notably the Los Angeles Dodgers in the late 1970s and the Chicago Cubs in the early 1980s. While in Lodi, the team won several California League Championships, including 1973, 1977 and 1981.[1]
After 1984, the Chicago Cubs pulled out of Lodi, and the franchise's owner Michelle Sprague was unable to find a major league affiliate. She deactivated the team for a year, selling the team to a group including former L.A. Dodger
Move to Rancho Cucamonga
In the early 1990s, Stickney was informed by the city of Rancho Cucamonga that they would be breaking ground on a new stadium. Selling the rights to the name "The San Bernardino Spirit" to a different franchise, the main staff of Stickney's team moved outside the construction zone where the ballpark would be built. Construction started on November 14, 1991. Named "The Quake" after a vote, the stadium was nicknamed the "Epicenter". The team moved into the stadium on April 1, 1993. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes played their first game at the stadium on April 8 against the High Desert Mavericks, winning 7–3. The Quakes won their first California League championship in 1994, defeating the Modesto A's in four games.[1]
The Quakes continue to play their home games at the stadium, now renamed LoanMart Field. The stadium held up to 7000 fans in its first few years of existence, but renovations in 2014 and 2015 reduced its capacity to just over 4900 total fans. During the late 1990s and 2000s, the Quakes broke several league attendance records.[1]
After being an affiliate of the San Diego Padres for the first eight years in Rancho Cucamonga, the team swapped affiliations with the
Television actor Mark Harmon (St. Elsewhere, NCIS) was one of the team's owners until he sold his interest in the team to local businessman Scott Ostlund. Since 2009, the team has been owned and operated by Brett Sports and Entertainment, headed by former Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett and his brother Bobby Brett.[4][5]
In conjunction with
Branding, media
The mascot of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes is Tremor, the "Rallysaurus".
Joe Castellano was the team's first
Past team names
- San Bernardino Spirit (1987–1992)
- Ventura County Gulls (1986)
- Lodi Dodgers (1976–1983)
- Lodi Orioles (1974–1975)
- Lodi Lions (1973)
- Lodi Orions (1972)
- Lodi Padres (1970–1971)
- Lodi Crushers (1966–1969, 1984)
Past major league affiliations
- Los Angeles Angels (2001–2010)
- San Diego Padres (1993–2000)
- Seattle Mariners (1988–1992)
- Toronto Blue Jays (1986)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (1976–1983, 1995)
- Baltimore Orioles (1972–1975)
- San Diego Padres (1970–1971)
- Oakland Athletics (1969)
- Chicago Cubs (1966–1968, 1984)
Notable Quakes alumni
- Erick Aybar
- Cody Bellinger
- Peter Bourjos
- Walker Buehler
- Jeter Downs
- Jake Gelof
- Tony Gonsolin
- Bobby Jenks
- Howie Kendrick
- Dean Kremer
- Derrek Lee
- Gavin Lux
- Dustin May
- Kendrys Morales
- Mike Napoli
- Wil Nieves
- Joc Pederson
- Yasiel Puig
- Francisco Rodríguez
- Bubby Rossman
- Ervin Santana
- Joe Saunders
- Corey Seager
- Will Smith
- Mike Trout
- Mark Trumbo
- Julio Urias
- Fernando Valenzuela
- Jordan Walden
- Jered Weaver
Roster
Players | Coaches/Other | |||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
7-day injured list |
Player gallery
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Julio Urías joined the team in 2014
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Aaron Miller
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Matt Herges the pitching coach
References
- ^ a b c d "Team History". Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
- ^ "Giants Win in 10 Innings, Take 2010 Title". Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Homepage. September 21, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ "Quakes and Dodgers Agree to Partnership". Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Homepage. September 28, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ "Quakes sold to Bretts". 17 March 2009.
- ^ "It's official: Bretts to buy Quakes". 17 March 2009.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.