Lodi Dodgers
The Lodi Dodgers were a minor league baseball team based in Lodi, California. The "Dodgers" were a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976 to 1983, playing as members of the Class A level California League and winning two league championships.
From 1966 to 1984, Lodi teams played exclusively as members of the California League, winning the 1973, 1977 and 1981 league championships. The Lodi team was first known as the "Crushers" in 1966 and returned to the nickname for their final season in 1984. Playing under various nicknames, the Lodi teams were also a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles during their tenure of California League play.
The Lodi teams hosted California League home minor league baseball games at Lawrence Park, which is still in use and known today as Tony Zupo Field.
Playing for the 1980 Lodi Dodgers, Alan Wiggins compiled 120 stolen bases to set a then-record in professional baseball for the most stolen bases in a season.
History
Early Teams: California State League 1904 & 1905
began in Lodi, California in 1904, when the "Lodi" team played as members of the Independent level California State League. The Lodi team continued play in the 1905 California State League. The California State League continued play in 1906, but without a Lodi team in the six-team league.1966 to 1969: California League Lodi Crushers
In 1966, Lodi again hosted minor league baseball for the first time in over sixty seasons when the Lodi "Crushers" joined the California League. Lodi began minor league play after a team of investors from the city pooled together $2,500 to establish a California League franchise in Lodi.In 1966, the newly formed Lodi Crushers joined the eight-team, Class A level California League, as the league expanded from a six team league. The California League added Lodi and the Reno Silver Sox as the two expansion franchises. Lodi a became a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, while Reno was a Cleveland Indians affiliate. The new Lodi and Reno franchises joined the returning Bakersfield Bears, Fresno Giants, Modesto Reds, San Jose Bees, Santa Barbara Dodgers and Stockton Ports teams joined in beginning league play on April 19, 1966.
In their first season of play, the Lodi Crushers placed seventh in the California League. Lodi ended the 1966 season with a final record of 59–81, playing their seventh place season under managers Don Elston and Ray Perry. Lodi ended their first California League season 28.5 games behind the first place Modesto Reds in the overall final standings. The California League did not hold playoffs as Modesto won both halves of the split season schedule in the league.
Lodi's first manager Don Elston was former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Elston was named to two All-star teams in his career and earned the save in the 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
In 1967 the Lodi Crushers continued play as a Chicago Cubs affiliate in the California League. The Crushers ended the 1967 season with a 63–77 record to finish the regular season in sixth place. Lodi was managed by Walt Dixon. In 1956, Dixon began a 20-year-long tenure as a minor league manager in the Chicago Cubs' farm system. Dixon had also served as a member of the Chicago Cubs' College of Coaches in 1964 and 1965. Lodi finished 24.0 games behind the first place San Jose Bees in the final overall standings. Lodi did not qualify for the playoff, where San Jose defeated the Modesto Reds.
Jophery Brown played for Lodi in 1967 in his second professional season, after playing collegiately at Grambling State University. Brown remained with Lodi in 1968, pitching to an 18-9 record for the Crushers and receiving a promotion to the Chicago Cubs at the end of Lodi's season. After a brief major league pitching career with the Cubs, Brown then became an award-winning stunt man and actor. Brown followed his older brother, Calvin Brown, who was a founding member of the Black Stuntmen's Association into the industry. Brown first entered his stunt man career, serving as Bill Cosby's stunt double in the television series I Spy. In 2010, Brown was awarded the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award for his stuntwork.
The 1968 Lodi Crushers improved to a third-place finish in the eight-team Class A California League. The Crushers remained a Chicago Cubs affiliate and completed the 1968 regular season with a 75–65 record, playing the season under managers Jim Marshall and Al Heist. Lodi finished 5.0 games behind the first place San Jose Bees. Lodi did not qualify for the playoff won by the Fresno Giants over San Jose. Lodi pitcher Jophery Brown tied for the league lead with 18 wins.
Lodi manager Jim Marshall was a rookie manager with Lodi in 1968 and advanced to manage in the Chicago Cubs Class AA affiliate San Antonio Missions in 1969. Marshall continued to manage in the minor leagues before becoming a major league coach with the 1974 Chicago Cubs. In 1975, Marshall became the manager of the Chicago Cubs for two seasons and later managed the 1979 Oakland Athletics. With Oakland, Marshall managed Baseball Hall of Fame member Rickey Henderson in his rookie season before Marshall was replaced as the Oakland manager by Billy Martin for the 1980 season. Upon Henderson's promotion to the major leagues on June 24, 1979, Marshall immediately installed him as the leadoff hitter for Oakland.
After playing their first three seasons as a Chicago Cubs affiliate, the franchise became an Oakland Athletics affiliate for the 1969 California League season, while keeping Lodi "Crushers" nickname. Lodi finished in last place in the eight-team Class A level league's final regular season standings. The Crushers ended the 1969 season with a 57–83 record, to finish in eighth place. The Lodi managers were Billy Klaus, Warren Hacker and Eli Grba. While finishing in last place in the eight-team league Lodi ended the season 24.0 games behind the Stockton Ports in the overall standings. Lodi did not qualify for the playoff won by Stockton over the Visalia Mets.
George Hendrick played for Lodi in 1969 in his second professional season. Hendrick hit.307 for Lodi in 83 games. Hendrick became four-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Hendrick led the St. Louis Cardinals in home runs for four straight seasons, from 1980 through 1983. Hendrick won World Series titles while playing with the Oakland Athletics in 1972 and St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. Hendrick ended his major league career with 1,111 total RBIs.
1970 & 1971: California League - Lodi Padres
The Lodi franchise became a San Diego Padres affiliate in 1970 and the renamed Lodi "Padres" continued play in the Class A level California League. Lodi again finished last in the league standings. Playing the 1970 season under managers Sonny Ruberto and Ken Bracey, the Padres ended the regular season with a 43–97 record, finishing in eighth place in the eight-team league. Lodi finished the season 50.5 games behind the first place Bakersfield Dodgers in the overall league standings. Lodi drew 18.245 fans for the season, lowest in the league. No playoffs were held in the league as Bakersfield won both half seasons in the California League's split season schedule.The Lodi Padres continued as a San Diego Padres affiliate for the 1971 season California League season and ended the season in sixth place. Playing in the eight-team league, the Padres ended the regular season with record of 65–74, playing the season under manager George Freese in the Class A level league. The Lodi Padres ended the California League regular season finishing 18.0 games behind the first place Modesto Reds in the final overall standings. Lodi did not qualify for the playoffs as the Fresno Giants won the first half pennant and the Visalia Mets won the second half of the split season schedule. Visalia won the playoff to capture the league championship. Lodi's Johnny Grubb was named as the California League Rookie of the Year, playing his first professional season at ager 22.
File:Mike Ivie Padres.jpg|thumb| Mike Ivie, San Diego Padres. Ivie was the first pick in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft and played for Lodi in 1971.
Mike Ivie played for the 1971 Lodi Padres after being selected by the San Diego Padres as the first overall pick in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft as a catcher. He signed with the Padres, receiving a $100,000 signing bonus, and continued his career with Lodi. Ivie had developed the yips. He had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher and insisted to the Padres that he no longer wanted to play at catcher. He then transitioned to play some 1B and 3B with Lodi. At age 19, Ivie hit.305 with 15 home runs for Lodi in 1971. Following Lodi's season, Ivie was promoted by the San Diego Padres and made his major league debut in September 1971.
1972 to 1975: California League - Baltimore Orioles affiliate
In December 1971, Nagayoshi Nakamura, the owner of the Lotte Orions of Nippon Professional Baseball, purchased the Lodi franchise. For the 1972 season the team became known as the Lodi "Orions." The following season, 1973, the team was renamed the Lodi "Lions" to match Nakamura's new Nippon Pro Baseball team, the Nishitetsu Lions. Nakamura sold the Lodi franchise following the 1973 season.With the newly named Lodi Orions continuing California League play in 1972, the franchise became a Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliate, beginning a four-season partnership. The Orions ended the 1972 California League regular season with a final record of record of 67–73, finishing the season in sixth place in the eight-team league. Lodi played the season under manager Jimmie Schaffer, who began a three-year tenure as the Lodi manager. Lodi finished 21.0 games behind the first place Bakersfield Dodgers in the final overall standings. Lodi did not qualify for the playoff final, where the Modesto Reds defeated the Bakersfield Dodgers in the series. Bob Bailor of Lodi led the California League with 63 stolen bases.
The renamed Lodi "Lions" won the California League championship in 1973, the first of three championships for the Lodi franchise. Continuing as a Baltimore Orioles affiliate, the Lions ended the regular season with a record of 77–63 to finish in a first-place tie, playing under retuning manager Jimmie Schaffer. In the overall California League standings, Lodi had an identical record with the Salinas Packers. Salinas did not qualify for the playoff, as Lodi won the first half of the split-season schedule, and The Bakersfield Dodgers won the second half. In the playoff final, Lodi won the 1973 California League championship as the Lions defeated Bakersfield 2 games to 0. In leading Lodi to the championship, Jimmie Schaffer was named as the California State League Manager of the Year.
In 1974, after owner Nagayoshi Nakamura sold the Lodi franchise following the 1973 season, the team became known as the Lodi "Orioles" corresponding with Lodi continuing their partnership as a Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliate. With Lodi playing as the defending California League champions, the team placed sixth. The Orioles ended the 1974 season with a final record of 61–79, to finish in a sixth place tie in the eight-team Class A league, playing the season under returning manager Jimmie Schaffer. Lodi ended the season 24.0 games behind the first place Fresno Giants in the overall standings. Lodi did not qualify for the final won by the Fresno Giants over the San Jose Bees.
Following his Lodi managerial tenure, Jimmie Schaffer, a former catcher became the bullpen coach for the Texas Rangers in 1978 and the Kansas City Royals from 1980 to 1988, where he coached for the Royals' 1980 and 1985 world series championship teams.
The 1975 Lodi Orioles were under the direction of general manager Nadine Horst. Horst was one of four female general managers in minor league baseball that season, after Lanny Moss became the first female baseball general manager the previous season, working for the Portland Mavericks.
The Lodi Orioles played Lodi's final season as a Baltimore Orioles affiliate and ended the 1975 California League season in third place. The Orioles compiled a record of 71–69 in finishing the season in third place in the eight-team league. New manager Bobby Malkmus led Lodi, who ended the season 15.0 games behind the first place Reno Silver Sox in the Class A level league's final overall standings. No California League playoff was held as Reno won both halves of the split season schedule to win the championship.
A former major league infielder, Bobby Malkmus managed his final minor league season in 1975, having begun managing in 1967. He compiled a 508–463 record with one championship in his minor league managing career. After leaving Lodi, Malkmus began a lengthy scouting tenure for the Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres that continued through the mid-2000s. He continued to scout part-time for the Cleveland Guardians as of 2017.