| Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino | |||||
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| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| Class | Single-A (2021–present) | ||||
| Previous classes | Class A-Advanced (1987–2020) | ||||
| League | California League (1987–present) | ||||
| Conference | South Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Team | Los Angeles Angels (2011–present) | ||||
| Previous teams |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles (6) |
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| Second-half titles (2) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Name | Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino (2003–present) | ||||
| Previous names |
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| Mascot | Bernie | ||||
| Ballpark | San Manuel Stadium | ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Diamond Baseball Holdings | ||||
| General manager | Joe Hudson | ||||
| Manager | Dave Stapleton | ||||
| Website | milb.com/inland-empire | ||||
The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The 66ers are based in San Bernardino, California, and play at San Manuel Stadium.
Franchise history
The 66ers began when the Salinas Spurs moved to San Bernardino and bought the name of the San Bernardino Spirit from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes who had just left town. The team was bought by Elmore Sports Group soon afterwards. The team originally played at Fiscalini Field until 1996 when the team moved to San Bernardino Stadium, nicknamed "The Ranch" in concert with the team's new name, the San Bernardino Stampede.
Later, the stadium was re-christened San Manuel Stadium sponsored by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians with their casino.
The team name was later changed to the team's current name, the Inland Empire 66ers, taken from the historic U. S. Route 66 that ran through San Bernardino.
In September 2006, the 66ers announced they were renewing its affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning in the 2007 season. That affiliation would last through the end of the 2010 season.
In September 2010, the 66ers agreed to a two-year affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels to be the MLB club's minor league "High A" ball affiliate.
The team was once unique for having a National Public Radio affiliate, KVCR-FM, as the station that broadcast its games on radio. However, in 2008 the team changed its station to commercial talk station KCAA.
In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the 66ers were organized into the Low-A West at the Low-A classification. They retained their affiliation with the Angels. In 2022, the Low-A West became known as the California League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.
On March 27, 2024, the club announced that Diamond Baseball Holdings had acquired ownership of the club. On December 15, 2024, following the sale of the Modesto Nuts franchise to Diamond, it was announced the 66ers would become the Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners beginning in the 2026 season; the move would consist of the current 66ers franchise assuming the place of the Modesto Nuts in a de facto relocation of the Nuts franchise (which would effectively cease operations at that time following a failure to receive funds to renovate their current stadium); the pre-2025 incarnation of the 66ers would then relocate to Rancho Cucamonga, assuming the identity of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes; that team's pre-2025 team incarnation will then relocate to a new stadium being built in Ontario.
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The dance team performing on the field
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The team at Lake Elsinore Diamond in 2012
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San Manuel Stadium
Season-by-season records
- San Bernardino Spirit (1993–1995)
- San Bernardino Stampede (1996–2002)
- Inland Empire 66ers (2003–present)
| Season | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 62–74 | 7th | Greg Mahlberg | — |
| 1994 | 48–88 | 9th | Greg Mahlberg | — |
| 1995 | 84–54 | 1st | Ron Roenicke | League Champions |
| 1996 | 70–70 | 7th | Del Crandall | — |
| 1997 | 68–72 | 7th | Del Crandall / Dino Ebel | Lost League Finals |
| 1998 | 55–85 | 9th | Mickey Hatcher / Joe Vavra / Tim Wallach | — |
| 1999 | 80–61 | 2nd | Rick Burleson | League Champions |
| 2000 | 77–63 | 4th | Dino Ebel | League Champions |
| 2001 | 76–64 | 3rd | Daren Brown | Lost in 1st round |
| 2002 | 77–63 | 3rd | Daren Brown | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2003 | 78–62 | 2nd | Steve Roadcap | League Champions |
| 2004 | 77–63 | 3rd | Daren Brown | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2005 | 58–82 | 9th | Daren Brown | — |
| 2006 | 72–68 | 5th | Gary Thurman | League Champions |
| 2007 | 72–67 | 3rd | Dave Collins | Lost in 1st round |
| 2008 | 68–73 | 3rd | John Valentin | Lost in 1st round |
| 2009 | 59–81 | 4th | Carlos Subero | |
| 2010 | 50–90 | 5th | Jeff Carter | |
| 2011 | 69–71 | 5th | Tom Gamboa | |
| 2012 | 66–74 | 5th | Bill Haselman | |
| 2013 | 69–71 | 5th | Bill Haselman | League Champions |
| 2014 | 62–78 | 5th | Denny Hocking | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2015 | 61–79 | 4th | Denny Hocking | |
| 2016 | 48–92 | 5th | Chad Tracy |
Roster
| Players | Coaches/Other | |||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
60-day injured list
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Notable alumni
Hall of Fame alumni
- Ken Griffey Jr. (1988) Inducted, 2016
- Adrián Beltré (1996) Inducted, 2024
Notable alumni
- Zach Borenstein (MVP)
- Dave Burba (1988)
- Asdrúbal Cabrera (2005) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Tom Candiotti (1996)
- Shin-Soo Choo (2002–2003)
- Jeff Cirillo (2003) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Del Crandall (1996–1997, MGR) 11 x MLB All-Star
- Rich Dauer (1988, MGR) MLB All-Star
- Ivan DeJesus (1992, MGR)
- Rafael Furcal (2007, 2010) 3 x MLB All-Star; 2000 NL Rookie of the Year
- Mark Grudzielanek (1999) MLB All-Star
- Kenley Jansen (2009–2010) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Mike Hampton (1992) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Mark Harmon
- Matt Herges (1995)
- Félix Hernández
- Orel Hershiser (2000) 1988 World Series Most Valuable Player; 1988 NL Cy Young Award
- Todd Hollandsworth (1995, 1997, 1999) 1996 NL Rookie of the Year
- Eric Karros (1998) N1992 L Rookie of the Year
- Paul Konerko (1995) 6 x MLB All-Star
- Ted Lilly (1997) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Brandon Morrow (2006)
- Gregg Olson MLB All Star; 1989 NL Rookie of the Year
- Scott Radinsky (1995)
- David Ross (2000)
- Carlos Santana (2008)
- Bill Swift (1989) 1992 NL ERA Leader
- Luis Valbuena (2006)
- Ismael Valdez (1998)
- Omar Vizquel (1990) 11 x Gold Glove; 3 x MLB All-Star
- Tim Wallach (1995)(1998, MGR) 5 x MLB All-Star
- Devon White (2000) 7 x Gold Glove; 3 x MLB All-Star
- Terry Whitfield (1987)
- C.J. Wilson (1986) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Steve Yeager, coach
References
- Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- "Angels extend affiliation invites for 2021". Minor League Baseball. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- "Inland Empire 66ers Welcome New Owners Diamond Baseball Holdings". 66ers.com. March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- Jude, Adam (December 12, 2024). "Mariners announce sale of their Class A affiliate, the Modesto Nuts". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
External links
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| Subsidiary of Silver Lake | |
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- Professional baseball teams in California
- San Bernardino Stampede players
- Sports in San Bernardino, California
- Sports in the Inland Empire
- California League teams
- Baseball teams established in 1987
- Los Angeles Angels minor league affiliates
- Los Angeles Dodgers minor league affiliates
- San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates
- Seattle Mariners minor league affiliates
- 1987 establishments in California