PCL: Southern California
The Pacific Coast League featured Southern California teams in Los Angeles and San Diego, the Vernon Tigers, and two different iterations of the Hollywood Stars. From celebrity ownership groups to legal alcohol sales and world class stadiums like Wrigley Field, Southern California’s PCL teams provided a look into the future of the game.
Featured Teams
Hollywood Stars
There were two iterations of the Hollywood Stars. In 1926 the Salt Lake City Bees moved to Los Angeles and took up residence in Wrigley Field. Although they chose “Hollywood” as their name to distinguish them from the existing PCL team, the Stars were tenants of the Los Angeles club at Wrigley Field. They moved to San Diego after the 1936 season. The second (and better-known) Hollywood Stars came into being when the Mission club moved to LA. This new Hollywood team would build their own park in Hollywood called Gilmore Field. True to their name, their ownership included celebrities like Gary Cooper, George Burns, and Bing Crosby. The “Twinks” were the first PCL team to adopt the use of batting helmets in 1949 (a Branch Rickey innovation) and won both the regular season pennant and post-season playoffs that season.
San Diego
The Hollywood Stars moved south in 1936 after their rent at LA’s Wrigley Field was doubled. Owner Bill Lane named the new ballpark after himself (Lane Field). At the time San Diego was still a small city mostly known for its naval base. In only their second year, San Diego won the pennant and post-season playoffs led by a young local outfielder named Ted Williams. Bobby Doerr, Minnie Minoso, and Tony Perez also played for San Diego.
Los Angeles
The PCL’s LA entry was a charter member of the league, and was known variously as the LooLoos, Seraphs, and Angels. The club was bought by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in 1921, and soon built the first Wrigley Field, a spectacular double-decked 21,000 seat ballpark at 42nd and Avalon. The 1933 team is regarded as one of the greatest minor league squads of all time, posting a record of 137-50. In an unusual playoff format, LA beat the League All Stars four games to two that year.
Vernon/Venice Tigers
Why did the tiny industrial city bordering Los Angeles have a professional baseball team? The answer is legal alcohol sales! Los Angeles was still a dry city in the early 1900s, but by stepping across the city line into Vernon, patrons could consume alcohol at Doyle’s Bar (billed as the “longest bar in the world”) and literally step outside into Maier Park, which hosted the Tigers. For two seasons, the team played in Venice, coincidentally the other town in Los Angeles County to allow liquor sales. The Tigers left for San Francisco in 1926, but returned to LA in 1938 and were re-christened the Hollywood Stars.
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San Diego (PCL) Vintage Ballcap
Was $54.00 $54.00$54.00 (0% OFF )Unit price perWas$54.00Los Angeles (PCL) Satin Windbreaker
Was $160.00 $160.00$160.00 (0% OFF )Unit price perWas$160.00Hollywood Stars Satin Windbreaker
Was $96.00 $96.00$96.00 (40% OFF )Unit price perWas$160.00SalePCL: Northern California
PCL: Pacific Northwest
PCL: Post-1957
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Chest Waist Hip Arm Length Center Back Arm Length XS 31-33 25.5-27 33-35 23 30.5 S 35-37 27.5-29.5 35.5-37.5 23.5 32 M 38-40 32.5-34.5 37.5-39.5 24.5 33 L 42-44 36.5-39 41.5-43 24.5 33.5 XL 46-48 41.5-43.5 45-47 24.75 34.5 XXL 50-52 46-48 48.5-50.5 25.125 35 3XL 54-56 50.5-52.5 52.5-54.5 25.25 35.5 4XL 58-60 55-57 56.5-58.5 25.25 36 5XL 62-64 59.5-61.5 60.5-62.5 25.25 36.5 Continue ShoppingMeasuring Guide
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