The Bakersfield Blaze were a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California. They played in the Class A – Advanced California League. They played their home games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Opened in 1941, the stadium is well known for facing the setting sun and its shallow 354-foot center field fence, and seats 3,500 fans. Near the end of the 2008 season, it was rumored that the Blaze would move to the

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 un ...

after the following season. However, Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner announced in February 2009 that they would remain in the California League. The Blaze were sold to local Bakersfield businessmen Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway just prior to the 2012 season. The new ownership renovated Sam Lynn Ballpark in time for Opening Day and announced in November 2012 that a new ballpark would be ready for the 2014 season. However, financing plans for a new stadium failed to meet the $30 million target and team ownership was reclaimed by former owner D. G. Elmore. As a result, the California League began looking for a new home for the team. However, in August 2016, the California League announced that the Blaze would not be returning for the 2017 season. The team played its final game on September 12, 2016. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers replaced the Blaze at the Advanced-A level, however the Fayetteville Woodpeckers are not the continuation of the Blaze.

Year-by-year record

Notable former Bakersfield players

Scott Feldman at Minute Maid Park in August 2014

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball ...
alumni

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(1991) Inducted, 2015 *

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(1987) Inducted 1998

Notable alumni

* Pedro Astacio (1990) * Elvis Andrus (2007) 2x MLB All-Star * Richard Bleier (2009) * Larry Bowa (1967) 5x MLB All-Star; 2001 NL Manager of the Year *

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(1982) MLB All-Star * Johnny Callison (1957) 4x MLB All-Star *

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(1969) 6x MLB All-Star; 1981 World Series MVP * John Danks (2005) *

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(2007) MLB All-Star; 2013 AL RBI Leader * Ivan DeJesus (1971, 1973) * Don Demeter (1954) * Rick Dempsey (1993, Mgr) 1983 World Series MVP * Scott Feldman (2005) *

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(2002) * Juan Guzman (1987) MLB All-Star; 1996 AL ERA Leader *

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(1990) *

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(2011) MLB All-Star * Juan Guzman (1987) MLB All-Star; 1996 AL ERA Leader *

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(2002) 5x MLB All-Star; 2010 AL MVP * Jason Hammel (2004) *

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(1991) 1988 NL Cy Young Award * Derek Holland (2008) * Todd Hollandsworth (1992) 1996 NL Rookie of the Year *

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(1992) 3x MLB All-Star *

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(2008) * Grant Jackson (1962-) MLB All-Star *

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(1989) 1992 NL Rookie of the Year * Kevin Kennedy (1987, Mgr) * Lee Lacy (1970) * Mark Langston (1982) 4x MLB All-Star * Paul LoDuca (1994) 4x MLB All-Star * Mike Marshall (1962) 2x MLB All-Star; 1974 NL Cy Young Award * Ramón Martínez (1986) *

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(1991) MLB All-Star; 1994 NL Rookie of the Year * Jon Moscot (2013) *

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6x MLB All-Star * Jeff Nelson (1986) MLB All-Star *

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(1986, Mgr) 6x MLB All-Star * Hideo Nomo 1995 NL Rookie of the Year * José Offerman (1989) 2x MLB All-Star *

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(2015) *

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(1968) MLB All-Star * Henry Rodríguez (1989) MLB All-Star * Jerry Royster (1971) *

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(1968) 3x MLB All-Star * James Shields (2003-2004) MLB All-Star * Mario Soto (1988) 3x MLB All-Star *

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(1975) 3x MLB All-Star; 1979 NL Rookie of the Year; 1982 AL ERA Leader; 1984 NL Cy Young Award * John Tudor (1989) * Edinson Vólquez (2006-2007) * John Wetteland (1986) 3x MLB All-Star; 1996 World Series MVP * C. J. Wilson (2005) 2x MLB All-Star * Rick Wise (1963) 2x MLB All-Star * Todd Worrell (1993) 1986 NL Rookie of the Year * Steve Yeager (1969)

References

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