The San Rafael Pacifics are a

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

team based in

San Rafael, California San Rafael ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for "Raphael (archangel), St. Raphael", ) is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. They play in the

Pecos League Pecos may refer to: Places * Pecos River, rises near Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States * Pecos, Texas, a city in Reeves County, Texas, United States * Pecos County, Texas, named for the Pecos River ** Pecos Spring, a spring * Pecos, New Mexico, ...

, an

independent baseball Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independen ...

league which is not affiliated with

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

or Minor League Baseball. Prior to joining the Pecos League, they were a charter franchise of the six-team

Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs was an independent baseball league based in Northern California. The league was founded in 2013 by four former North American League teams. History During the initial season, two Hawaii- ...

and were also members of the North American League in 2012. The Pacifics franchise was launched by Centerfield Partners of

Dublin, California Dublin (formerly, Dougherty, Alameda County, California, Amador and Dougherty's Station) is a suburban city of the East Bay in California. It is located within the Amador Valley of Alameda County, California, Alameda County's Tri-Valley region. ...

. Along with a sister team owned and operated by Centerfield Partners, the Sonoma County Grapes, the Pacifics made their debut in the 2012 baseball season at 1,000-seat Albert Park in San Rafael. The team was purchased by Gabe Suárez in December 2018. The Pacifics were purchased by Andrew Dunn, founder of the Pecos League in March 2020 after the Pacifics and the Pacific Association agreed to not continue their affiliation due to major differences in operating a sound independent baseball league.

North American League (2012)

The North American Baseball League was a nine-year-old, ten-team, professional, independent

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

formed from teams of the former Golden Baseball and United Baseball leagues. Play is typically described as A- to AA- caliber baseball, with players primarily coming from previous stints in the major league-affiliated AAA-, AA-, and A- leagues. The North American Baseball League folded in 2012. The Pacifics were the final champions of the league.

Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs (2013–2019)

The Pacifics' ownership, Redwood Sports and Entertainment, took the four former Northern Division teams from the NAL and created a new league, the

. The league initially consisted of the Pacifics,

Na Koa Ikaika Maui ( Hawaiian for ''The Maui Strong Warriors'') were an independent professional baseball team based out of Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii and champions of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. They made their debut in the 2010 season with ...

(also formerly of the GBL),

Hawaii Stars The Hawaii Stars were an independent professional baseball team based out of Hilo, Hawaii. They were charter members of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. They played their home games at Wong Stadium in Hilo and competed alo ...

, and Sonoma County Grapes. However, the Grapes folded and were replaced by the

Vallejo Admirals The Vallejo Admirals were an independent professional baseball team based in Vallejo, California. They were members of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs, which was not associated with Major League Baseball. In 2017, the Admira ...

. In 2014, both Hawaii teams folded and the Sonoma Stompers and the

Pittsburg Diamonds The Pittsburg Diamonds were an independent professional baseball team based in Pittsburg, California. Originally named the Pittsburg Mettle, the club changed their name to the Diamonds in 2015. History The Pittsburg Mettle began play as a me ...

were added to the league. In August 2018, the team announced that they were being put up for sale. In December 2018, the team announced that the team was purchased by

Gabe Suárez Gabriel O. Suárez (born December 14, 1984) is a professional baseball Manager and former owner of the San Rafael Pacifics. Playing career Suárez was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 33rd round of the 2003 MLB Draft out of Ar ...

. On June 29, 2019, former Pacifics' pitcher

Chris Mazza Christopher James Mazza (born October 17, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. Listed at and , he throws a ...

made his

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

debut for the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

, becoming the first

Pacific Association The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs was an independent baseball league based in Northern California. The league was founded in 2013 by four former North American League teams. History During the initial season, two Hawaii- ...

player to make the major leagues. In November 2019, the Pacifics announced their departure from the

, citing a desire to join a new independent league in Northern California for the 2020 season and beyond. On June 8, 2022, former Pacifics' pitcher

Jared Koenig Jared Tyler Koenig (born January 24, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Amateur career Koenig grew up in Aptos, California and attended Aptos High School. Koenig began his college baseball career a ...

made his

debut for the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

, becoming the second Pacific to make the major leagues. Koenig won

pitcher of the year in 2018, going 11-1 with a 3.54 era in 96 2/3 innings pitched. Koenig also set a Pacific Association record with 140 strikeouts.

Pecos League (2020–present)

On March 12, 2020, the

announced they purchased the team from Gabe Suárez, and would compete in the Pacific Division of the league for the 2020 season and beyond.San Rafael Pacifics to join the Pecos League for 2020 season
PecosLeague.com, March 12, 2020

Roster

Season-by-season results

Notable alumni

Jailen Peguero Jailen Lorenzo Peguero (born January 4, 1981) is a Dominican professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His uncle, Leo Peguero, was a minor league player in the Yankee ...

(2019) * J.P. Howell (2018) *

(2018) *

(2017-18) *

Eric Byrnes Eric James Byrnes (born February 16, 1976), is a baseball analyst and former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Se ...

(2014) * Bill "Spaceman" Lee (2012-2013)

References

External links

San Rafael Pacifics website
{{California sports Pecos League teams North American League teams Professional baseball teams in California San Rafael, California Sports teams in the San Francisco Bay Area 2011 establishments in California Baseball teams established in 2011 Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs teams