The Golden Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in San Ramon, California , with teams located in the Western United States , Western Canada and northwest Mexico .
132-415: The GBL was not affiliated with Major League Baseball or the organized Minor League Baseball system, but has featured players with MLB experience ( Rickey Henderson , Jose Canseco , Alex Arias , Bud Smith , Desi Wilson , José Lima , Hideki Irabu , Junior Spivey , Mark Prior ). It was formed in 2004 and began play on May 26, 2005. The GBL's presenting partner was Safeway Inc. Other investors in
264-497: A Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) investigator, a little under a million people were classified as "poor" in the state, up from 2008 when there were roughly 810,000. Exactly who these people are, whether locals, interstate or international migrants, was not explained. Baja California offers one of the best educational programs in the country, with high rankings in schooling and achievement. The state government provides education and qualification courses to increase
396-530: A 2006–07 investigation produced the Mitchell Report , which found that many players had used steroids and other performance-enhancing substances , including at least one player from each team. Each team plays 162 games per season, with Opening Day traditionally held during the first week of April. Six teams in each league then advance to a four-round postseason tournament in October, culminating in
528-420: A 5.1-magnitude shaker at 4:14 am that was centered near El Centro . As of 6:31 am PDT on 5 April 2010, two people were confirmed dead. Baja California is subdivided into seven municipios (' municipalities '): Ensenada , Mexicali , Tecate , Tijuana , Rosarito , San Quintín and San Felipe . In Baja California, state elections are held every two years (every three years prior to 2019) for
660-638: A 7.2 M w (on the moment magnitude scale ) magnitude northwest-trending strike-slip earthquake hit the Mexicali Valley , with its epicenter 26 km (16 mi) southwest of the city of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California . The main shock was felt as far as the Los Angeles , Las Vegas , Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas , and in Yuma. At least a half-dozen aftershocks with magnitudes between 5.0 and 5.4 were reported, including
792-537: A bank trust property has the option to either remain within the trust or opt out of it and request the title in escritura . Mexico's early history involved foreign invasions and the loss of vast amounts of land; in fear of history being repeated, the Mexican constitution established the concept of the "Restricted Zone". In 1973, in order to bring in more foreign tourist investment, the Bank Trust of Fideicomiso
924-667: A batter could foul off any number of pitches with no strikes counted against him; this gave an enormous advantage to the batter. After the 1919 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds, baseball was rocked by allegations of a game-fixing scheme known as the Black Sox Scandal . Eight players— "Shoeless" Joe Jackson , Eddie Cicotte , Claude "Lefty" Williams , George "Buck" Weaver , Arnold "Chick" Gandil , Fred McMullin , Charles "Swede" Risberg , and Oscar "Happy" Felsch —intentionally lost
1056-406: A chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before." With the approval of President Roosevelt, spring training began in 1942 with few repercussions. The war interrupted the careers of stars including Stan Musial , Bob Feller , Ted Williams , and Joe DiMaggio , but baseball clubs continued to field their teams. Branch Rickey, president and general manager of
1188-461: A charter member of the league, only to learn that the government of the Mexican state of Baja California would not permit this. Three of the GBL's teams, Long Beach, Chico and Yuma, operated in cities that once hosted Western Baseball League teams. The WBL operated from 1995 to 2002. On May 9, 2005, Major League Baseball 's all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson , signed a contract to play
1320-519: A deal with iBN Sports to broadcast 40 games on the internet showing various teams. Major League Baseball This is an accepted version of this page Major League Baseball ( MLB ) is a professional baseball league and the highest level of organized baseball in the United States and Canada . One of the "Big Four" major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada , MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between
1452-506: A grand jury in Pittsburgh related to cocaine trafficking. The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike from August 12, 1994, to April 25, 1995, caused the cancellation of over 900 games and the forfeit of the entire 1994 postseason. Routinely in the late 1990s and early 2000s, baseball players hit 40 or 50 home runs in a season, a feat that was considered rare even in the 1980s. It later became apparent that at least some of this power surge
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#17327730556531584-644: A large Chinese community, as well as many Filipinos who arrived to the state during the eras of Spanish Philippines and American rule (1898–1946) in much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tijuana and Ensenada were major ports of entry for East Asians entering the U.S. ever since the first Asian Americans were present in California. According to the 2020 Census, 1.71% of Baja California's population identified as Black, Afro-Mexican , or of African descent. Since 1960, large numbers of migrants from southern Mexican states have arrived to work in agriculture (especially
1716-658: A little better in subsequent campaigns—but in their eighth season (1969) the Mets became the first of the 1960s expansion teams to play in the postseason, culminating in a World Series title over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. In 1966, the major leagues moved to the "Deep South" when the Braves moved to Atlanta. In 1968, the Kansas City Athletics moved west to become the Oakland Athletics . In 1969,
1848-512: A low-level marine fog near the coast. The fog occurs along any part of the Pacific coast of the state. The change of altitude towards the Sierra de Baja California creates an alpine climate in this region. Summers are cool, while winters can be cold with below freezing temperatures at night. It is common to see snow in the Sierra de Juárez, Sierra de San Pedro Mártir and in the valleys in between
1980-671: A man for many reasons. Color is not one of them." That year, Robinson won the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award (separate NL and AL Rookie of the Year honors were not awarded until 1949). Less than three months later, Larry Doby became the first African-American to break the color barrier in the American League with the Cleveland Indians. The next year, a number of other black players entered
2112-575: A more sedentary lifestyle. The Cocopa and Quechan of northeastern Baja California practiced agriculture in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River . Another group of people was the Guachimis, who came from the north and created much of the UNESCO World Heritage -recognized Sierra de Guadalupe cave paintings . Not much is known about them except that they lived in the area between 100 BC and 1300 AD. Europeans reached
2244-413: A new National Agreement which tied independent contracts to the reserve-clause contracts. The agreement also set up a formal classification system for minor leagues, the forerunner of today's system that was refined by Branch Rickey . Several other early defunct baseball leagues are considered major leagues, and their statistics and records are included with those of the two modern major leagues. In 1969,
2376-431: A one-armed outfielder, got the chance to advance to the major leagues. However, MLB rosters did not include any black players through the end of the war. Black players, many of whom served in the war, were still restricted to playing Negro league baseball . Wartime blackout restrictions , designed to keep outdoor lighting at low levels, caused another problem for baseball. These rules limited traveling and night games to
2508-501: A rebellion by players against the hated "reserve clause", which restricted the free movement of players between clubs. Teams came and went; 1882 was the first season where the league's membership was the same as the preceding season's, and only four franchises survived to see 1900. Competitor leagues formed regularly and also disbanded regularly. The most successful was the American Association (1882–1891), sometimes called
2640-545: A single-entity model whereby the league owned all the clubs (except Tijuana and Japan which were partnerships). Since then, several of the clubs have been sold to private groups. In its inaugural season, the league was composed of eight teams: the Chico Outlaws , Fullerton Flyers , Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs in California; Mesa Miners , Surprise Fightin' Falcons and Yuma Scorpions in Arizona and
2772-543: A single-game MLB attendance record in their first home appearance with 78,672 fans. In 1961, the first Washington Senators franchise moved to Minneapolis–St. Paul to become the Minnesota Twins . Two new teams were added to the American League at the same time: the Los Angeles Angels (who soon moved from downtown L.A. to nearby Anaheim ) and a new Washington Senators franchise. The NL added
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#17327730556532904-585: A strong focus on tariff-free export oriented manufacturing ( maquiladora ). As of 2005, 284,255 people are employed in the manufacturing sector. There are more than 900 companies operating under the federal Prosec program in Baja California. In 2021, Baja California generated 57,550 new jobs, about 15.2 jobs per 1000 inhabitants, making it the 5th highest in the country and the second highest of any border state behind Nuevo León (86,364 new jobs). The majority of these new jobs were generated in and around
3036-540: A successful Baltimore chop, the batter hits the ball forcefully into the ground, causing it to bounce so high that the batter reaches first base before the ball can be fielded and thrown to the first baseman. The adoption of the foul strike rule—in the NL in 1901, in the AL two years later—quickly sent baseball from a high-scoring game to one where scoring runs became a struggle. Before this rule, foul balls were not counted as strikes:
3168-404: A true agricultural center . The Cerro Prieto geothermal province is near Mexicali as well (this area is geologically part of a large pull apart basin ); it produces about 80% of the electricity consumed in the state and enough additional power to export to California. Laguna Salada , a saline lake below sea level lying between the rugged Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de los Cucapah, is also in
3300-580: Is a state in Mexico . It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California ( Territorio Norte de Baja California ). It has an area of 70,113 km (27,071 sq mi) (3.57% of the land mass of Mexico) and comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula , north of
3432-741: Is a variety of reptiles, including the Western fence lizard , which is at the southern extent of its range. The name of the fish genus Bajacalifornia is derived from the Baja California peninsula. In the main wildlife refuges on the peninsula of Baja California, Constitution 1857 National Park and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park , several coniferous species can be found. The most abundant are Jeffrey pine, Pinus ponderosa , Pinus cembroides , Pinus quadrifolia , Pinus monophylla , Juniperus , Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea , Artemisia ludoviciana and Adenostoma sparsifolium . Baja California shares many plant species with
3564-587: Is below sea level) experiences the highest temperatures in Mexico, frequently surpassing 47 °C (116.6 °F) in mid-summer, and exceeding 50 °C (122 °F) on some occasions. Further south along the Pacific coast, the Mediterranean climate transitions into a desert climate, but it is milder and not as hot as along the gulf coast. Transition climates, from Mediterranean to desert, can be found from San Quintín to El Rosario . Further inland and along
3696-639: Is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan . Baseball's first all-professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings , was founded in 1869. The first few decades of professional baseball saw rivalries between leagues, and players often jumped from one team or league to another. These practices were essentially ended by the National Agreement of 1903, in which AL and NL agreed to respect each other's player contracts, including
3828-612: Is scheduled for 2024 . During the 2021 Mexican legislative election , six of the eight federal deputies representing Baja California in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies were won by Morena candidates, with the other two being won by candidates of the Labor and Ecologist Green parties. The next legislative elections are scheduled for 2024 . Although the state is more European in ancestry, it has historically seen sizable East and Southeast Asian immigrant population. Mexicali has
3960-547: Is steadily growing. Baja California has developed a need to be self-sufficient in matters of technological and scientific innovation and to be less dependent on foreign countries. Current businesses demand new production processes as well as technology for the incubation of companies. The number of graduate degrees offered, including PhD programs, is 121. The state has 53 graduate schools. As of 2005, Baja California's economy represents 3.3% of Mexico's gross domestic product , or US$ 21.996 billion. Baja California's economy has
4092-555: Is suitable for agriculture. Such valleys include the Valle de Guadalupe and the Valle de Ojos Negros, areas that produce citrus fruits and grapes. The mineral-rich mountain range extends southwards to the Gulf of California, where the western slope becomes wider, forming the Llanos del Berrendo on the border with Baja California Sur. The mountain ranges located in the center and southern part of
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4224-404: Is the largest natural resource issue of the state. Baja California's climate varies from Mediterranean to arid . The Mediterranean climate is found in the northwestern corner of the state, where the summers are dry and mild and the winters cool and rainy. This climate is observed in areas from Tijuana to San Quintín and nearby interior valleys. The cold oceanic California Current often creates
4356-487: Is the site of large colonies of sea lions . Cedros Island exists in the southwest of the state's maritime region. The Todos Santos islands and Coronado Islands are located off the coasts of Ensenada and Tijuana, respectively. All of the islands in the Gulf of California on the Baja California side belong to the municipality of Mexicali. Baja California obtains much of its water from the Colorado River. Historically,
4488-481: The 2018 Mexican general election , the presidential vote of Baja California was won by a landslide of almost 44% by Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Morena party. Out of the 8 federal deputies representing Baja California in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies , 5 were won by Morena candidates, 2 were won by Social Encounter Party candidates, and 1 was won by a Labor Party candidate. The next Mexican general election
4620-514: The 28th parallel , plus oceanic Guadalupe Island . The mainland portion of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean ; on the east by Sonora , the U.S. state of Arizona , and the Gulf of California ; on the north by the U.S. state of California ; and on the south by Baja California Sur . The state has an estimated population of 3,769,020 as of 2020, significantly higher than
4752-899: The Boston Braves became the Milwaukee Braves , the St. Louis Browns became the Baltimore Orioles , and the Philadelphia Athletics became the Kansas City Athletics . The 1958 Major League Baseball season began to turn Major League Baseball into a nationwide league. Walter O'Malley , owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers and "perhaps the most influential owner of baseball's early expansion era," moved his team to Los Angeles, marking
4884-716: The Calgary Vipers and Edmonton Cracker-Cats , joined the GBL, becoming the loop's first two Canadian teams. The league expanded to nine teams in 2009 with the addition of the Victoria Seals , while the Reno Silver Sox moved to Tucson to become the Toros . The Cracker-Cats were sold to Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz and renamed the Edmonton Capitals for the 2009 season. On December 15, 2008,
5016-627: The El Rosario River, the state changes from a Mediterranean landscape to a desert one. This desert exhibits diverse succulent species that flourish in part due to the coastal fog . To the east, the Sonoran Desert enters the state from both California and Sonora. Some of the highest temperatures in Mexico are recorded in or nearby the Mexicali Valley. However, with irrigation from the Colorado River, this area has become
5148-596: The Great Depression , baseball's popularity had begun a downward turn in the early 1930s. By 1932, only two MLB teams turned a profit. Attendance had fallen, due at least in part to a 10% federal amusement tax added to baseball ticket prices. Baseball owners cut their rosters from 25 men to 23, and even the best players took pay cuts. Team executives were innovative in their attempts to survive, creating night games, broadcasting games live by radio, and rolling out promotions such as free admission for women. Throughout
5280-682: The Houston Astros and the New York Mets in 1962. The Astros (known as the "Colt .45s" during their first three seasons) became the first southern major league franchise since the Louisville Colonels folded in 1899 and the first franchise to be located along the Gulf Coast . The Mets established a reputation for futility by going 40–120 during their first season of play in the nation's media capital—and by playing only
5412-736: The Japan Samurai Bears . All teams played their home games in city- and university-owned stadiums, with the exception of the Samurai Bears, a traveling team of Japanese players that played all of its games on the road. The Japanese team was a late entry as the Tijuana Toros, who led all of minor league baseball in attendance at over 13,000 fans a game, had jumped from the Mexican League to the GBL in December to be
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5544-580: The Laguna Mountains and San Jacinto Mountains in southwest California. The lower elevations of the Sierra de Juárez are characterized by chaparral and desert shrub . Guadalupe Island and its surrounding waters, 250 kilometres (160 miles) off the Pacific coast, has been designated the Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve to preserve endangered marine and terrestrial species of animals and plants. The fauna in
5676-611: The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP). The NABBP existed as an amateur league for 12 years. By 1867, more than 400 clubs were members. Most of the strongest clubs remained those based in the Northeastern United States. For professional baseball 's founding year, MLB uses the year 1869—when the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings , was established. A schism developed between professional and amateur ballplayers after
5808-487: The National Basketball Association (NBA). Baseball games are broadcast on television, radio, and the internet throughout North America and in several other countries. MLB has the highest total season attendance of any sports league in the world; in 2023, it drew more than 70.75 million spectators. MLB also oversees Minor League Baseball , which comprises lower-tier teams affiliated with
5940-615: The National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. Formed in 1876 and 1901, respectively, the NL and AL cemented their cooperation with the National Agreement in 1903, making MLB the oldest major professional sports league in the world. They remained legally separate entities until 2000, when they merged into a single organization led by the commissioner of baseball . MLB
6072-665: The Northern League into a new North American League for the 2011 season to form the first nationwide independent professional baseball league. However, the North American League folded after two seasons. The league was founded in 2004 by Stanford University graduates Dave Kaval and Amit Patel. Kaval was the president and chief executive officer (Patel departed after the 2008 season to run his family business conglomerate in Laurel, Mississippi). Brian MacInnes
6204-525: The Republic of Baja California . The Mexican government forced his retreat after several months. When liberal army general Porfirio Díaz came to power in 1876, he embarked on a major program to develop and modernize Mexico. Baja California encompasses a territory within the Californias region of North America, which exhibits diverse geography for a relatively small area. The Peninsular ranges of
6336-616: The Roman Catholic Church retained too much power in the post-independence period and sought to undermine it by mandating the secularization of missions in 1833. In the aftermath of the Mexican American War (1846–1848) and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , the United States gained sovereignty over territory previously held first by New Spain and then Mexico, most of which was sparsely settled. Alta California
6468-791: The San Francisco Giants . These leagues folded with the NAL in 2013. On November 15, 2006, the Golden Baseball League announced the Arizona Winter League , which would be a short-season instructional league for its summer league. The league began play on January 19, 2007. The Arizona Winter League has just completed its third season. In the first three years, over 130 Arizona Winter League players have been signed to professional contracts. Two of those players, Scott Richmond and Sergio Romo, are now pitching in
6600-621: The Texas Rangers . In 1977, baseball expanded again , adding a second Canadian team, the Toronto Blue Jays , as well as the Seattle Mariners . Subsequently, no new teams were added until the 1990s and no teams moved until 2005. By the late 1960s, the balance between pitching and hitting had swung in favor of the pitchers. In 1968—later nicknamed "the year of the pitcher" —Boston Red Sox player Carl Yastrzemski won
6732-694: The World Series , a best-of-seven championship series between the two league champions first played in 1903. The New York Yankees have the most championships with 27. The reigning champions are the Los Angeles Dodgers , who defeated the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series . MLB is the third-wealthiest professional sports league by revenue in the world after the National Football League (NFL) and
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#17327730556536864-469: The first and second Negro National Leagues (1920–1931 and 1933–1948), the Eastern Colored League (1923–1928), the American Negro League (1929), the East–West League (1932), the Negro Southern League (1932), and the Negro American League (1937–1948). In 2021, baseball reference website Baseball-Reference.com began to include statistics from those seven leagues into their major-league statistics. In May 2024, Major League Baseball announced that it
6996-442: The "beer and whiskey league" for its tolerance of the sale of alcoholic beverages to spectators. For several years, the NL and American Association champions met in a postseason championship series—the first attempt at a World Series . The two leagues merged in 1892 as a single 12-team NL, but the NL dropped four teams after the 1899 season. This led to the formation of the American League in 1901 under AL president Ban Johnson , and
7128-428: The 1870s. In 1876, the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (later known as the National League or NL) was established after the NA proved ineffective. The league placed its emphasis on clubs rather than on players. Clubs could now enforce player contracts, preventing players from jumping to higher-paying clubs. Clubs were required to play the full schedule of games instead of forfeiting scheduled games when
7260-557: The 1960s and 1970s, as baseball expanded, NFL football had been surging in popularity, making it economical for many of these cities to build multi-purpose stadiums instead of single-purpose baseball fields. Because of climate and economic issues, many of these facilities had playing surfaces made from artificial turf , as well as the oval designs characteristic of stadiums designed to house both baseball and football. This often resulted in baseball fields with relatively more foul territory than older stadiums. These characteristics changed
7392-406: The 1990s. During the 1980s, baseball experienced a number of significant changes the game had not seen in years. Home runs were on the decline throughout the decade, with players hitting 40 home runs just 13 times and no one hitting more than 50 home runs in a season for the first time since the Dead-ball era (1900–1919). The 1981 Major League Baseball strike from June 12 until July 31 forced
7524-456: The 2005 season with the Surf Dawgs. The 2005 season ended with a four-team championship tournament on Labor Day Weekend. The tournament ended with San Diego winning two games on the final day, knocking off Mesa in the second game to win the title. José Canseco , another retired star, signed with the Surf Dawgs in 2006 as part of his attempt to return to baseball and promote his book, Juiced , along with its upcoming movie adaptation. Canseco
7656-429: The 2009 All-Star Game against the United League, the GBL held its own All-Star Game. The game was between the two divisions, taking place in St. George, Utah - home of the RoadRunners, on Tuesday, July 14. During the game, pitchers Donnie Brandt and Isaac Hess were purchased by major league organizations during the game by Milwaukee and Boston respectively. Fehlandt Lentini won the home run derby . On December 9, 2009
7788-443: The 2009 season. The Bisbee Miners , Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs joined the ASL for the 2010 season. The Yuma Scorpions became the first franchise in the league to broadcast select games on Adelphia Cable , which were produced by Arizona Western College Television Services. The Edmonton Capitals televised selected games by reaching an agreement with Shaw TV . The Golden Baseball League announced they had reached
7920-435: The 2019 Baja California state election, Jaime Bonilla Valdez of the Morena -led Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition won by a margin of 27.58% to become the governor of Baja California. In addition, 21 out of 25 state deputy positions and all 5 municipal mayoral positions were won by candidates aligned with the Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition. During the 2021 Baja California state election, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda of
8052-435: The American League batting title with an average of just .301, the lowest in the history of Major League Baseball. Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain won 31 games, making him the only pitcher to win 30 games in a season since Dizzy Dean in 1934. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Bob Gibson achieved an equally remarkable feat by allowing an ERA of just 1.12. Following these pitching performances, in December 1968
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#17327730556538184-420: The American and National Leagues both added two expansion franchises . The American League added the Seattle Pilots (who became the Milwaukee Brewers after one disastrous season in Seattle) and the Kansas City Royals . The NL added the first Canadian franchise, the Montreal Expos , as well as the San Diego Padres . In 1972, the second Washington Senators moved to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex to become
8316-480: The Boston Red Sox. On September 30, 2009, the GBL announced that the Hawaiian sports and entertainment company XnE Inc. had purchased the territory rights to place teams in Hawaii and that their inaugural team would play at the War Memorial Complex in Maui in 2010. The team announced their name as Na Koa Ikaika Maui , which means the Strong Warriors of Maui. The Long Beach Armada announced that they were suspending operations due to an ongoing stadium lease dispute with
8448-409: The Brooklyn Dodgers, began making efforts to introduce a black baseball player to the previously all-white professional baseball leagues in the mid-1940s. He selected Jackie Robinson from a list of promising Negro league players. After obtaining a commitment from Robinson to "turn the other cheek" to any racial antagonism directed at him, Rickey agreed to sign him to a contract for $ 600 a month. In what
8580-439: The CPBL will handle all on-field personnel and player issues while the team will retain control of promotions, concessions, and other front-office business. The Scorpions will act as a showcase team for players from all four CPBL teams. Yuma Scorpion Reynaldo Rodriguez, of Cartagena, Colombia, was named GBL 2009 Rookie of the Year, the top prospect in all the independent leagues by Baseball America, and had his contract purchased by
8712-415: The California cordillera run down the geographic center of the state. The most notable ranges of these mountains are the Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir . These ranges are the location of forests reminiscent of Southern California 's San Gabriel Mountains . Picacho del Diablo is the highest peak on the peninsula. Valleys between the mountain ranges are located within a climate zone that
8844-711: The Dodgers when they came to town, abandoning the Negro league teams that they had followed exclusively. Robinson's promotion met a generally positive, although mixed, reception among newspaper writers and white major league players. Manager Leo Durocher informed his team, "I don't care if he is yellow or black or has stripes like a fucking zebra. I'm his manager and I say he plays." After a strike threat by some players, NL President Ford C. Frick and Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler let it be known that any striking players would be suspended. Robinson received significant encouragement from several major-league players, including Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese who said, "You can hate
8976-551: The GBL included Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak , former National Football League players Mike Sherrard and Christian Okoye , and executives from Cisco Systems , Taleo and Draper Fisher Jurvetson . Over 100 players were sold to MLB organizations after it began play, with seven players already making it to a major league uniform – Dane De La Rosa , Adam Pettyjohn , Scott Richmond , Chris Jakubauskas , Sergio Romo , Bobby Cramer , and Daniel Nava . The Golden Baseball League combined with United League Baseball and
9108-572: The GBL and the Northern League announced a two-year agreement that would pit the all-stars of the two leagues against each other in the mid-summer classic. The 2010 game wAS in Tucson on July 14 while the leagues will face off in Zion, Illinois at the newest ballpark (currently under construction) in the Northern League. The GBL, then later the North American League , featured two small instructional leagues that helped produce future independent, minor league and even Major League Baseball standouts, including two-time World Series Champion Sergio Romo of
9240-513: The Great Depression, no MLB teams moved or folded. The onset of World War II created a shortage of professional baseball players, as more than 500 men left MLB teams to serve in the military. Many of them played on service baseball teams that entertained military personnel in the US or in the Pacific. MLB teams of this time largely consisted of young men, older players, and those with a military classification of 4F , indicating mental, physical, or moral unsuitability for service. Men like Pete Gray ,
9372-441: The Gulf of California, the vegetation is scarce and temperatures are very high during the summer months. The islands in the Gulf of California also have a desert climate. Some oases can be found in the desert where few towns are located – for instance, Catavina , San Borja and Santa Gertrudis. Common trees in the high elevations are the Jeffrey pine , sugar pine and pinon pine . Understory species include manzanita . There
9504-561: The MLB Playing Rules Committee voted to reduce the strike zone from knees to shoulders to top of knees to armpits and lower the pitcher's mound from 15 to 10 inches, beginning in the 1969 season. In 1973, the American League, which had been suffering from much lower attendance than the National League, sought to increase scoring even further by initiating the designated hitter (DH) rule. Throughout
9636-515: The Mexicali Valley and nearby Imperial Valley , California, U.S.) and manufacturing. The cities of Ensenada, Tijuana, and Mexicali grew as a result of migrants, primarily those who sought U.S. citizenship. Those temporary residents awaiting their entry into the United States are called flotillas , which is derived from the Spanish word flota , meaning 'fleet'. There is also a sizable immigrant community from Central and South America, and from
9768-684: The Morena-led Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition won by a margin of 17.49% to become the first female governor of Baja California. Of the state's 25 local deputies, 13 were won by Morena-aligned candidates, followed in a distant second place by candidates of the Solidarity Encounter Party (PES), National Action Party (PAN), and Labor Party (PT) with 3 seats each. All 5 municipal mayoral positions were again won by Morena-aligned candidates. The next state elections are scheduled for 2023 . During
9900-787: The North All-Stars against the South All-Stars. The GBL reached a two-year agreement with the United League to face off in two All-Star Games. The 2008 game was hosted by the ULB's San Angelo Colts , while the 2009 game was to be hosted by the Orange County Flyers . However, the United League went bankrupt in the off-season after 2008, causing the 2009 All-Star Game to be cancelled. In replacement of
10032-549: The Northern League and join the GBL for 2011 with the new format. United League teams joining the NAL include the Edinburg Roadrunners , Harlingen Whitewings and San Angelo Colts . The league was the only independent baseball association to have drug testing . The league CEO Dave Kaval explained: "I feel that there is no place for illegal drugs in our business. We run a family-friendly operation off
10164-520: The Pacific shore. On the Gulf of California, the largest island is Angel de la Guarda Island , separated from the peninsula by the deep and narrow Canal de Ballenas . The first people came to the peninsula at least 11,000 years ago. At that time, two main native groups are thought to have been present on the peninsula – the Cochimí in the south, and several groups belonging to the Yuman language family in
10296-545: The San Diego Surf Dawgs operation was discontinued as San Diego State breached the lease agreement with the league and subsequently paid a settlement. The GBL remained at six teams by adding the St. George RoadRunners . The Utah city also hosted a Western League club from 1999 to 2001, the Zion Pioneerzz , becoming the fifth former WBL city to join the league. In 2008, two former Northern League clubs,
10428-519: The Spanish crown divided California into Alta ('Upper') and Baja ('Lower') California at the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. The colonial governors were José Joaquín de Arillaga (1804–1805), Felipe de Goicoechea (1806–1814), and José Darío Argüello (1814 – April 11, 1822). Mexican liberals were concerned that
10560-770: The Special Baseball Records Committee of Major League Baseball officially recognized six major leagues: the National League, American League, American Association, Union Association (1884), Players' League (1890), and Federal League (1914–1915). The status of the National Association as a major league has been a point of dispute among baseball researchers; while its statistics are not recognized by Major League Baseball, its statistics are included with those of other major leagues by some baseball reference websites, such as Retrosheet . Some researchers, including Nate Silver , dispute
10692-608: The Tijuana team did return for the 2010 season but came back with a new name and additional owners. The Tijuana Cimarrones were announced as a member of the GBL when the schedule was released on January 15, 2010. On May 20, 2009, the Yuma Sun reported that the team had signed an affiliation agreement with the Colombian Professional Baseball League (CPBL). Under the terms of the affiliation,
10824-534: The United States and Canada. An estimated 200,000+ American expatriates live in the state, especially in coastal resort towns such as Ensenada, known for affordable homes purchased by retirees who continue to hold U.S. citizenship. San Felipe, Rosarito and Tijuana also have a large American population (second largest in Mexico after Mexico City), particularly for their cheaper housing and proximity to San Diego. Some 60,000 Oaxacans live in Baja California. Some 40% of them lack proper birth certificates. According to
10956-614: The World Series in exchange for a ring worth $ 100,000 ($ 1,712,780.35 in 2022 dollars). Despite being acquitted, all were permanently banned from Major League Baseball. Baseball's popularity increased in the 1920s and 1930s. The 1920 season was notable for the death of Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians . Chapman, who was struck in the head by a pitch and died a few hours later, became the only MLB player to die of an on-field injury. Both leagues quickly began to require
11088-568: The borders and coasts of Mexico by way of a trust handled through a Mexican bank (Fideicomiso). This trust assures to the buyer all the rights and privileges of ownership, and it can be sold, inherited, leased, or transferred at any time. Since 1994, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that the Fideicomiso must be to a 50-year term , with the option to petition for a 50-year renewal at any time. Any Mexican citizen buying
11220-596: The cancellation of 713 total games and resulted in a split-season format. In 1985, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb 's all-time hits record with his 4,192nd hit, and in 1989 Rose received a lifetime ban from baseball as a result of betting on baseball games while manager of the Cincinnati Reds . Rose was the first person to receive a lifetime ban from baseball since 1943. 1985 also saw the Pittsburgh drug trials which involved players who were called to testify before
11352-600: The center field fence, and the Huntington Avenue Grounds of the Boston Red Sox , which was 635 feet (194 m) to the center field fence, thus home runs were rare, and "small ball" tactics such as singles , bunts , stolen bases , and the hit-and-run play dominated the strategies of the time. Hitting methods like the Baltimore chop were used to increase the number of infield singles. On
11484-432: The cities of Tijuana , Mexicali , Ensenada , Playas de Rosarito , and Tecate . Industries that experienced the highest degree of growth in 2021 include transformative industries , transport and communication , commerce , and construction . As of November 2021, Baja California has the highest employment rate of any state in northern Mexico , with a rate of 96.7%. As of September 2021, Baja California receives
11616-529: The city of Long Beach. Dave Kaval , co-founder and C.E.O. of the GBL since its inception in 2005, resigned to take the job as team president of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . The United League and the Northern League agreed to join the GBL for the 2011 season in the formation of the new North American League . The Rockford RiverHawks , Schaumburg Flyers , Joliet Jackhammers , and Lake County Fielders planned on leaving
11748-608: The club was no longer in the running for the league championship, which happened frequently under the NA. A concerted effort was made to curb gambling on games, which was leaving the validity of results in doubt. The first game in the NL—on Saturday, April 22, 1876 (at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia )—is often pointed to as the beginning of MLB. The early years of the NL were tumultuous, with threats from rival leagues and
11880-573: The condition of the baseball itself. The baseball used American rather than the modern Australian wool yarn and was not wound as tightly, affecting the distance that it would travel. More significantly, balls were kept in play until they were mangled, soft and sometimes lopsided. During this era, a baseball cost three dollars, equal to $ 52.72 today (in inflation-adjusted USD ), and owners were reluctant to purchase new balls. Fans were expected to throw back fouls and (rare) home runs. Baseballs also became stained with tobacco juice, grass, and mud, and sometimes
12012-432: The contentious reserve clause . The period before 1920 was the dead-ball era , when home runs were rarely hit. Professional baseball was rocked by the Black Sox Scandal , a conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series . Baseball survived the scandal, albeit with major changes in its governance as the relatively weak National Commission was replaced with a powerful commissioner of baseball with near-unlimited authority over
12144-979: The field, and illegal drug usage by our players would undermine the trust we have established with our fans. That is exactly what has happened at the MLB level. As a steward of the great game of baseball, I am proud to say that we have the most stringent drug policy in all of professional baseball." x-Division Champion y-Wild Card (Division champions and top two wild card teams go to Championship.) Gold Glove winners: Pitcher: Adam Pettyjohn , Long Beach Catcher: Cody Clark , San Diego First base: Yuji Nerei , Samurai Bears Second base: Kenichi Miura , Samurai Bears Third base: Sean Walsh , Fullerton Shortstop: Jeremy Hernandez , Long Beach Outfielders Marcus Knight , Mesa; Billy Brown, Surprise; Travis McAndrews , Long Beach z-First-half champion and best overall record, x-second-half champion (Champions of each half face in 5-game series for championship. If one team wins both halves,
12276-591: The first major league franchise on the West Coast. O'Malley also helped persuade the rival New York Giants to move west to become the San Francisco Giants. Giants owner Horace Stoneham had been contemplating a move to Minnesota amid slumping attendance at the aging Polo Grounds ballpark when O'Malley invited him to meet San Francisco Mayor George Christopher in New York. After Stoneham
12408-539: The first overland exploration of the northwestern portion of the state. The Dominicans took over management of the Baja California missions from the Franciscans in 1773. They established a chain of new missions among the northern Cochimí and western Yumans, first on the coast and subsequently inland, extending from El Rosario (1774) to Descanso (1817), just south of Tijuana below the Palóu Line . In 1804,
12540-513: The founding of the Cincinnati club. The NABBP split into an amateur organization and a professional organization. The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , often known as the National Association (NA), was formed in 1871. Its amateur counterpart disappeared after only a few years. The modern Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves franchises trace their histories back to the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in
12672-429: The hole " between the corner and middle infielders. Starting pitchers were no longer expected to throw complete games ; it was enough for a starter to pitch 6–7 innings and turn the game over to the team's closer , a position which grew in importance over these decades. As stolen bases increased, home run totals dropped. After Willie Mays hit 52 home runs in 1965, only one player ( George Foster ) reached that mark until
12804-529: The juice of licorice, which some players would chew for the purpose of discoloring the ball. Also, pitchers could manipulate the ball through the use of the spitball (In 1921, use of this pitch was restricted to a few pitchers with a grandfather clause ). Additionally, many ballparks had large dimensions, such as the West Side Grounds of the Chicago Cubs, which was 560 feet (170 m) to
12936-599: The league signed a letter of intent to place another expansion franchise in Tijuana , Mexico . After the addition of the expansion Tijuana Potros on January 13, the Armada were moved to the North Division. The Potros themselves would postpone the season due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico. This made all their scheduled games days off for the other nine teams and left their GBL future in serious doubt. As planned,
13068-620: The major league clubs, and the MLB Draft League , a hybrid amateur-professional showcase league. MLB and the World Baseball Softball Confederation jointly manage the international World Baseball Classic tournament. In the 1860s, aided by soldiers playing the game in camp during the Civil War , "New York"-style baseball expanded into a national game and spawned baseball's first governing body,
13200-658: The major leagues. Satchel Paige was signed by the Indians and the Dodgers added star catcher Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe , who was later the first winner of the Cy Young Award for his outstanding pitching. MLB banned the signing of women to contracts in 1952, but that ban was lifted in 1992. There have been no female MLB players since then. From 1903 to 1952, the major leagues consisted of two eight-team leagues whose 16 teams were located in ten cities, all in
13332-670: The major leagues. The 2009 Arizona Winter League began play on January 31, 2009 and has expanded to 8 teams and almost 200 players. On April 3, 2009, the Golden Baseball League announced its second instructional league known as the Arizona Summer League , which is patterned after the AWL. This league consists of three teams, the Canada Miners , El Centro Imperials and San Luis Atleticos and began play in late June 2009. The ASL had 12 players signed to pro contracts during
13464-560: The major wine-producing area in Mexico. To the east of the mountain range, the Sonoran Desert dominates the landscape. In the south, the weather becomes drier and gives way to the Vizcaíno Desert . The state is also home to numerous islands off both of its shores. Baja California is also home to Guadalupe Island , the westernmost point of Mexico. The Coronado Islands , Todos Santos islands , and Cedros Island are also on
13596-572: The major-league status of the Union Association by pointing out that franchises came and went and that the St. Louis club was deliberately "stacked"; the St. Louis club was owned by the league's president and it was the only club that was close to major-league caliber. In December 2020, Major League Baseball announced its recognition of seven leagues within Negro league baseball as major leagues:
13728-471: The nature of professional baseball, putting a higher premium on speed and defense over home-run hitting power since the fields were often too big for teams to expect to hit many home runs and foul balls hit in the air could more easily be caught for outs. Teams began to be built around pitching—particularly their bullpens—and speed on the basepaths. Artificial surfaces meant balls traveled quicker and bounced higher, so it became easier to hit ground balls " in
13860-587: The north, including the Kiliwa , Paipai , Kumeyaay , Cocopa , and Quechan . These peoples were diverse in their adaptations to the region. The Cochimí of the peninsula's Central Desert were generalized hunter-gatherers who moved frequently; however, the Cochimí on Cedros Island off the west coast developed a strong maritime economy. The Kiliwa, Paipai, and Kumeyaay in the better-watered northwest were also hunter-gatherers, but that region supported denser populations and
13992-527: The northeastern and mid-western United States: New York City had three teams and Boston , Chicago, Philadelphia , and St. Louis each had two teams. St. Louis was the southernmost and westernmost city with a major league team. The longest possible road trip, from Boston to St. Louis, took about 24 hours by railroad. After a half-century of stability, starting in the 1950s, teams began to move out of cities with multiple teams into cities that had not had them before. From 1953 to 1955, three teams moved to new cities:
14124-430: The parks include a large number of mammals, primarily mule deer , bighorn sheep , cougars , bobcats , ringtail cats , coyotes , rabbits , squirrels and more than 30 species of bats . The park is also home to many avian species like bald eagles , golden eagles , falcons , woodpeckers , black vultures , crows , and several species of Sittidae and duck . At 3:40:41 pm PDT on Easter Sunday, 4 April 2010,
14256-519: The point that the 1942 season was nearly canceled. On January 14, 1942, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis wrote to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt , pleading for the continuation of baseball during the war. Roosevelt responded, "I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before. And that means that they ought to have
14388-485: The positions of state governor , 25 state deputies of the Congress of Baja California , and 5 municipal mayors. Of the 25 state deputies, 17 are elected by relative majority in each of the electoral districts, while another 8 are elected by proportional representation. The 17 deputies elected by relative majority may be re-elected for up to four consecutive terms, while the other 8 deputies can only serve one term. During
14520-472: The present state of Baja California in 1539, when Francisco de Ulloa reconnoitered its east coast on the Gulf of California and explored the peninsula's west coast at least as far north as Cedros Island. Hernando de Alarcón returned to the east coast and ascended the lower Colorado River in 1540, and Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (or João Rodrigues Cabrilho (in Portuguese) ) completed the reconnaissance of
14652-542: The reserve clause, led to the organization of the Major League Baseball Players Association to collectively bargain with the owners, which in turn led to the introduction of free agency in baseball. Modern stadiums with artificial turf surfaces began to change the game in the 1970s and 1980s. Home runs dominated the game during the 1990s. In the mid-2000s, media reports disclosed the use of anabolic steroids among MLB players;
14784-533: The resulting bidding war for players led to widespread contract-breaking and legal disputes. The war between the AL and NL caused shock waves throughout the baseball world. At a meeting at the Leland Hotel in Chicago in 1901, the other baseball leagues negotiated a plan to maintain their independence. A new National Association was formed to oversee these minor leagues. After 1902, the NL, AL, and NA signed
14916-658: The river drained into the Colorado River Delta and then flowed into the Gulf of California, but due to large demands for water in the American Southwest , less water now reaches the Gulf. The Tijuana metropolitan area also relies on the Tijuana River as a source of water. Much of rural Baja California depends predominantly on wells, a few dams and even oases. Tijuana also purchases water from San Diego County's Otay Water District. Potable water
15048-542: The sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south, and similar to San Diego County, California , and Imperial County, California to its north. Over 75% of the population lives in Mexicali (the state's capital city), Ensenada , or Tijuana (the state's largest city). Other important cities include San Felipe , Rosarito , and Tecate . Baja California is the 12th-largest state by area in Mexico. Its geography ranges from beaches to forests and deserts. The backbone of
15180-571: The sport. MLB rose in popularity in the decade following the Black Sox Scandal, and unlike major leagues in other sports it endured the Great Depression and World War II without any of its teams folding. Shortly after the war, Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier . Some teams moved to different cities in the 1950s and 1960s. The AL and NL added eight clubs in the 1960s: two in 1961, two in 1962, and four in 1969. Player discontent with established labor practices, especially
15312-600: The state include the Sierra de La Asamblea , Sierra de Calamajué, Sierra de San Luis and the Sierra de San Borja . Temperate winds from the Pacific Ocean and the cold California Current make the climate along the northwestern coast pleasant year-round. As a result of the state's location on the California Current, rains from the north barely reach the peninsula, thus leaving southern areas drier. South of
15444-471: The state is the Sierra de Baja California, where Picacho del Diablo , the highest point of the peninsula, is located. This mountain range effectively divides the weather patterns in the state. In the northwest, the weather is semi-dry and Mediterranean . In the narrow center, the weather changes to be more humid due to altitude. It is in this area where a few valleys can be found, such as the Valle de Guadalupe ,
15576-506: The state of Baja California. Jesuit missions were subsequently established among the Cochimí at Santa Gertrudis (1752), San Borja (1762), and Santa María (1767). After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768, the short-lived Franciscan administration (1768–1773) resulted in one new mission at San Fernando Velicatá . More importantly, the 1769 expedition to settle Alta California under Gaspar de Portolà and Junípero Serra resulted in
15708-2319: The team with next best overall record receives championship bid.) All-League Team: Catcher: Marcus Jensen , Reno First base: Desi Wilson , Chico Second base: Adam Mandel , San Diego Third base: Henry Calderon , Yuma Shortstop: Bret LeVier , Fullerton Utility: Craig Kuzmic , Chico Outfielders: Seth Pietsch , San Diego; Jason Van Meetren , Chico; Jeff LaRue , Long Beach; Scott Goodman , San Diego Designated hitter: Peanut Williams , Fullerton Starting Pitchers: Chris Jakubauskas , Fullerton; Andre Simpson , Long Beach; Ben Thurmond , Reno; Phil Springman , Chico; Brian Kroll , Chico; Nate Sevier , Reno Relief Pitchers: Josh Rummonds , San Diego; Scott Schneider , Reno; E.J. Shanks , San Diego; Mike Peck , Long Beach; Wes Faust , Fullerton Gold Glove Winners: Pitcher: James Johnson, Reno Catcher: Marcus Jensen , Reno First base: Desi Wilson , Chico Second base: Rob Gandolfo , Chico Third base: Henry Calderon , Yuma Shortstop: Hector Tena , Yuma Outfielders Chris Klemm , Long Beach; Lino Garcia , Chico; Ryan Webb , Long Beach x-1st half champion, z-2nd half champion and best overall record All-League Team: Catcher: Buddy Morales , Orange County First base: Jaime Martinez , Long Beach Second base: David Bacani , Orange County Third base: Henry Calderon , Yuma Shortstop: Jesse Kovacs , Chico Utility: Ryan Stevenson , St. George Outfielders: Daniel Nava, Chico; Kane Simmons , Reno; Johnny Kaplan , Long Beach Yosvanny Almario , Yuma Designated hitter: Peanut Williams , Orange County Starting Pitchers: Ben Fox , Orange County; Derek Loop , Chico; Ryan Claypool , Long Beach; Roger Luque , Yuma; Dusty Bergman , Reno Relief Pitchers: Todd Gelatka , Chico; Dane De La Rosa , Long Beach; Anthony Pluta , St. George; Neil Hayes , Yuma x-1st half division champion, y-2nd half division champion All-League Team: Catcher: TBA First base: TBA Second base: TBA Third base: TBA Shortstop: TBA Utility: TBA Outfielders: TBA Designated hitter: TBA Starting Pitchers: TBA Relief Pitchers: TBA x-1st half division champion, y-2nd half division champion, z-wild card The GBL played their very first All-Star Game on July 18, 2006 at Chico's Nettleton Stadium pitting
15840-539: The third highest amount of foreign direct investment of any state in Mexico, constituting about 7.7% of the national total and behind only Nuevo León (7.7%) and Mexico City (16.5%). About 81.4% of Baja California's foreign domestic investment comes from the United States , of which 50.3% comes from the construction of natural gas pipelines and 8.2% comes car and truck manufacturing. The Foreign Investment Law of 1973 allows foreigners to purchase land within
15972-486: The two ranges from December to April. Due to orographic effects, precipitation is much higher in the mountains of northern Baja California than on the western coastal plain or eastern desert plain. Pine, cedar and fir forests are found in the mountains. The east side of the mountains produces a rain shadow , creating an extremely arid environment. The Sonoran Desert region of Baja California experiences hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters. The Mexicali Valley (which
16104-454: The use of new, white baseballs whenever a ball became scuffed or dirty, helping bring the "dead-ball" era to an end. The following year, the New York Yankees made their first World Series appearance. By the end of the 1930s, the team had appeared in 11 World Series, winning eight of them. Yankees slugger Babe Ruth had set the single-season home run record in 1927, hitting 60 home runs; breaking his own record of 29 home runs. Afflicted by
16236-420: The vicinity of Mexicali. The state government has recently been considering plans to revive Laguna Salada. The highest mountain in the Sierra de los Cucapah is Cerro del Centinela or Mount Signal . The Cucapah are the primary indigenous people from the mountains north to Yuma, Arizona . There are numerous islands on the Pacific shore. Guadalupe Island is located in the extreme west of the state's boundaries and
16368-528: The west coast in 1542. Sebastián Vizcaíno again surveyed the west coast in 1602, but outside visitors during the following century were few. The Jesuits founded a permanent mission colony on the peninsula at Loreto in 1697. During the following decades, they gradually extended their sway throughout the present state of Baja California Sur. In 1751–1753, the Croatian Jesuit mission-explorer Ferdinand Konščak made overland explorations northward into
16500-809: The workforce standards, such as school–enterprise linkage programs which help the development of a labor force according to the needs of the industry. 91.60% of the population from six to fourteen years of age attend elementary school. 61.95% of the population over fifteen years of age attends or has already graduated from high school. Public school is available in all levels from kindergarten to university. The state has 32 universities offering 103 professional degrees. These universities have 19 research and development centers for basic and applied investigation in advanced projects related to biotechnology, physics, oceanography, computer science, digital geothermal technology, astronomy, aerospace, electrical engineering and clean energy, among others. At this educational level, supply
16632-399: Was "absorbing the available Negro Leagues numbers into the official historical record." The period between 1900 and 1919 is commonly referred to as the "dead-ball era". Games of this era tended to be low-scoring and were often dominated by pitchers, such as Walter Johnson , Cy Young , Christy Mathewson , Mordecai Brown , and Grover Cleveland Alexander . The term also accurately describes
16764-1060: Was a result of players using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs . In 1993, the National League added the Florida Marlins in Miami and the Colorado Rockies in Denver . In 1998, the Brewers switched leagues by joining the National League, and two new teams were added: the National League's Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix and the American League's Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Tampa Bay . Baja California Baja California ( Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja] ; 'Lower California'), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California (English: Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ),
16896-493: Was incorporated into the U.S., and during the California Gold Rush , quickly gained enough population to be admitted to the union as a state. Baja California gains control of where is now the cities of Tijuana , Mexicali , and Tecate from Alta California after the treaty and remained under Mexican control. In 1853, soldier of fortune ( mercenary ) William Walker captured La Paz , declaring himself president of
17028-619: Was later referred to as "The Noble Experiment", Robinson was the first black baseball player in the International League since the 1880s, joining the Dodgers' farm club, the Montreal Royals , for the 1946 season. The following year, the Dodgers called up Robinson to the major leagues. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, including more than 14,000 black patrons. Black baseball fans began flocking to see
17160-449: Was persuaded to move to California, Time magazine put O'Malley on its cover. MLB Commissioner Ford C. Frick had opposed the meeting, but the dual moves proved successful for both franchises—and for MLB. Had the Dodgers moved out west alone, the St. Louis Cardinals —1,600 mi (2,575 km) away —would have been the closest NL team. Instead, the joint move made West Coast road trips economical for visiting teams. The Dodgers set
17292-524: Was the president, and Bill Weiss was the league's secretary and historian. Many former MLB coaches and players coached or managed in the GBL, including Kip Gross , Les Lancaster , Mike Marshall , Ozzie Virgil, Jr. , Darrell Evans , Garry Templeton , Cory Snyder , Jeffrey Leonard , Gary Carter , Mike Busch , Steve Yeager , Phil Nevin , Charlie Hough , Mark Parent , Tim Johnson , Terry Kennedy , Paul Abbott , Brett Boone , Alex Arias , Rusty Meacham , and Warren Cromartie . The league began with
17424-570: Was traded to the Armada after only one game. He said that the move was to be closer to his daughter. Before the 2006 season, Surprise was discontinued, while Mesa moved to Reno, another former Western League city, and became the Reno Silver Sox , the first GBL club in Nevada. The league moved to a six-team format and did not have the traveling Samurai Bears return. Prior to the 2007 season,
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