The Pacific Coast League

Though Major League Baseball hadn't ventured west of St.Louis, fans of the game were not without their favorite teams. Fans cheered on the likes of the Oakland Oaks, Los Angeles Angels, Portland Beavers, San Fransisco Seals (whom the great Joe Dimaggio played for), Sacramento Solons, and the Hollywood Stars, who all played in the Pacific Coast League.

Beginning in 1903, it was one of the oldest and most successful of the minor leagues. The weather was so warm the the Hollywood Stars would sometimes play in shorts. The schedule could reach 200 games. The leagues players put up unbelievable numbers; In 1923, former big leaguer Paul Strand managed 325 hits, while Tony Lazzeri hit 60 homeruns and knocked in 222 runs in one season for the Salt Lake City Bees.

Countless times the best of the Pacific Coast League teams would try to major league status, but were always denied. It was just too far for the east coast teams to travel.

The Pacific Coast League is probably best known for producing two of the games greatest hitters, Joe Dimaggio and Ted Williams. But it also offered a place for fading major league players who wanted to extend their careers a few more years. Some players even preferred it to the majors; the money was often just as good and for some the ballparks were closer to home. The great Rube Waddell once interrupted his big league career to play for Los Angeles and Hal Chase ended his career their, where true to form, he was involved in yet another gambling scandal.