Cal League produces top MLB rookies
30 Rookie of the Year winners have played in circuit
PORT HUENEME, Calif. - Since Major League Baseball first announced its Rookie of the Year 52 years ago, 30 of the winners have played in the Cal League. And, it's interesting to note, in six of those years (1973, 1979, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1995) both the American and National League Rookies of the Year had previously played in the Cal League.
Bakersfield, Modesto, and Visalia lead the way with 6 American and National League Rookies of the Year having played for them. Stockton and Reno are tied with 4 apiece. The Los Angeles Dodgers produced the most Rookies (8) including a record 5 in a row from 1992 to 1996.
In 2010 each team in the Cal League will play 140 games beginning on Opening Day, April 8 and ending on Labor Day, September 6.
| Rookie of the Year | Cal League team | Year | MLB team | Year |
| Albie Pearson | San Jose | 1953 | Washington (AL) | 1958 |
| Ron Hansen | Stockton | 1956 | Baltimore | 1960 |
| Jim Lefebvre | Reno | 1962 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1965 |
| Al Bumbry | Stockton | 1969 | Baltimore | 1973 |
| Gary Mathews | Fresno | 1970 | San Francisco | 1973 |
| Bake McBride | Modesto | 1970/71 | St. Louis | 1974 |
| John Castino | Visalia | 1977 | Minnesota | 1979 |
| Alfredo Griffin | Reno | 1974 | Toronto | 1979 |
| San Jose | 1975/76 | |||
| Rick Sutcliffe | Bakersfield | 1975 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1979 |
| Joe Charboneau | Visalia | 1978 | Cleveland | 1980 |
| Fernando Valenzuela | Lodi | 1979 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1981 |
| Ozzie Guillen | Reno | 1982 | Chicago (AL) | 1985 |
| Jose Canseco | Modesto | 1984 | Oakland | 1986 |
| Mark McGwire | Modesto | 1984/85 | Oakland | 1987 |
| Benito Santiago | Reno | 1984 | San Diego | 1987 |
| Walt Weiss | Modesto | 1985 | Oakland | 1988 |
| Chuck Knoblauch | Visalia | 1989 | Minnesota | 1991 |
| Pat Listach | Stockton | 1989/90 | Milwaukee | 1992 |
| Eric Karros | Bakersfield | 1989 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1992 |
| Tim Salmon | Palm Springs | 1990 | California | 1993 |
| Mike Piazza | Bakersfield | 1991 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1993 |
| Raul Mondesi | Bakersfield | 1991 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1994 |
| Marty Cordova | Visalia | 1991/92 | Minnesota | 1995 | Hideo Nomo | Bakersfield | 1995 | Los Angeles (NL) | 1995 |
| Todd Hollandsworth | Bakersfield | 1992 | Los Angeles | 1996 |
| Ben Grieve | Modesto | 1995/96 | Oakland | 1998 |
| Angel Berroa | Visalia | 2000 | Kansas City | 2003 |
| Bobby Crosby | Modesto | 2001/02 | Oakland | 2004 |
| Evan Longoria | Visalia | 2006 | Tampa Bay | 2008 |
| Andrew Bailey | Stockton | 2007 | Oakland | 2009 |