1978 California League season
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| 1978 California League season | |
|---|---|
| League | California League |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | April 13 – August 31 |
| Games | 140 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Regular season | |
| League champions | Visalia Oaks |
| Season MVP | Steve Douglas, Visalia Oaks |
| Playoffs | |
| League champions | Visalia Oaks |
| Runners-up | Lodi Dodgers |
The 1978 California League was a Class A baseball season played between April 13 and August 31. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, as the winner of each half of the season qualifying for the playoffs.
The Visalia Oaks won the California League championship, as they defeated the Lodi Dodgers in the final round of the playoffs.
- The California League split into two divisions beginning in 1978. The divisions were the North Division and the South Division.
Team changes
- The Bakersfield Outlaws joined the league as an expansion team and joined the South Division.
- The Stockton Mariners joined the league as an expansion and joined the North Division. The club began an affiliation with the Seattle Mariners.
Teams
Map of teams
Regular season
Summary
- The Visalia Oaks finished with the best record in the regular season for the first time since 1957.
Standings
| North Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Lodi Dodgers | 85 | 55 | .607 | – |
| Stockton Mariners | 63 | 77 | .450 | 22 |
| Reno Silver Sox | 62 | 78 | .443 | 23 |
| Modesto A's | 61 | 79 | .436 | 24 |
| South Division | ||||
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Visalia Oaks | 97 | 42 | .698 | – |
| Salinas Angels | 84 | 56 | .600 | 13.5 |
| Fresno Giants | 59 | 80 | .424 | 38 |
| Bakersfield Outlaws | 48 | 92 | .343 | 49.5 |
League Leaders
Batting leaders
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| AVG | Joe Charboneau, Visalia Oaks | .350 |
| H | Steve Douglas, Visalia Oaks | 192 |
| R | Steve Douglas, Visalia Oaks | 142 |
| 2B | Scott Ullger, Visalia Oaks | 36 |
| 3B | Steve Douglas, Visalia Oaks | 17 |
| HR | Steven McManaman, Visalia Oaks | 29 |
| RBI | Steven McManaman, Visalia Oaks | 120 |
| SB | Richard Brewster, Salinas Angels | 70 |
Pitching leaders
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| W | Gene Robinson, Visalia Oaks Bob Veselic, Visalia Oaks | 18 |
| ERA | Jim Lewis, Stockton Mariners | 2.12 |
| CG | Bud Anderson, Stockton Mariners | 16 |
| SHO | Dave Beard, Modesto A's Jim Lewis, Stockton Mariners | 5 |
| SV | Mickey Lashley, Lodi Dodgers | 17 |
| IP | Jim Lewis, Stockton Mariners | 212.0 |
| SO | Jim Lewis, Stockton Mariners | 189 |
Playoffs
- The playoffs expanded to two rounds, as a best-of-three divisional final was added.
- Both the Lodi Dodgers and Visalia Oaks finished in first place in each half of the season, therefore earning byes to the finals.
- The Visalia Oaks won their second California League championship, as they defeated the Lodi Dodgers in five games.
Playoff bracket
| Divisional finals | Finals | ||||||||
| N1 | Lodi | bye | |||||||
| N1 | Lodi | 2 | |||||||
| S1 | Visalia | 3 | |||||||
| S1 | Visalia | bye | |||||||
Awards
| California League awards | |
|---|---|
| Award name | Recipient |
| Most Valuable Player | Steve Douglas, Visalia Oaks |