Channel Cities Oilers
Encyclopedia
The Channel Cities Oilers were a California League
baseball team that played from 1954 to 1955. They were based in Ventura, California
, USA and Santa Barbara, California
. They played their home games at Laguna Park and Babe Ruth Field
.
Notable players include Chuck Essegian
, Al Gionfriddo
, Dario Lodigiani
(who managed the team in 1954) and Dave Melton
. They moved to Reno, Nevada
to become the Reno Silver Sox
partway through the 1955 season.
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
baseball team that played from 1954 to 1955. They were based in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, USA and Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. They played their home games at Laguna Park and Babe Ruth Field
Babe Ruth Field
Babe Ruth Field is a ballpark in Ventura, California, USA. Named after baseball player Babe Ruth, it was located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and was used as a minor-league park from 1948 to 1955. Tenants include the Ventura Yankees, Ventura Braves and Channel Cities Oilers....
.
Notable players include Chuck Essegian
Chuck Essegian
Charles Abraham Essegian, Jr. is a former backup outfielder who played from through in Major League Baseball. Listed at 5' 11", 200 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
, Al Gionfriddo
Al Gionfriddo
Albert Francis "Al" Gionfriddo was a slightly built 5' 6" and 165 lb. professional baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed. He made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Dario Lodigiani
Dario Lodigiani
Dario Antonio Lodigiani [Lodi] was an infielder in Major League Baseball who played for two different teams between 1938 and 1946. Listed at 5'8", 150 lb., he batted and threw right-handed...
(who managed the team in 1954) and Dave Melton
Dave Melton
David Olin Melton was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Kansas City Athletics of Major League Baseball during the and seasons. Melton threw and batted right-handed, stood tall and weighed ....
. They moved to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
to become the Reno Silver Sox
Reno Silver Sox
The Reno Silver Sox were a professional baseball team based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. They were a member of the North Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
partway through the 1955 season.