Chico Outlaws
Encyclopedia
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California
, in the United States
. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League
, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball
or Minor League Baseball
. From the 2005 season to the present, the Outlaws have played their home games at Nettleton Stadium
, on the campus of Chico State University.
The Outlaws are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment (DSE). DSE CEO is Kevin Outcalt. The general manager and president is Mike Marshall, former Dodger World Series Hero and 12-year experienced minor league manager and front office executive. Marshall will also serve as field manager for the 2011 season.
were forced to cease operations due to the folding of the Western Baseball League
and not being able to find a new league to join. After the formation of the Golden Baseball League
in 2004, Chico was granted one of the eight original charter teams in the league along with the Fullerton Flyers
, Long Beach Armada
and San Diego Surf Dawgs
in California; Mesa Miners
, Surprise Fightin' Falcons
and Yuma Scorpions
in Arizona and a traveling team the Japan Samurai Bears
. The Outlaws, Flyers and Scorpions are the remaining charter teams still active in the league today. Chico, Long Beach and Yuma were former WBL cities. Former Heat minority owner and Western League president Bob Linscheid was the team's first president and general manager. He served those positions from 2004 to 2008.
They opened their inaugural season on May 27, 2005, against the Flyers at Nettleton Stadium, bringing professional baseball back to Chico for the first time since the Chico Heat's 2002 championship campaign with the Western League. They won that inaugural ball game 9-4. Their first manager was former Major League Baseball
catcher Mark Parent
, a native of Cottonwood, California
. Linscheid was named the league's first-ever "Executive of the Year".
Continuing the winning tradition in Chico, the Outlaws made the playoffs the first year but lost in the early rounds. In 2006 they were on the verge of winning the second half that would have put them in the Championship Series versus the Fullerton Flyers, but in an epic collapse they lost a 6 game lead with 10 games to play as they were beaten in 7 of their last 8 games by the Reno Silver Sox. The Silver Sox went on to win the 2006 GBL Championship defeating the Flyers 3 games to 1. It would take three years, but the Outlaws made it to their first GBL Championship Series in 2007 and beat the Long Beach Armada in four games, 3-1, to bring Chico their first professional championship since 2002. After winning the championship, Parent stepped down as manager and handed the reins over to former Heat player and Outlaws coach Jon Macalutas. The Outlaws lead the average attendance in the league with over 2,000 fans in 2008. On November 12, 2008, Macalutas realized that the job was not a good fit for him and resigned as manager of the Outlaws after his team went 34-51. In 2009, the Outlaws named former major league pitcher Greg Cadaret
their manager but he failed to last the season and was fired midway through for his inability to be successful with his players on and off the field. Hitting coach Kory DeHaan
took over and the team responded well with a much better record under DeHaan and improved 10 games over their dismal 2008 season. DeHaan was asked to return in 2010, but the San Diego Padres took note of his managing success in Chico and offered him a coaching job in their organization in his hometown of Phoenix.
On January 13, 2010, the Outlaws officially named former Major Leaguer and former Flyers and Armada manager Garry Templeton
as their new manager. He led the team to their best ever record as the squad won the South Division First Half title with a mark of 33-12. They went on to sweep defending Champion Calgary in the first round of the playoffs. They signed 18-year-old female Japan
ese knuckleball
pitcher
Eri Yoshida
, the first woman to play pro baseball in Japan, on April 9, 2010, to play the 2010 season. She is the first female pro baseball player in the United States in ten years. On June 24, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was on-hand and after Yoshida's start presented her with a plaque and collected her jersey and bat for inclusion in Cooperstown.
in 2010 and will begin play in 2011.
As of October 6,2011. Outlaws VP/GM Mike Marshall told the local Chico newspaper he was laid off and the office closed. Meanwhile, the team, which is owned by the North America League, has no lease next season for Nettleton Stadium -- and with no one working in the closed office, there are no sales efforts underway for 2012.
were all ejected for the altercation. The Outlaws would win the game 6-4.
On August 30, 2008, Linscheid was honored in a post-game ceremony for his hard work in helping to bring professional baseball to Chico in 1996 and for the many years afterward. The jersey #1 (which has never been worn by a player from either the Chico Heat or Chico Outlaws) was retired at Nettleton Stadium in his honor.
Linscheid says the league is looking to expand and they plan on using the Outlaws as a model franchise.
on July 3, 2009, when 5,037 fans packed the ballpark, including an unprecedented 400 seated inside along both the first base and third base lines next the dugouts. This shatters previous records held by the Chico Heat and the Outlaws. The Outlaws won the game, 8-5.
was the 2007 GBL Most Valuable Player and had his contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox. On June 12, 2010 against the Philadelphia Phillies he was the first Chico Outlaw to make it to the Major Leagues and responded by becoming only the fourth player in major league history in hit a grand slam in his first at bat as he went deep to centerfield on the first pitch thrown to him.
, a 5 foot, 1 inch female knuckleball
pitcher from Japan, pitched for the Outlaws.
to win the GBL North Division Title, then sweep Na Koa Ikaika Maui to capture their second GBL Championship in 2010, becoming the first team in league history to accomplish that feat, as well as going undefeated in the playoffs.
of Major League Soccer
. Kevin Outcalt, the league's commissioner, will assume Kaval's duties. Kaval will remain on board as chairman of the GBL Board of Directors. Team president Mike Marshall indicated that the team will return for the 2011 season.
* The #1 jersey was never worn by any player from either the Chico Heat or Chico Outlaws.
/1340 AM from 2005 to 2008 with Rory Miller on the call. Due to declining advertising interest in radio, the games were made available live on the internet at the team's website.
Broadcasts of the Outlaws games were moved from the radio to the internet full-time courtesy of VistaNet in 2009, with Joe Rauschenberger announced as the new play-by-play commentator. He was later replaced by Scott Navarro and Levi Funderburk close to the end of the season.
On March 26, 2010, Dan Hawkins was named as the "Voice of the Outlaws" and will bring Outlaws baseball live on the internet at www.chicooutlaws.com.
The Chico Outlaws have one of the few female public address announcers in professional baseball, Shelly Rogers; 2011 is her fourth season with the Outlaws.
For the 2011 season, Marshall Kelner, a graduate of the University of Southern California, was named broadcaster and brings play by play action online at www.chicooutlaws.com.
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
or Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. From the 2005 season to the present, the Outlaws have played their home games at Nettleton Stadium
Nettleton Stadium
Nettleton Stadium is a baseball stadium in Chico, California on the campus of California State University, Chico. It is the home field for the CSU Chico Baseball team, the Wildcats, and the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden League. It holds 4,200 people. The stadium was named for majority...
, on the campus of Chico State University.
The Outlaws are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment (DSE). DSE CEO is Kevin Outcalt. The general manager and president is Mike Marshall, former Dodger World Series Hero and 12-year experienced minor league manager and front office executive. Marshall will also serve as field manager for the 2011 season.
Golden Baseball League (2005-2010)
The Outlaws began play in May 2005, three years after their predecessors, the Chico HeatChico Heat
The Chico Heat were a professional independent baseball team operating in Chico, California in the Western Baseball League. They had no operating agreement with any Major League Baseball team. They were created by Chico Heat Professional Baseball LLC, with former supermarket entrepreneur Steve...
were forced to cease operations due to the folding of the Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
and not being able to find a new league to join. After the formation of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
in 2004, Chico was granted one of the eight original charter teams in the league along with the Fullerton Flyers
Fullerton Flyers
The Fullerton Flyers are a professional baseball team based in Fullerton, California, in the United States. They are an independent franchise which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
, Long Beach Armada
Long Beach Armada
The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
and San Diego Surf Dawgs
San Diego Surf Dawgs
The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,...
in California; Mesa Miners
Mesa Miners
The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League in 2005...
, Surprise Fightin' Falcons
Surprise Fightin' Falcons
The Surprise Fightin' Falcons are an inactive professional baseball team based in Surprise, Arizona. They played in the Arizona Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
and Yuma Scorpions
Yuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
in Arizona and a traveling team the Japan Samurai Bears
Japan Samurai Bears
The Japan Samurai Bears are a defunct traveling professional baseball team that played in the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. They were based in the Arizona Division...
. The Outlaws, Flyers and Scorpions are the remaining charter teams still active in the league today. Chico, Long Beach and Yuma were former WBL cities. Former Heat minority owner and Western League president Bob Linscheid was the team's first president and general manager. He served those positions from 2004 to 2008.
They opened their inaugural season on May 27, 2005, against the Flyers at Nettleton Stadium, bringing professional baseball back to Chico for the first time since the Chico Heat's 2002 championship campaign with the Western League. They won that inaugural ball game 9-4. Their first manager was former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher Mark Parent
Mark Parent (baseball player)
Mark Alan Parent was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1986 to 1998 and is currently the Chicago White Sox bench coach...
, a native of Cottonwood, California
Cottonwood, California
Cottonwood is a census-designated place in Shasta County, California, United States. The population was 3,316 at the 2010 census, up from 2,960 at the 2000 census. Cottonwood is a stagecoach town founded in 1882. Cottonwood is equidistant between Redding and Red Bluff , in both directions...
. Linscheid was named the league's first-ever "Executive of the Year".
Continuing the winning tradition in Chico, the Outlaws made the playoffs the first year but lost in the early rounds. In 2006 they were on the verge of winning the second half that would have put them in the Championship Series versus the Fullerton Flyers, but in an epic collapse they lost a 6 game lead with 10 games to play as they were beaten in 7 of their last 8 games by the Reno Silver Sox. The Silver Sox went on to win the 2006 GBL Championship defeating the Flyers 3 games to 1. It would take three years, but the Outlaws made it to their first GBL Championship Series in 2007 and beat the Long Beach Armada in four games, 3-1, to bring Chico their first professional championship since 2002. After winning the championship, Parent stepped down as manager and handed the reins over to former Heat player and Outlaws coach Jon Macalutas. The Outlaws lead the average attendance in the league with over 2,000 fans in 2008. On November 12, 2008, Macalutas realized that the job was not a good fit for him and resigned as manager of the Outlaws after his team went 34-51. In 2009, the Outlaws named former major league pitcher Greg Cadaret
Greg Cadaret
Gregory James Cadaret is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from - and -....
their manager but he failed to last the season and was fired midway through for his inability to be successful with his players on and off the field. Hitting coach Kory DeHaan
Kory DeHaan
Korwin Jay "Kory" DeHaan was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He is an alumnus of Morningside College....
took over and the team responded well with a much better record under DeHaan and improved 10 games over their dismal 2008 season. DeHaan was asked to return in 2010, but the San Diego Padres took note of his managing success in Chico and offered him a coaching job in their organization in his hometown of Phoenix.
On January 13, 2010, the Outlaws officially named former Major Leaguer and former Flyers and Armada manager Garry Templeton
Garry Templeton
Garry Lewis Templeton, nicknamed "Jumpsteady", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets from 1976 to 1991...
as their new manager. He led the team to their best ever record as the squad won the South Division First Half title with a mark of 33-12. They went on to sweep defending Champion Calgary in the first round of the playoffs. They signed 18-year-old female Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Eri Yoshida
Eri Yoshida
is a high-school student at Kawasaki-kita Senior High School in Kawasaki, who at the age of 16 became the first female drafted by a Japanese professional baseball team, Kobe 9 Cruise of Kansai Independent Baseball League, to play alongside male teammates....
, the first woman to play pro baseball in Japan, on April 9, 2010, to play the 2010 season. She is the first female pro baseball player in the United States in ten years. On June 24, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was on-hand and after Yoshida's start presented her with a plaque and collected her jersey and bat for inclusion in Cooperstown.
North American League (2011-present)
The Outlaws were one of six former GBL teams to join the newly-formed North American LeagueNorth American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
in 2010 and will begin play in 2011.
As of October 6,2011. Outlaws VP/GM Mike Marshall told the local Chico newspaper he was laid off and the office closed. Meanwhile, the team, which is owned by the North America League, has no lease next season for Nettleton Stadium -- and with no one working in the closed office, there are no sales efforts underway for 2012.
The 2007 Brawl
On July 4, 2007, the Outlaws and Reno Silver Sox were involved in a huge brawl that would be considered one of the most talked about events in GBL history. After Outlaws pitcher Nick Singleton gave up a Juan Sanreso 2-run home run, he plunked the next Sox batter and words were exchanged. Next, Outlaws batter Ricky Bambino was struck by Sox pitcher Dusty Bergman in apparent retaliation. More words were then exchanged, Bambino charged the mound, and the brawl was on. After about a one-minute fight, order was restored. Bambino, Bergman and Silver Sox manager Les LancasterLes Lancaster
Lester Lancaster , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987–1993 and is currently the manager of the Sioux City Explorers....
were all ejected for the altercation. The Outlaws would win the game 6-4.
Management Changes
On August 27, 2008, Bob Linscheid announced that he was stepping down as president and chairman of the board of the Outlaws to pursue other interests. He will remain a priority shareholder for the league. Curt Jacey took over operations following the end of the 2008 season while remaining as the team's now-fulltime general manager, having left his GM post with the Reno Silver Sox.On August 30, 2008, Linscheid was honored in a post-game ceremony for his hard work in helping to bring professional baseball to Chico in 1996 and for the many years afterward. The jersey #1 (which has never been worn by a player from either the Chico Heat or Chico Outlaws) was retired at Nettleton Stadium in his honor.
Linscheid says the league is looking to expand and they plan on using the Outlaws as a model franchise.
Record-breaking attendance
Though the Outlaws have averaged around 2,500 to 3,000 fans in attendance over their five-year existence, they made history by setting a new all-time attendance record at Nettleton Stadium against the Edmonton CapitalsEdmonton Capitals
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was...
on July 3, 2009, when 5,037 fans packed the ballpark, including an unprecedented 400 seated inside along both the first base and third base lines next the dugouts. This shatters previous records held by the Chico Heat and the Outlaws. The Outlaws won the game, 8-5.
Daniel Nava
Chico Outfielder Daniel NavaDaniel Nava
Daniel James Nava is a professional baseball outfielder in the Boston Red Sox organization. He plays for the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League....
was the 2007 GBL Most Valuable Player and had his contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox. On June 12, 2010 against the Philadelphia Phillies he was the first Chico Outlaw to make it to the Major Leagues and responded by becoming only the fourth player in major league history in hit a grand slam in his first at bat as he went deep to centerfield on the first pitch thrown to him.
Outlaws Acquired By Major League Teams
- RHP Grant Gregg, Cubs (2005)
- LHP Alex Perez, Cubs (2005)
- 3b/C Craig Kuzmic, Blue Jays (2006)
- OF Daniel Nava, Red Sox (2007)
- OF Steve Boggs, White Sox (2007)
- RHP Chris Malone, Rockies (2008)
- RHP Jesse Oster, Phillies (2008)
- LHP Derrick Loop, Red Sox (2008)
- OF Lino Garcia, Rockies (2008)
- INF/OF Todd Gossage, White Sox (2009)
- OF Steve Boggs, Royals (2009)
- LHP Donald Brandt, Brewers (2009)
Female pitcher
On June 1, 2010, Eri YoshidaEri Yoshida
is a high-school student at Kawasaki-kita Senior High School in Kawasaki, who at the age of 16 became the first female drafted by a Japanese professional baseball team, Kobe 9 Cruise of Kansai Independent Baseball League, to play alongside male teammates....
, a 5 foot, 1 inch female knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
pitcher from Japan, pitched for the Outlaws.
GBL's first 2-time champions
The Outlaws made history and defied the odds to sweep the Calgary VipersCalgary Vipers
The Calgary Vipers were a professional baseball team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were part of the Western Division of the independent North American League. The Vipers have played all of their home games at Foothills Stadium. Previously, the Vipers played in the Northern League from...
to win the GBL North Division Title, then sweep Na Koa Ikaika Maui to capture their second GBL Championship in 2010, becoming the first team in league history to accomplish that feat, as well as going undefeated in the playoffs.
Kaval leaves Outlaws and GBL for MLS
David 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 EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Kevin Outcalt, the league's commissioner, will assume Kaval's duties. Kaval will remain on board as chairman of the GBL Board of Directors. Team president Mike Marshall indicated that the team will return for the 2011 season.
Season-by-season records
| Season | W | L | Win % | Place | Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 49 | 41 | .544 | 2nd, California Division | Wild Card, Eliminated in playoffs |
| 2006 | 46 | 34 | .575 | 2nd/2nd | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 44 (25/19) | 32 (13/19) | .579 | 1st/3rd | Qualified. Defeated Long Beach in the Championship Series. |
| 2008 | 34 (15/19) | 51 (26/25) | .400 | 4th/3rd, North Division | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 33 (20/13) | 44 (23/21) | .429 | 3rd/3rd, North Division | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 55 (33/22) | 30 (12/18) | .647 | 1st/2nd, North Division | Qualified. Defeated Maui in the Championship Series. |
Retired numbers
| Chico Outlaws retired numbers | |
| No. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Linscheid |
Outlaws Broadcasting
All Outlaws games were originally heard on NewsTalk 1290 KPAY and ESPN Radio 101.7 FMKCKS
KNCK-FM is a Hot Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Concordia, Kansas, and serving the communities of Concordia, Belleville, Minneapolis, and Beloit, Kansas, as well as North Central Kansas and South Central Nebraska...
/1340 AM from 2005 to 2008 with Rory Miller on the call. Due to declining advertising interest in radio, the games were made available live on the internet at the team's website.
Broadcasts of the Outlaws games were moved from the radio to the internet full-time courtesy of VistaNet in 2009, with Joe Rauschenberger announced as the new play-by-play commentator. He was later replaced by Scott Navarro and Levi Funderburk close to the end of the season.
On March 26, 2010, Dan Hawkins was named as the "Voice of the Outlaws" and will bring Outlaws baseball live on the internet at www.chicooutlaws.com.
The Chico Outlaws have one of the few female public address announcers in professional baseball, Shelly Rogers; 2011 is her fourth season with the Outlaws.
For the 2011 season, Marshall Kelner, a graduate of the University of Southern California, was named broadcaster and brings play by play action online at www.chicooutlaws.com.