Visalia Oaks
Encyclopedia
The Visalia Rawhide are a minor league baseball
team in Visalia, California
, U.S.
They are a Class A - Advanced team of the Arizona Diamondbacks
operating in the California League
and have recently agreed to renew their affiliation through 2012.
The Rawhide play their home games at Recreation Park
which opened in 1946 and seats approximately 2,700 fans. In 2009, the City of Visalia completed a multimillion dollar renovation and expansion of Recreation Ballpark supported by a 10 year lease with the ballclub, the longest lease in franchise history.
After two years of fan surveys, polls, focus groups, and direction by players, the team announced a name change to the Visalia Rawhide, representing one of the richest agricultural regions in the world and the top dairy-producing area in the country.
The Visalia Ballclub also keeps alive the tradition of Casey at the Bat and the Mudville Nine, even wearing the old-fashioned Mudville Nine uniforms once per season as part of a turn back the clock promotion.
, Colorado Rockies
, Oakland A's, Tampa Bay Rays
, and Arizona Diamondbacks
.
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...
team in Visalia, California
Visalia, California
Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
They are a Class A - Advanced team of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
operating in the California League
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...
and have recently agreed to renew their affiliation through 2012.
The Rawhide play their home games at Recreation Park
Recreation Park (Visalia)
Recreation Ballpark is a minor league baseball park in Visalia, California. With only 1,888 seats , it is the smallest professional ballpark in the United States. The ballpark is undergoing its most extensive renovation since its construction in 1946...
which opened in 1946 and seats approximately 2,700 fans. In 2009, the City of Visalia completed a multimillion dollar renovation and expansion of Recreation Ballpark supported by a 10 year lease with the ballclub, the longest lease in franchise history.
After two years of fan surveys, polls, focus groups, and direction by players, the team announced a name change to the Visalia Rawhide, representing one of the richest agricultural regions in the world and the top dairy-producing area in the country.
The Visalia Ballclub also keeps alive the tradition of Casey at the Bat and the Mudville Nine, even wearing the old-fashioned Mudville Nine uniforms once per season as part of a turn back the clock promotion.
Mascot
The Visalia Rawhide mascot is a Holstein Bull named Tipper. Tipper was introduced on October 15, 2008. Tipper represents the tens of thousands of Holsteins in Tulare County, the top dairy-producing area in the country. Tipper's home is a ballpark barn - a 40' x 20' red barn which is part of the outfield fence - doubles carom off the side of the barn, and home runs land on the roof, leading to a new twist on the old baseball adage "couldn't hit the broadside of the barn" which now represents weak hitters instead of wild pitchers. The traditional red barn is being built as a "community barn raising" to raise awareness for Habitat for Humanity and stand as an icon for the agricultural heritage of the valley.Major League Affiliates
The Rawhide has been affiliated with numerous Major League franchises. The most recent are the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Oakland A's, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, and Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Radio Broadcast
The Rawhide are heard terrestrially on KJUG AM 1270 and over the internet through their website in association with MILB.com.Pop Culture
As a minor league teams for the Oakland A's, the Visalia Oaks were mentioned twice during the 2011 movie Moneyball.Alumni
- Visalia Oaks
- Central Valley Rockies
- Visalia Mets
- Visalia Redlegs