The
Sacramento River Cats is a
minor league baseballMinor 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 based in
SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The team plays in the
Pacific Coast LeagueThe Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(PCL) and is the Triple-A affiliate of
Major League Baseball'sMajor 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...
Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
The River Cats play at
Raley FieldRaley Field is the home of the Sacramento River Cats minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League. Raley Field was built on the site of old warehouses and railyards, in West Sacramento, California, USA across the Sacramento River from the California State Capitol.The privately financed...
, located in
West SacramentoWest Sacramento is a city in Yolo County, California. It is contiguous with Sacramento, but is separated by the Sacramento River which is also the county line, so West Sacramento is in a different county than Sacramento...
. The team began play in 1978 as the
Vancouver CanadiansThe Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
, and played their home games at
Nat Bailey StadiumScotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium is home to the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League and also plays host to the University of British Columbia baseball team.-Stadium history:...
until the 1999 season. Following that season, in which they won the
Triple-A World SeriesThe Triple-A World Series is an infrequently held contest featuring the champions of each Triple-A level minor league of Major League Baseball, with the intent of crowning an overall champion of Triple-A Baseball....
, the team was purchased by a group led by Art Savage and moved to Sacramento for the 2000 season. Savage was the majority owner of the team until his death on November 21, 2009 at age 58. His widow, Susan Savage, became majority owner upon her husband's death.
Sacramento has led all of minor league baseball in attendance during each of its first eight seasons at Raley Field. The team averaged approximately 10,000 fans per game during the 2007 regular season, for a total attendance figure of 710,235.
The PCL franchise in Sacramento for many years was the
Sacramento SolonsThe Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
, a charter member of the PCL which was founded in 1903. Three different versions of the Solons represented California's capital city in 1903, 1905, from 1909 through 1914, from 1918 through 1960, and from 1974 through 1976. Sacramento is the only charter city that still hosts a PCL team.
Attendance
Since the arrival of the River Cats at Raley Field, they have led all of Minor League Baseball in attendance during each of its first eight seasons. In 2007, the team drew 710,235 fans in 71 home games.
| Year | Total Attendance | Average |
| 2000 |
861,808 |
11,969 |
| 2001 |
901,214 |
12,516 |
| 2002 |
817,317 |
11,351 |
| 2003 |
766,326 |
10,643 |
| 2004 |
751,156 |
10,432 |
| 2005 |
755,750 |
10,496 |
| 2006 |
728,227 |
10,256 |
| 2007 |
710,235 |
10,003 |
| 2008 |
700,168 |
9,724 |
| 2009 |
657,095 |
9,126 |
| 2010 |
657,910 |
9,138 |
Playoff history
The River Cats won four consecutive Pacific Coast League Pacific South Division titles from 2000 through 2004, and back-to-back league championships in 2003 and 2004.
In 2007 they won the Pacific South Division and league championships again, and defeated the
Richmond BravesThe Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
in that year's
Bricktown ShowdownThe Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, previously known as the Bricktown Showdown, is a single championship game held annually between the league champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League Triple-A leagues of minor league baseball to determine an overall champion of...
on September 18 by a score of 7–1. The River Cats repeated as division, league, and class champions in 2008.
Notable former River Cats currently in the major leagues
This list does not include MLB players who were in Sacramento on a rehabilitation assignment while on the
disabled listIn Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
- Brett Anderson
Brett Franklin Anderson is a left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:He attended Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he was an all-state selection in 2006, his senior year....
- Andrew Bailey
Andrew Scott Bailey is an American baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. He is a native of Voorhees Township, New Jersey.-Baseball career:...
- John Baker
John David Baker is an American professional baseball catcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Personal:...
- Mark Bellhorn
Mark Christian Bellhorn is a Major League Baseball second baseman who is currently a free agent. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. He stands 6-1 and weighs 205 lbs.-Personal life:...
- Joe Blanton
Joseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
- Dallas Braden
Dallas Lee Braden is a left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted out of Texas Tech University in the twenty fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by the Athletics...
- Travis Buck
Travis George Buck is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
- Freddie Bynum
Freddie Lee Bynum Jr. is a shortstop playing in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He is known for his blazing speed and excellent defensive abilities which include the ability to field several different positions in the infield and outfield...
- Trevor Cahill
Trevor John Cahill is a right-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
- Santiago Casilla
Santiago Casilla is a right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.-Baseball career:...
- Bobby Crosby
Robert Edward Crosby is an infielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. The son of former major league infielder Ed Crosby, he bats and throws right-handed...
- Aaron Cunningham
Aaron Roe Ward Cunningham is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres.-Baseball career:Cunningham was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft...
- Jack Cust
John Joseph "Jack" Cust III is an American professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder who is a free agent. Cust attended Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey...
- Justin Duchscherer
Justin Craig Duchscherer [DUKE-shur] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early career:...
- Mark Ellis
Mark William Ellis is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He has played for the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies.-Early career:...
- Andre Ethier
Andre Everett Ethier , is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 2009, Ethier hit six walk off hits , which was the most by any player in the Major Leagues since 1974. His four walk-off home runs tied the Major League record for most in a season...
- Ron Flores
Ronald Joel Flores is a left-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 29th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft. He is the younger brother of Colorado Rockies pitcher, Randy Flores...
- Chad Gaudin
Chad Edward Gaudin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.-High school:Gaudin attended Crescent City Baptist High School in Metairie, Louisiana...
- Esteban German
Esteban Germán Guridi is a Dominican professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. Germán has played for the Kansas City Royals, the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers.-Major league baseball career :...
- Carlos González
Carlos Eduardo González is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.-Minor leagues:...
- Gio Gonzalez
Giovany A. Gonzalez is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:...
- Aaron Harang
Aaron Michael Harang is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Amateur career:Harang graduated from Patrick Henry High School then went on to San Diego State University...
- Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
- Ramón Hernández
Ramón José Hernández Marin is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays for the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , and Cincinnati Reds .-Career:Hernández is a career .263 hitter with 144 home runs, 651 RBI, and 455...
- Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
- Dan Johnson
- Brad Kilby
Brad Thomas Kilby is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He spent his college career at the San Jose State University. Kilby was selected by the Athletics in the twenty ninth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft...
- Ryan Ludwick
Ryan Andrew Ludwick is a Major League Baseball right fielder. His brother Eric played four seasons in Major League Baseball as a pitcher.-High school, college, and minor leagues:Ludwick attended Durango High School in Las Vegas, Nevada....
- Cliff Pennington
Clifton Randoulph Pennington is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Oakland Athletics.-Career:Pennington attended Texas A&M University. He played for the Texas A&M Aggies baseball team....
- Eric Sogard
Eric Sidney Sogard aka Harry Potter The Wizard of the Baseball Diamond is an infielder for the Oakland Athletics. From Arizona State University, Sogard was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 2nd Round of the 2007 amateur draft...
- Huston Street
Huston Lowell Street is an American baseball relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. His father is former University of Texas quarterback James Street, and his brother Juston Street is currently a pitcher for the minor league Vancouver Canadians....
- Kurt Suzuki
is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Oakland Athletics.-College career:Suzuki played at Cal State Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton captured the 2004 College World Series championship, thanks to Suzuki's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Titans a 3-2 win over the...
- Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
- Mark Teahen
Mark Thomas Teahen is an American-Canadian professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
- Brad Ziegler
Brad Gregory Ziegler is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Minor leagues:...
- Barry Zito
Barry Zito is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He previously played seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics, where he won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award and made three All-Star teams....
External links