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On March 15, 2020 Baseball Buzz LLC sold the Pacifics to the Pecos League on the terms that the Pacifics would play in the Pecos League not the Pacific Association.
The Pacifics joined the Pacific Division of the Pecos League along with Martinez, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Bakersfield and Wasco for the 2020 season.
In 2013 the Pacifics were founding members of the Pacific Association and played in the Pacific Association until the 2019 season.
The Pacifics won the championship in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019.
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Many players have resigned affliated contracts, Chris Mazza pitched for the Pacifics in 2018 and pitched in the Major Leagues in 2019 with the New York Mets.
Mazza was claimed by the Boston Red Sox off waivers from the New York Mets on December 20, 2019.
Mazza, a right-handed pitcher drafted out of Menlo College (Menlo Park) by Minnesota in the 27th round of the 2011 draft, finally made his major league debut with the Mets in 2019 at the age of 30. He appeared in nine games as a reliever and even got to face off against the Giants at Oracle Park on July 19.
For the season, he posted a 1-1 mark with a 5.51 earned-run average. However, in his last three outings – totaling 4.2 innings – he did not allow a hit or run. In nine minor-league seasons, the 6-4, 180-pounder was 26-26 with a 3.21 ERA in 157 appearances, 64 as a starter.
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Pecos League buys San Rafael Pacifics from Buzz Baseball
Last year, a major fallout between the Pacific Association and the San Rafael Pacifics — the two-time defending champion and founding member of the league — left questions about whether professional baseball would return to Marin in 2020.
But the Pecos League finally provided an answer on Friday, purchasing the Pacifics from former owner Gabe Suarez in a deal that promises to bring independent ball to Albert Park beginning May 28.
“We think it’ll be an upgrade for the Pecos League, no doubt,” commissioner Andrew Dunn said. “San Rafael is the premier team in the Pacific Association and the premier team in the state of California as far as independent ball. They’ve been the gem of that Pacific Association forever.”
Suarez, who will stay with the Pacifics as a consultant, is still looking to remodel Albert Park. If Suarez is successful in renovating the field, he reserves the right to retake ownership of the team.
“If that project goes forward,” Dunn said, “they can buy the team back for the terms and conditions which they had.”
For now, though, the Pacifics join the nearby Martinez Sturgeon as newcomers to the Pecos League’s Pacific Division, which features six squads from California. The Pacific Division champion will face the winner of the eight-team Mountain Division in a championship series during the second week of August.
“A lot of people reached out to us saying, ‘Oh my god, (San Rafael) is beautiful,'” said Dunn. “They’re going to come out there, they’re going to visit it. We just want to stop talking about the coronavirus and start talking about baseball.”
Steve Detwiler, a Fresno State baseball star and current San Rafael High coach who hit the first home run in Pacifics’ history back in 2012, actually started his independent ball career in the Pecos League with the Las Cruces Vaqueros. There were only a few other teams at the time, but it has since expanded, even becoming the subject of a six-episode reality TV series.
“It’s blown up,” Detwiler said of the Pecos League. “You don’t get paid a ton, but it’s a lot of young guys who are a lot more invested because they’re just getting out of their collegiate careers.”
The Pecos League is unique in implementing rules that encourage young talent. All players on the 22-man roster must be born on or after Jan. 1, 1994, with the exception of three veterans.
“A lot of these kids think they’ve been overlooked,” Detwiler said. “There’s a lot of energy. Kids are really passionate. And it’s a lot less minor leaguers like the Pacifics had. It’s going to be a different kind of ball. It’s going to be faster-paced, a little more aggressive and a little more emotional.”
The Pacifics are expected to announce tryouts for local talent in the near future.
“What I hope that they do is go out and get some local guys,” Detwiler added. “It made it more interesting for the fans when you’re going out there and seeing familiar faces. I know there’s a lot of really good baseball players who come out of Marin and it’d be fun to see those guys, support those guys and maybe move onto the next level.”
At the conclusion of the 2018 season Redwood Sports sold the Pacifics to Buzz Baseball LLC lead by Gabe and Oscar Suarez.
Suarez won the Pacific Association Championship in 2019 and decided that he would no longer participate in the Pacific Association.
At end of 2018 Season original San Rafael Pacifics Ownership Group Puts Team up for sale
Oscar Suarez and Gabe Suarez of Buzz Baseball bought the team. The Suarez's operated the team for 2019 season in which they won the Pacific Association Championship.
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Marin baseball team makes history with new tech umpire
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Baseball history was made in Marin County, since it was the first time an automated umpire was used in a professional baseball game.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) -- Baseball history was made in Marin County Tuesday night, since it was the first time an automated umpire was used in a professional baseball game.
At this San Rafael Pacifics game, technology is making the call. Every strike, every ball is determined by video triangulation, thanks to the three cameras mounted around the baseball field.
"I don't see any reason why the 15-year veteran has a more lenient strike zone than the rookie. Now that's generally the case," former Oakland A's outfielder Eric Byrnes said.
Byrnes was the voice of Tuesday night's automated umpire and a big proponent of the technology. The margin of error is less than an inch.
"I think it will probably help just in order to sort of objectify the whole process of the game and make sure you're getting what you deserve," pitcher Michael Kershner said.
The strike zone is different for each batter. The system makes adjustments depending on the height of the player, but the computer's guidelines are simple. A strike is the area between the knees and two balls above the belt.
READ MORE: San Rafael minor league baseball team replacing human umpire with tech
San Rafael minor league baseball team to use automated umpire
On Tuesday night, a minor league baseball team in Marin County says it's making history by using technology to replace a human umpire.
As for the home plate umpire, he's still needed to make calls on close plays, so no one will be losing any jobs.
"Northern California, we're kind of the leader in technology, so this will be something that nobody has ever tried," Umpire Dean Poteet said.
Still, there are always the traditionalists, as is often the case in baseball.
"I don't like it because you can't yell at it. I like a real human being," Pacifics Fan William Newton said.
At this point, it's just an experiment, but supporters of the technology hope it will take off and eventually make its way to the majors.
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On July 28, 2015 the San Rafael Pacifics hosted the Vallejo Admirals using automated umpires via a camera.-
A video camera is shown mounted to a light standard in center field before the start of an independent minor league baseball game between the San Rafael Pacifics and Vallejo Admirals Tuesday, July 28, 2015, in San Rafael, Calif. On Tuesday night, the computer system will stand in for pitch calls in what is considered to be the first professional game without the umpire making those decisions.
These decisions were rendered by for major league outfielder Eric Brynes.
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The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs is an independent professional baseball league that is based in Northern California. Play began in 2013. The league is an outgrowth of a long history of independent baseball on the West Coast, beginning with the Golden State League (1995), the Western League (1995-2002), the Golden League (2004-2010) and the North American Baseball League (2011-2012).
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada that are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team.
These Former Major Leaguers played a game in the Pacific Association
Jose Canseco
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Bill Lee
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Sonoma Stompers-Jose Canseco
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San Rafael Pacifics-Bill Lee
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Vallejo Admirals-Brandon Phillips
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San Rafael Pacifics-Eric Brynes
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These are the teams of Pacific Association 2013-Current:
This is the history of the Pacific Association 2013-Current:
All Time Stats/Standings
2019 (San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers, Vallejo Admirals, Salina Stockade, Napa Silverads) San Rafael Pacifics Champions. Martinez folded after owner was caught running Ponzi Scheme. Pittsburg folded. Salina Stockade joined from the Pecos League as travel team.
2018 (San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers, Vallejo Admirals and Pittsburg Diamonds, Martinez Clippers, Napa Silverads) San Rafael Pacifics Champions. League Expanded to six teams.
2017 (San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers, Vallejo Admirals and Pittsburg Diamonds) Vallejo Admirals Champions. Teams remained the same.
2016 (San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers, Vallejo Admirals and Pittsburg Diamonds) Sonoma Stompers Champions. Teams remained the same.
2015 (San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers, Vallejo Admirals and Pittsburg Diamonds) San Rafael Pacifics Champions. Teams remained the same.
2014 (San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers, Vallejo Admirals and Pittsburg Mettle) San Rafael Pacifics Champions. The Pacific Association dropped the Hawaii Teams and the East Bay Lumberjacks and added the Sonoma Stompers and the Pittburg Mettle.
2013 (Hawaii Stars, Na Koa Ikaika Maui, Vallejo Admirals, San Rafael Pacifics, East Bay Lumberjacks) Na Koa Ikaika Maui League Champions.
The San Rafael Pacifics announced the creation of the new league that will consist of the teams from the old North American League North Division including the Sonoma County Grapes (a traveling team owned by the same group as the Pacifics), the Hawaii Stars, and the No Koa Ikaika Maui.
The two California teams will also play 24 interleague games with Arizona’s Freedom Pro League with both teams traveling to Arizona before hosting games in California as well.
The two teams from Hawaii will play interleague games as well. However, they will play games with the independent Baseball Challenge League of Japan.
Each team will play a 78 game schedule in 2013.
Former manager of the San Rafael Pacifics, and former Major-Leaguer, Mike Marshall was as the leagues new commissioner for a short time.
The League started off with semi pro games and was based in Hawaii from the North American League. Below are the teams that played.
Also included were games against the Freedom League in Arizona. The Freedom League went bankrupt and didn't travel to Northern California.
After the Pacific Association teams traveled to Arizona.
Season: Summer 2013
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The Pacifics choose Albert Park as their home and had for Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Championship Right Fielder Mike Marshall as their manager.
Marshall had just lead the Chico Outlaws to the championship in the North American League before the team disbanded.
Former San Francisco Giants Ace Mike LaCosse was the pitching Coach.
Shapiro was responsible for the team's early success.
