Sonoma County Crushers

Sonoma County Crushers
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesIndependent
LeagueWestern Baseball League
Minor league titles
League titles 1 (1998)
Team data
ColorsPurple, Cardinal, Black, White
       
Previous parks
Rohnert Park Stadium

The Sonoma County Crushers were a minor league baseball team located in Rohnert Park, California. They were a member of the independent Western Baseball League, and were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team.[1]

The team was one of the founding members of the league, beginning play in 1995. They won the WBL championship in 1998.[1] The team folded with the league after the 2002 season; they were the only team to participate in all eight seasons of the WBL.[2] At one point, former San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Mitchell managed the Crushers.[3]

The team played in Rohnert Park Stadium, which was built in 1981 for the California League's now-defunct Redwood Pioneers. The stadium was demolished in 2005, three years after the Crushers' final season.[4]

The Crushers embraced the local wine industry in multiple ways. The stadium's home run fence included a 16 foot (4.9 m) wall in left field, covered in local wine advertisements, which was called the Wine Sign or the Grape Monster (a play on Fenway Park's Green Monster). The team also sold wine bottles at the stadium, autographed by the players. The team mascot was Crusher, the Abominable Sonoman, with large purple feet for stomping grapes, in reference to the surrounding Wine Country region.[2]

Like many independent minor league teams, the Crushers relied on a mix of young players hoping to get recognized by pro teams and older players sticking around after playing in higher leagues.[1] Cuban defectors joined the Crushers to showcase their skills.[5] The most notable professional baseball player to develop with the Crushers is Chad Zerbe, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants from 2000–2003, including three appearances and a win in the 2002 World Series against the Anaheim Angels.[6]

Season-by-season results

Sonoma County Crushers
Season League Division Overall Win % Finish Manager Playoffs
1995 WBL South 44–46 .489 3rd Paul Deese Did not qualify
1996 WBL South 34–56 .378 4th Dick Dietz Did not qualify
1997 WBL South 56–34 .622 1st Dick Dietz Lost in playoffs vs. Chico 1–2
1998 WBL South 49–41 .544 2nd Dick Dietz Won in playoffs vs. Chico 3–0
League Champions vs. Western 3–0
1999 WBL — 41–49 .456 3rd Dick Dietz Did not qualify
2000 WBL South 38–52 .422 3rd Jeffrey Leonard Did not qualify
2001 WBL North 48–42 .533 3rd Tim Ireland Did not qualify
2002 WBL North 49–41 .544 2nd Kevin Mitchell Lost in playoffs vs. Chico 1–3
Totals 359–361 .499 — — 8–5

Notable players

References

  1. ^ a b c English, Bill (May 20, 1999). "Sonoma County Crushers set to defend WBL championship". Sonoma County Independent. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Boone, Virginie (June 21, 2023). "The Wine Sign in Left Field". Sonoma County Winegrowers. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  3. ^ Associated Press (September 17, 2010). "Former Giants, Crushers star Mitchell to stand trial in assault case". The Press Democrat. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  4. ^ Mason, Clark (October 19, 2005). "Stadium where future stars honed their skills being leveled to make way for shopping center". The Press Democrat. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  5. ^ "Sonoma County Baseball Team Signs Defectors". Lodi News-Sentinel. Associated Press. July 12, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  6. ^ "Sonoma County Crushers". Fun While It Lasted. October 9, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
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