Chico has always been associated with offering metropolitan pleasantries within a small town environment. Aside from the educational opportunities that Chico State University provides, the city also maintains a voracious appetite for entertainment. What better way to prepare for the impending summer than to revel in the virtual baseball bonanza being brought to us courtesy of the newly established Golden Baseball League. Yes, professional baseball has once again found its way into the hearts (not to mention political agendas) of Chico’s denizens, and before the season gets under way, we should probably take a look at the ebbs and flows of our newest source of unabashed adoration, the Chico Outlaws.

From 1997 to 2002, the Chico Heat occupied Nettleton Stadium, the modestly sized baseball Mecca located just adjacent to Chico State’s campus. And while the Heat’s popularity soared with local fans of baseball, the team was forced to dissolve thanks to financial problems, leaving fans a provincial void. However, just when hope seemed to be lost, and when it looked as if Chico’s professional baseball aspirations were the most doomed, Cleveland native David Kaval materialized his dream of forming a new independent baseball league in the Western states. Dubbed the Golden Baseball League, Kaval established a system wherein two divisions will be implemented: The California Division (teams from Chico, Fullerton, Long Beach and San Diego) and the Arizona Division (teams from Yuma, Mesa and Surprise), with up to three more teams being established before the opening games in roughly two months.

This is the part that is undeniable: there is a new baseball team! Rejoice! Please? Yet, the story continues that with all great majesties come new tribulations. In the case of the Outlaws, the problem is written all over their jerseys. Late last year, each team included in the GBL was to conduct a “Name the Team” contest, voted on by the public. Usually, in independent leagues, there isn’t really a horrible decision when it comes to monikers; simply pick something that truly associates the area where the team is from to the name of the team. Finalists in Chico’s contest were the Generals, Shakers, Colts, Slammin' Almonds, Hops, Chinooks, Fury, Diamonds and Blues; all names that hearken fondness towards our ripe valley and culture. Still, it was the final decision of the “Outlaws” that concurrently prevailed and mortified supporters of the team. Where the Chico “Hops” would have connoted the areas affiliation with the Sierra Nevada Brewery, and the Chico “Slammin’ Almonds” would have related our local almond orchards to baseball, some were concerned over the winning name implying that Chico is full of crime and mischief, hardly something you would want associated with baseball in this day and age (see: Jose Canseco’s new book, "Juiced," for further input). Scores of protests and hearings emerged as a result of the team’s new name, but ultimately proved fruitless.

I’m fairly sure that despite insistences of deviousness on the part of those who made the final case for naming the team what has essentially become a hokey and antiquated character, the Outlaw provides a slight sense of psychological advantage over opposing teams. But relax, there won’t be any real outlaws gracing the lineup of this fabled club. In fact, the GBL has applied an Olympic-style drug policy to its rules. It’s no secret that Major League Baseball has come under fire in recent years for its relatively lax regulations, or for that matter its general lack of attention to the advent of steroid use and muscle-enhancement drugs. The policy for GBL players is cut and dry; if they are tested and results come back positive, they will immediately be expelled from league play permanently. Players will be tested for drug use during spring training, as well as two times randomly during the season. The policy strengthens not only the integrity of the league, but also heeds warnings to those who may have more than a fleeting idolization with the Jason Giambi’s and Gary Sheffield’s of the world.

Possibly the most notable zenith in the success of the team is the recent hiring of the team’s manager, former MLB catcher and Anderson High School graduate Mark Parent. Parent, whose major league duties brought him to play with seven different teams during a thirteen-year career, decided after his retirement to give coaching a try. His efforts yielded him the position of head coach for the Lancaster Jethawks, a single A affiliate with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Parent led his team to an 89-51 record and a spot in the playoffs before losing 3 games to 2 in a best of five series with San Bernadino. Parent’s local celebrity status has sparked even more intensity into this already dizzying set of circumstances for Chico’s new team. We can only hope that this spark will continue to light a fire for the success of the Outlaw’s and for the city of Chico. Let’s forget about the triviality of a name and play ball!

For further information on Chico Outlaws baseball, check out
Chico Outlaws.