Franchise History
The 66ers began when the Salinas Spurs moved to San Bernardino and bought the name of the San Bernardino Spirit from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes who had just left town. The team was bought by Elmore Sports Group soon afterwards. The team originally played at Fiscalini Field until 1996 when the team moved to San Bernardino Stadium, nicknamed "The Ranch" in concert with the team's new name, the San Bernardino Stampede.
Later, the stadium was re-christened San Manuel Stadium sponsored by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians with their casino.
The team name was later changed to the team's current name, the Inland Empire 66ers, taken from the historic U. S. Route 66 that ran through San Bernardino. The other US highway routes 6, 60, 70, 91, 99 and 395 were known to criss-crossed San Bernardino and nearby Riverside, California.
In September 2006, the 66ers announced that it was renewing its affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning in the 2007 season. That affiliation would last through the end of the 2010 season.
In September 2010, the 66ers announced they have agreed to a two year affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to be the MLB club's minor league "High A" ball affiliate.
The team was once unique for having a National Public Radio affiliate, KVCR-FM, as the station that broadcast its games on radio. However, in 2008 the team changed its station to commercial talk station KCAA.
Read more about this topic: Inland Empire 66ers Of San Bernardino
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