The San Jose JoSox represented a short but transitional chapter in the city’s professional baseball history. The unaffiliated club competed in the California League for two seasons, 1956 and 1957, following the end of its affiliation with the Boston Red Sox system. After dropping the Red Sox connection, the franchise adopted the “JoSox” name before shifting affiliations again and eventually leaving town.
Former Brooklyn Dodger and Phillies player, Dick Whitman, managed and played for the JoSox both years of their existence. Whitman hit .391 in 1956 and .324 in 1957.
1956: A Winning Debut
The JoSox opened their brief run with their strongest season, finishing third with a 79–61 record. The team drew 41,176 fans (588 per game average) to Municipal Stadium. Player-Manager Sick Whitman was named the 1956 California League MVP.
The 79 victories marked the franchise’s high-water mark under the JoSox name and stand as the most wins in a single season during this two-year stretch.
1957: Step Back
The following year brought regression as Whitmean led the team to a disappointing 67–68 record. The club slipped below .500 and drew fewer fans (36,003), signaling instability both on the field and at the gate.
Transition and Departure
After the 1957 season, the franchise affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates and rebranded as the San Jose Pirates in 1958. That arrangement proved short-lived. On May 26, 1958, the team relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where it became the Las Vegas Wranglers.
San Jose lost affiliated baseball after the 1958 departure. The city went without a California League club until 1962, when the San Jose Bees arrived and began a far more stable and influential era at Municipal Stadium.