The San Jose Prune Pickers were a minor league baseball team that played in various incarnations from 1895 to 1912. They played at Agricultural Park and Luna Park. The Prune Pickers participated in several leagues, including the California League and the Pacific Coast League.
Numerous big leaguers played for the Prune Pickers, notably Harry Krause, who won a world series with the Philadelphia Athletics and Frank Arellanes of the Boston Red Sox.
1898-1899 Prune Pickers
The Prune Pickers began play in 1898 as part of both the Pacific Coast League and the Pacific States League. Managed first by Joe McGuckin (18-23). In 1899 the team competed in the California League and was managed by George Borchers (23-28). The team played at Agricultural Park in San Jose, now the area of Race St. and The Alameda.
1903-1910 Prune Pickers
The team was resurrected in 1903 and competed in the California State League. Managed by Michael Steffani, the new edition Pickers seemed to have a little better luck with a winning season going 18-14 with a third place finish. During their first few seasons the Pickers called Cycler’s Park home. In 1909 and 1910 the Pickers also played at Luna Park, San Jose’s first theme park.
During the next seven seasons the Pickers finished third place or higher, until 1909 when the team went 34-55.
San Jose native Frank Arellanes came up with the Pickers and spent three seasons with the Red Sox (1908-1910). Another veteran Picker who went on to the bigs was Harry Krause (St. Mary’s College), who won a World Series with the 1911 Philadelphia Athletics.
The Prune Pickers all-time homerun leader is Edward Reid, with 2 homeruns.