Citrus Little League: League History and Mission
Our League...From Yesterday to Today......
Since it’s foundation in 1939, Little League baseball has been steeped in talent and history. As our city celebrates its 31st anniversary in 2009, we look back at our 54 years as a league.
Cucamonga District Youth Baseball started in 1956 as Cucamonga District Little League, with four teams taking in 60 boys. The original teams included the Cinco de Mayos, Royals, Junior Merchants and Shamrocks.
The league started with the cooperation of the Cucamonga Service Club and President Herb Vaughan, with the club doing the initial developing of Hellman Park.
In 1957 the league expanded to six teams as the 7-Ups and Lions were formed. In the meantime, Citrus Electric sponsored the initial Shamrocks, changing their nickname to the Sparks.
In 1958, youth from Etiwanda were incorporated into the program.
1960 saw the formation of the Cucamonga District Youth Association. The aim of the association was to coordinate all the activities, especially fundraising.
Cucamonga District (Alta Loma, Cucamonga, Etiwanda, and Guasti) Youth baseball expanded from the 60 boys in 1956 to 330 youngsters in 22 teams in 1961.
The 1960’s allowed much growth for the Cucamonga Citrus League and featured the on field talents of Gordon Fingers and his brother Rollie (1992 MLB Hall of Fame Inductee), not to mention Nick Leyva (Phillies Manager, 1989-1991) and of course our own John Rose. Young John also made his coaching debut in 1965 for Doug’s Western Metal team.
The field was dedicated in 1977 to John and Doug’s father Lou Rose for his commitment to and support for building a community around this baseball program. The fields were rededicated and renamed “Rose Fields” at the closing ceremonies for the 2007 season.
The field itself has changed a lot over the years with the addition of enclosed dugouts in 1971, which were later replaced, the construction of the snack bar building in 1970, and the addition of the Juniors field in 1978. And of course we have seen many changes to the surrounding area.
The league has seen much talent over the years and has achieved the noteworthy accomplishments of two District championships: in 1960, with a loss in the Division semi-final to Division Champion East Lakewood; and in 1988, with a run for the Divisionals, losing the Section 7 title to Yucaipa Valley.
The 2009 season saw our undefeated League Champion Junior Angels establish themselves as City Champions by winning the Junior Division T.O.C. We are also proud of Citrus Alumni Drew Macias who saw some time in the MLB as he is currently playing outfield in the San Diego Padres organization.
The league itself is one of five leagues in Rancho Cucamonga and now includes 6 divisions of over 400 players on 31 teams. The last of the original teams remains the Merchants, with the Sparks becoming the Cubs in the 2007 season.
Citrus Little League looks forward with great hope to continuing to grow the league and the love of baseball in the hearts of this community’s youth for many years to come. As our objective remains “to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority, so they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens”. (Citrus’ Mission Statement)
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