HR 28
Page 1
Date of Hearing: March 24, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Blanca Pacheco, Chair
HR 28 (Caloza) – As Introduced March 20, 2025
SUBJECT: Major League Baseball Opening Day 2025.
SUMMARY: Honors Major League Baseball Opening Day 2025 abroad and at home, and
recognizes the teams’ contributions to California's economy, culture, and identity. And, pledges
to continue to support and promote baseball in California and to ensure that the state remains a
hub of baseball excellence for years to come. Specifically, this resolution makes the following
legislative findings:
1) Professional baseball has a long and storied history in California, spanning centuries and
geographies. More Major League Baseball (MLB) teams call California home than any other
state.
2) Today, California is home to five teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants,
San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, and the Athletics.
3) While the two MLB professional leagues, the National League and the American League,
started in 1876 and 1901, respectively, California started its own league in 1887. Though
that only lasted for two years, the state continued to establish various baseball leagues in
1891, 1893, from 1899 to 1902, from 1907 to 1909, 1941, then finally permanently in 1946.
4) The Brooklyn Dodgers’ move out to Los Angeles in 1958 was the first cross-country move
of any major league team in the United States, and the first major league team west of
Kansas. The New York Giants followed in their footsteps by moving to San Francisco later
that year. While the future of the league was originally in doubt, these moves proved
instantly popular. On the opening day for the now Los Angeles Dodgers, an MLB
attendance record was broken as 78,000 fans showed up at the gates ready to pay for tickets.
5) California’s teams’ accomplishments through the years include winning 15 World Series
championships, 32 Most Valuable Player Awards, and countless All-Star selections. These
teams have not only been a point of civic pride, but have also emphasized the importance of
baseball as a sport that unites communities and inspires young people to pursue their dreams.
6) Baseball will continue to grow and evolve, and the sport and California will always be
mentioned in close association. To kick off this year, our state’s own Los Angeles Dodgers
will be traveling to Japan to face off in exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and
Yomiuri Giants. Then, to officially open the professional MLB season, the Dodgers will take
on the Chicago Cubs for a two-day, two-game series under the Tokyo Dome. This matchup
will only be the sixth game to ever be played in that stadium by American major league
teams and the fourth of those to feature California teams.
7) The Legislature expresses gratitude to the fans who have supported the teams through thick
and thin and who make baseball an integral part of California’s sports landscape.
 HR 28
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FISCAL EFFECT: This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative Counsel.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800