Inland Empire 66ers

The franchise arrived in San Bernardino in 1993 when the Salinas Spurs relocated under new owners Dave Elmore and Donna Tuttle. Initially playing at Fiscalini Field as a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, the team moved into a new stadium in 1996 and rebranded as the San Bernardino Stampede, with the venue nicknamed "The Ranch."

The Stampede era featured affiliations with both the Dodgers (through 1995) and the Seattle Mariners (1995-2000), followed by a brief stint as a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate. The on-field product was uneven, but the franchise established itself as a viable entertainment option in the rapidly growing Inland Empire region east of Los Angeles.

By 2003, the ownership group recognized an opportunity to rebrand the team with a broader regional identity. Season ticket holder Phil Westbrook suggested the name "66ers," a reference to the iconic Route 66 highway that runs through San Bernardino. The rebrand connected the franchise to one of America's most recognizable cultural symbols and gave the team an identity that transcended city boundaries.

The Inland Empire 66ers began their affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels (then Anaheim Angels) in 2001, a partnership that would endure for an extraordinary 15 seasons under the 66ers name. During this stretch, the team became one of the most recognizable franchises in the California League, with countless future Angels stars passing through San Manuel Stadium on their way to the majors.

The franchise experienced its share of competitive seasons and rebuilding years, reflecting the natural ebb and flow of player development. The stadium was renamed San Manuel Stadium in 2012 through a naming rights agreement with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Despite the team's mixed on-field results, the 66ers maintained a loyal following drawn to the ballpark's affordable family entertainment and Route 66-themed atmosphere.

The 2021 MiLB reorganization reclassified the 66ers from High-A to Single-A, a significant change that altered the team's competitive landscape. In 2024, Diamond Baseball Holdings purchased the franchise from the Elmore Sports Group, ending over three decades of founding-family ownership. The Angels affiliation concluded after the 2025 season, closing a chapter that had defined the 66ers identity for a generation.