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amead17 · 12-13-2025, 08:56 AM

Late November 2022

A Team Is Born: San Jose Steps Into Baseball’s New Era

There are moments when a franchise doesn’t just begin so much as it arrives—quietly, deliberately, and with the sense that bigger forces are at work. That’s where the San Jose Raiders find themselves today, newly formed, newly assigned, and newly relevant in a professional baseball landscape that has been fundamentally restructured.

The creation of the Professional Baseball Association—the PBA—has changed how the sport operates in this country. A shift in governance, ownership structure, and league organization has cracked open doors that had long been sealed shut. San Jose, long living in the gravitational pull of a much louder neighbor to the north, finally walked through one of those doors.

And just like that, the Raiders exist.

Ownership: Meet Jeff Cherry

At the center of this new venture is Jeff Cherry, a 46-year-old businessman from Wisconsin whose fortune was built in farm machinery. Cherry isn’t a name that has echoed through baseball circles before, but those familiar with his business dealings describe a man who gives generously—and expects results in return.

Charitable with his money, demanding of success. That reputation will be tested quickly.

Cherry inherits a franchise without history, without scars, and without excuses. The Raiders are his clean slate, but also his responsibility. In a league where market size matters and patience is often thin, his balance of generosity and expectation will shape the culture of this club from day one.

Where the Raiders Fit

The PBA has slotted San Jose into the Wolf Conference, Pacific Division, a neighborhood that will not be forgiving.

Divisional opponents include:

Los Angeles White Hawks – a huge market team, with resources to match

Denver Grizzlies – firmly big market and never shy about acting like it

Portland Bruins – an average market peer, and perhaps the closest thing to a mirror

Rivalries in baseball don’t need decades to form—sometimes geography and imbalance do the job just fine. Los Angeles will loom. Denver will grind. Portland will feel familiar.

But the rivalry that defines San Jose’s place in the league lives just outside the division.

The Shadow to the North

The San Francisco Miners are unavoidable.

A very big market team from the Eagle Conference, the Miners are the reason the Raiders are considered one of the league’s smaller markets—rated average, but with only two of the PBA’s 31 other clubs smaller. Market share isn’t infinite, and San Jose knows exactly where much of it already lives.

The Raiders will face San Francisco in a three-game series, along with the rest of the Pacific League from the Eagle Conference. Three games won’t decide supremacy, but they will set a tone. For San Jose, it’s a chance to announce that this city is no longer content being an afterthought.

Raiders Field: A Statement on the Water

If the Raiders are small by market definition, they won’t look it when the gates open at Raiders Field.

The newly built stadium sits in the harbour area of San Jose, a modern structure designed to hold 52,800 fans at full capacity. It’s ambitious. It’s bold. And it’s impossible to miss the symbolism: a franchise born in a new league, playing in a new park, on the edge of the water, facing a future that is wide open and entirely untested.

For a team without a past, the setting does a lot of the talking.

What Comes Next

Right now, there are more questions than answers—and that’s the point.

The PBA has only just come together. The Raiders have only just been assigned. Ownership, conference alignment, market reality, and rivalries are all in place, but the hard part is still ahead: turning structure into substance.

San Jose is officially on the baseball map again, not as a supporting character, but as a franchise with its own name, its own field, and its own expectations.

The Raiders haven’t played a game yet.

But the story has already started.

12-13-2025, 08:56 AM	#2
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,128	Late November 2022 A Team Is Born: San Jose Steps Into Baseball’s New Era There are moments when a franchise doesn’t just begin so much as it arrives—quietly, deliberately, and with the sense that bigger forces are at work. That’s where the San Jose Raiders find themselves today, newly formed, newly assigned, and newly relevant in a professional baseball landscape that has been fundamentally restructured. The creation of the Professional Baseball Association—the PBA—has changed how the sport operates in this country. A shift in governance, ownership structure, and league organization has cracked open doors that had long been sealed shut. San Jose, long living in the gravitational pull of a much louder neighbor to the north, finally walked through one of those doors. And just like that, the Raiders exist. Ownership: Meet Jeff Cherry At the center of this new venture is Jeff Cherry, a 46-year-old businessman from Wisconsin whose fortune was built in farm machinery. Cherry isn’t a name that has echoed through baseball circles before, but those familiar with his business dealings describe a man who gives generously—and expects results in return. Charitable with his money, demanding of success. That reputation will be tested quickly. Cherry inherits a franchise without history, without scars, and without excuses. The Raiders are his clean slate, but also his responsibility. In a league where market size matters and patience is often thin, his balance of generosity and expectation will shape the culture of this club from day one. Where the Raiders Fit The PBA has slotted San Jose into the Wolf Conference, Pacific Division, a neighborhood that will not be forgiving. Divisional opponents include: Los Angeles White Hawks – a huge market team, with resources to match Denver Grizzlies – firmly big market and never shy about acting like it Portland Bruins – an average market peer, and perhaps the closest thing to a mirror Rivalries in baseball don’t need decades to form—sometimes geography and imbalance do the job just fine. Los Angeles will loom. Denver will grind. Portland will feel familiar. But the rivalry that defines San Jose’s place in the league lives just outside the division. The Shadow to the North The San Francisco Miners are unavoidable. A very big market team from the Eagle Conference, the Miners are the reason the Raiders are considered one of the league’s smaller markets—rated average, but with only two of the PBA’s 31 other clubs smaller. Market share isn’t infinite, and San Jose knows exactly where much of it already lives. The Raiders will face San Francisco in a three-game series, along with the rest of the Pacific League from the Eagle Conference. Three games won’t decide supremacy, but they will set a tone. For San Jose, it’s a chance to announce that this city is no longer content being an afterthought. Raiders Field: A Statement on the Water If the Raiders are small by market definition, they won’t look it when the gates open at Raiders Field. The newly built stadium sits in the harbour area of San Jose, a modern structure designed to hold 52,800 fans at full capacity. It’s ambitious. It’s bold. And it’s impossible to miss the symbolism: a franchise born in a new league, playing in a new park, on the edge of the water, facing a future that is wide open and entirely untested. For a team without a past, the setting does a lot of the talking. What Comes Next Right now, there are more questions than answers—and that’s the point. The PBA has only just come together. The Raiders have only just been assigned. Ownership, conference alignment, market reality, and rivalries are all in place, but the hard part is still ahead: turning structure into substance. San Jose is officially on the baseball map again, not as a supporting character, but as a franchise with its own name, its own field, and its own expectations. The Raiders haven’t played a game yet. But the story has already started. Last edited by amead17; 12-13-2025 at 08:59 AM.