Our history
The Santa Maria Indians are one of the oldest names in California summer baseball. Founded in 1943 by Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538, the Tribe went from a hometown semi-pro nine playing on a dirt lot with no fences to a summer-collegiate powerhouse that won the 1982 National Baseball Congress World Series and sent more than a dozen players to the major leagues. The club went dark in 2009, but in 2023 Jimmy Melena brought Indians baseball back to Elks Field. We are proud to carry on the tradition.
- 1943
The Tribe is born
Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538 forms a semi-professional team. Butch Simas co-founds the club and manages it for years; Mutt Anderson is the first manager. The roster is homegrown Santa Maria talent, and fans watch from cars parked along the street at a grassless Elks Field with no dugouts and no outfield fence.
- 1948
Elks Field dedicated
On April 19, 1948, more than 2,000 fans fill Elks Field for a doubleheader and field dedication, launching decades of local baseball pride.
- 1950
Beating the big leaguers
On October 12, 1950, the Indians defeat a barnstorming squad of Major League All-Stars led by Cleveland Hall of Famer Bob Lemon.
- 1957
Scoop Nunes takes the reins
Clarence "Scoop" Nunes becomes general manager, a role he holds for 46 years. In the 1970s he transforms the Indians into a summer-collegiate club drawing players from across the country. The "Big Red Machine" strings together more than 25 straight winning seasons.
- 1979
NBC World Series finalist
The Indians reach the final of the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas.
- 1982
National champions
Santa Maria beats the Anchorage Glacier Pilots 11-4 to win the NBC World Series, the first California team to do so. Cal's Dave Hengel is series MVP. Nunes is inducted into the NBC Hall of Fame in 1997.
- 1980s-90s
A pipeline to the majors
Indians alumni in the big leagues include Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, Robin Ventura, Bryn Smith, Jim Lonborg, Mike Aldrete, Torey Lovullo, Pete Incaviglia, Dave Hengel, Mike Batesole, Tim Spehr, Jimy Williams, and Billy Bean.
- 2003
Scoop passes
After Nunes dies in 2003, attendance and fundraising fall off. Kevin Haughian takes over operations in 2005, but the club loses money even as crowds grow.
- 2009
Lights out
Citing the economy and the cost of Elks Field, the club shuts down after 65 seasons. In 2012 the franchise moves to Templeton as the North County Indians.
- 2023
Indians reborn
Former local high school coach Jimmy Melena revives the Santa Maria Indians Baseball Club as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and brings collegiate summer baseball back to town. The 2024 team starts 0-7, then catches fire at Morrison Field.
- 2025
Champions once again
The Indians win the Southern California Collegiate League championship, playing home games at Elks Field for the first time in years. Fall Ball grows to more than 100 local high school players.
- 2026
Joining the CCL
Santa Maria competes as an affiliate member of the California Collegiate League alongside the San Luis Obispo Blues and Santa Barbara Foresters, with nine home dates at Elks Field. Fall Ball now serves seven high school and six junior high teams.