CREATE TABLE table_204_24 (id DECIMAL, "year" DECIMAL, "league" TEXT, "record" TEXT, "finish" TEXT, "manager" TEXT, "playoffs" TEXT, "notes" TEXT)

who was the previous manager of the california league before ray perry ?
SELECT "manager" FROM table_204_24 WHERE "league" = 'california league' AND "year" < (SELECT "year" FROM table_204_24 WHERE "manager" = 'ray perry') ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "manager" FROM "table_204_24" WHERE "league" = 'california league' AND "year" < (SELECT "year" FROM "table_204_24" WHERE "manager" = 'ray perry') ORDER BY "id" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1