Pioneer League
From BR Bullpen
The Pioneer League was founded in 1939. Due to World War II, the league ceased operations after the 1942 season, but play resumed in 1946. Starting in 1964, it was a rookie minor league, playing a short season that began in June. It played its last season as an affiliated league in 2019, as the 2020 season was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and then converted in 2021 to an independent professional league. It is designated as an MLB Partner League.
Over the years, it had as few as four and as many as eight teams. Most recently it has operated with two divisions of four teams, and since 1995, played under a split-season format.
Current Teams[edit]
Pioneer League Hall of Fame[edit]
The Pioneer League Hall of Fame/Museum was established in 2013.[1]
League Champions and Statistical Leaders[edit]
Cities Represented[edit]
Alberta[edit]
- Calgary, AB:
- Calgary Cardinals 1977-1978
- Calgary Expos 1979-1984
- Lethbridge, AB:
- Lethbridge Expos 1975-1976
- Lethbridge Dodgers 1977-1983
- Lethbridge Mounties 1992-1995
- Lethbridge Black Diamonds 1996-1998
- Medicine Hat, AB:
- Medicine Hat A's 1977
- Medicine Hat Blue Jays 1978-2002
Colorado[edit]
- Colorado Springs, CO: Rocky Mountain Vibes 2019-present
- Grand Junction, CO:
- Grand Junction Rockies 2012-19, 2021-2022;
- Grand Junction Jackalopes, 2023-present
Idaho[edit]
- Boise, ID:
- Boise Pilots 1939-1942, 1946-1951, 1954
- Boise Yankees 1952-1953
- Boise Braves 1955-1963
- Boise Hawks 2021-present
- Caldwell, ID:
- Treasure Valley Cubs 1964-1966
- Caldwell Cubs 1967-1971
- Idaho Falls, ID:
- Idaho Falls Russets 1940-1942, 1946-1961
- Idaho Falls Yankees 1962-1963
- Idaho Falls Angels 1964-1981
- Idaho Falls A's 1982-1984
- Idaho Falls Nuggets 1985
- Idaho Falls Braves 1986-1999
- Idaho Falls Padres 2000-2003
- Idaho Falls Chukars 2004-present
- Lewiston, ID: Lewiston Indians 1939
- Pocatello, ID:
- Pocatello Cardinals 1939-1942, 1946-1951
- Pocatello Bannocks 1952-1956, 1961
- Pocatello Athletics 1957-1959
- Pocatello Giants 1960, 1987-1989
- Pocatello Chiefs 1962-1965
- Pocatello Gems 1984-1985
- Gate City Pioneers 1990
- Pocatello Pioneers 1991
- Pocatello Posse 1993
- Twin Falls, ID:
- Twin Falls Cowboys 1939-1942, 1946-1951
- Magic Valley Cowboys 1952-1957, 1961-1966, 1968-1971
Montana[edit]
- Billings, MT: Billings Mustangs 1948-1963, 1969-present
- Butte, MT: Butte Copper Kings 1978-1985, 1987-2000
- Great Falls, MT:
- Great Falls Electrics 1948, 1958-1963
- Great Falls Selectrics 1949-1950
- Great Falls Electrics 1951-1956
- Great Falls Dodgers 1957
- Great Falls Giants 1969-1983
- Great Falls Dodgers 1984-2002
- Great Falls White Sox 2003-2007
- Great Falls Voyagers 2008-present
- Helena, MT:
- Helena Phillies 1978-1983
- Helena Gold Sox 1984-1986
- Helena Brewers 1987-2000, 2003-2018
- Kalispell, MT: Glacier Range Riders, 2022-present
- Missoula, MT:
- Missoula Timberjacks 1956-1960
- Missoula Osprey 1999-2019
- Missoula PaddleHeads 2021-present
Utah[edit]
- Ogden, UT:
- Ogden Reds 1939-1942, 1946-1955
- Ogden Dodgers 1966-1973
- Ogden Spikers 1974
- Ogden Raptors 1994-present
- Orem, UT: Orem Owlz 2005-2019
- Provo, UT: Provo Angels 2001-2004
- Salt Lake City, UT:
- Salt Lake City Bees 1939-1942, 1946-1957, 1969
- Salt Lake City Giants 1967-1968
- Salt Lake City Trappers 1985-1992
Wyoming[edit]
- Casper, WY:
- Casper Rockies 2001-2007
- Casper Ghosts 2008-2011
Alumni[edit]
Hall of Famers[edit]
- George Brett, 1971 Billings Mustangs
- Bobby Cox, 1963 Great Falls Electrics
- Andre Dawson, 1975 Lethbridge Expos
- Todd Helton, 2010 Casper Ghosts, 2012 Grand Junction Rockies
- Trevor Hoffman, 1989 Billings Mustangs
- Jim Kaat, 1958 Missoula Timberjacks
- Tommy Lasorda, 1965/1968 Manager, Pocatello Chiefs/Ogden Dodgers
- Pedro Martinez, 1990 Great Falls Dodgers
- Frank Robinson, 1953 Ogden Reds
- Ryne Sandberg, 1978 Helena Phillies
- Bob Uecker, 1956, 1958 Boise Braves Ford C. Frick Award
Other Notables[edit]
- Jeff Cirillo, 1991 Helena Brewers
- Sid Fernandez, 1981 Lethbridge Dodgers
- Cecil Fielder, 1982 Butte Copper Kings
- Andres Galarraga, 1979 Calgary Expos
- Gary Sheffield, 1986 Helena Gold Sox
- Dick Allen (1961, Magic Valley) 1972 AL MVP
- George Bell(1978, Helena) 1987 AL MVP
- Ryan Braun (2005, Helena) 2011 NL MVP
- Jose Canseco (1982, Idaho Falls) 1988 AL MVP
- Josh Donaldson (2007, Boise) 2015 AL MVP
- Andre Dawson (1975, Lethbridge) 1987 NL MVP
- Steve Garvey (1968, Ogden) 1974 NL MVP
- Joey Votto (2003, Billings) 2010 NL MVP
- Chris Carpenter (1994, Medicine Hat) 2005 NL Cy Young Award
- Jake Peavy (1999, Idaho Falls) 2007 NL Cy Young Award
- Kris Bryant (2014, Boise) 2015 NL R.O.Y.
- Eric Karros (1988, Great Falls) 1992 NL R.O.Y.
- Gil McDougald (1948, Twin Falls) 1951 AL R.O.Y.
- Butch Metzger (1970, Great Falls) 1976 NL R.O.Y.
- Raúl Mondesí (1990, Great Falls ) 1994 NL R.O.Y.
- Wil Myers (2009, Idaho Falls) 2013 AL R.O.Y.
- Chris Sabo (2004, Billings, Coach) 1988 N.L. R.O.Y.
- Scott Williamson (1997, Billings) 1999 NL R.O.Y.
- Walt Weiss (1985, Pocatello) 1988 AL R.O.Y.
- Dontrelle Willis (2001, Boise) 2003 NL R.O.Y.
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