Pueblo Braves

• Location: Pueblo, CO
• League: Western League 1930-1932
• Affiliation:
• Ballpark:

In 1930 the Pueblo Steelworkers from Pueblo, CO changed their name and became the Pueblo Braves. The club went 75-75 its first season, fifth in the Western League. Lee Riley (.332, 20 HR, 133 RBI) led the offense and finished fourth in the league in homers and total bases (298) and tied for third in triples (19). The Braves also had their share of speedsters - Paul Hinson (.307, 76 SB, second in the league with 132 runs), Carl Frey (.328, 64 SB, a league-high 133 runs, 4th with 189 hits) and Gus McIsaac (.296, 35 SB) finished 1-2-3 in the stolen base race. Al Jennings (15-16, 3.33) was third in the Western in ERA, first in innings (257) but tied for second in losses.

Pueblo was basically the same a year later - 76-79. McIsaac (.303, a league-high 27 triples) made the All-Star team at shortstop while Archie McKain (18-12, 3.86) made it as a pitcher. McKain led in innings (254) and tied for third in victories. Another key pitcher was George Darrow (18-9, 3.55). Riley hit .301 with 16 homers, 113 RBI and 16 triples (tied for fourth in the circuit), Frey hit .408 in limited duty but still played enough to finish third with 30 swipes, and Ernie Neitzke (.348) was fourth in average.

The Braves slipped to 62-90 in 1932. They had no All-Stars, even though OF Bill Allington led the league in average (.374), steals (36), triples (23), total bases (335) and runs (167), was third in hits (213) and fifth in doubles (49). 17-9 Rudy Jones was the top pitcher.

Due to travel expenses for the other teams in a poor economic climate, Pueblo and the other Colorado team (the Denver Bears) were dropped from the league in 1933.

Source: "The Western League" by W.C. Madden and Patrick Stewart

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1930	75-75	5th	Jimmy Payton	none
1931	76-69	4th	Jimmy Payton / Walter Smallwood
1932	62-90	7th	Walter Smallwood / Pug Griffin