Pioneer League

The Pioneer League is a minor league baseball league which currently operates in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. In the past, it also operated in adjoining portions of Canada. It is a Rookie league, which means that it has a short season (June-August) and almost exclusively features players newly signed to professional contracts.

Related Topics:
Minor league baseball - Rocky Mountain - United States - Canada

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The Pioneer Baseball League began in 1939 with six teams in Idaho and Utah. The league suspended operations for the 1943 through 1945 seasons. In 1948, the league expanded into Montana. At that time, several of the teams were operating as minor league affiliates of Pacific Coast League teams, which were unsuccessfully trying to grow into a major league. When the Los Angeles Dodgers displaced the Hollywood Stars PCL team, they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, taking away the Pioneer League's largest market. By 1959, the league was down to six teams, and by 1964, there were only four, but by the end of the 1970s there were eight teams.

Related Topics:
1939 - Idaho - Utah - 1943 - 1945 - 1948 - Montana - Pacific Coast League - Major league - Los Angeles Dodgers - Hollywood Stars - Salt Lake City, Utah - 1959 - 1964 - 1970s

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Three Canadian teams joined the league in the late 1970s:

Related Topics:
Canadian - 1970

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• Medicine Hat Blue Jays (1977-2002
• Calgary Cardinals (1977-1984)
• Lethbride Dodgers (1975-1983 and 1992-1998)

These teams did not last long, with Medicine Hat leaving in 2002.

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The current league is divided into a Northern Division and a Southern Division.

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Current member teams:

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Northern Division:

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• Billings Mustangs
• Great Falls White Sox
• Helena Brewers
• Missoula Osprey

Southern Division:

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• Casper Rockies
• Idaho Falls Chukars
• Ogden Raptors
• Orem Owlz
 
Pioneer League: External links ►