Helena Brewers
Encyclopedia
The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball
team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers
. They are located in Helena, Montana
. The team plays their home games at Kindrick Field
; built in 1939, the park currently holds 2,010 fans.
Among the best-known players to play in Helena are Hall of Famer
Ryne Sandberg
, who started his career with the Phillies in Helena, Gary Sheffield
, who started his career with the Helena Gold Sox in 1986, Jeff Cirillo
, who began his career with the 1991 Helena Brewers, and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun
.
in 1985 and changed its name to the Helena Brewers in 1987. Helena won the PL championship in back-to-back seasons in 1995 and 1996. The franchise moved to Provo, Utah
after the 2000 season. In 2003, the Medicine Hat Blue Jays
moved to Helena, and the team once again became a Brewers affiliate.
, Ryne Sandberg
, Ryan Braun
, Jeff Cirillo
, Matt LaPorta, Jaime Navarro
, Mike Sarbaugh
, and Jared Theodorakos
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. They are located in Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
. The team plays their home games at Kindrick Field
Kindrick Field
Kindrick Field is a baseball park located in Helena, Montana which serves as the home field of the Helena Brewers minor league baseball team, and the two American Legion teams, the Senators and Reps. It was built in 1939 and holds 2,010 people.-References:...
; built in 1939, the park currently holds 2,010 fans.
Among the best-known players to play in Helena are Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno" is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. During a 16-year baseball career, he played from 1981–1994 and 1996–97, spending nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best...
, who started his career with the Phillies in Helena, Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
, who started his career with the Helena Gold Sox in 1986, Jeff Cirillo
Jeff Cirillo
Jeffrey Howard Cirillo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. In a 14-season career, Cirillo was a .296 hitter with 112 home runs and 727 RBI in 1617 games. He was named an All-Star in and . He is the Brewers all-time career leader in batting average at .306...
, who began his career with the 1991 Helena Brewers, and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
.
History
The Helena Phillies joined the Pioneer League in 1978, giving Helena a professional baseball team for the first time in 64 years. In 1984, the Helena Gold Sox won the Pioneer League Championship, a rarity for an independent club. The team hooked on with the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1985 and changed its name to the Helena Brewers in 1987. Helena won the PL championship in back-to-back seasons in 1995 and 1996. The franchise moved to Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
after the 2000 season. In 2003, the Medicine Hat Blue Jays
Medicine Hat Blue Jays
The Medicine Hat Blue Jays were the Toronto Blue Jays rookie-level affiliate in the Pioneer League beginning in 1978 and remained with their parent club for 25 seasons. They played their home games at Athletic Park. Over the years, the club generally struggled on the field and with attendance, but...
moved to Helena, and the team once again became a Brewers affiliate.
Season-by-season record
| Helena Brewers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | |Post-season | |||||||
| Record | Win % | Finish* | Record | Win % | Result | |||
| 1978 | 30–38 | .441 | 6th | – | – | – | ||
| 1979 | 43–26 | .623 | 2nd | 0–2 | .000 | Lost PL Championship vs Lethbridge Dodgers, 0–2 | ||
| 1980 | 32–38 | .457 | 3rd | – | – | — | ||
| 1981 | 22–44 | .371 | 4th | – | – | — | ||
| 1982 | 29–41 | .414 | 4th | – | – | — | ||
| 1983 | 16–54 | .229 | 4th | – | – | — | ||
| 1984 | 44–24 | .647 | 1st | 3–1 | .750 | Won PL Championship vs Billings Mustangs Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated... , 3–1 |
||
| 1985 | 42–26 | .618 | 2nd | – | – | — | ||
| 1986 | 38–32 | .543 | 3rd | – | – | — | ||
| 1987 | 46–24 | .657 | 1st | 1–3 | .250 | Lost PL Championship vs Salt Lake City Trappers Salt Lake City Trappers The Salt Lake City Trappers were an independent Pioneer League minor league baseball team, based in Salt Lake City from 1985 to 1992. The Trappers played their home games at Derks Field, located at the present-day site of Spring Mobile Ballpark. The team is best known for winning 29 consecutive... , 1–3 |
||
| 1988 | 41–29 | .586 | 2nd | – | – | — | ||
| 1989 | 38–30 | .559 | 2nd | – | – | – | ||
| 1990 | 37–28 | .569 | 3rd | – | – | – | ||
| 1991 | 44–26 | .629 | 2nd | – | – | – | ||
| 1992 | 50–26 | .658 | 2nd | – | – | – | ||
| 1993 | 43–30 | .589 | 1st | 1–2 | .333 | Lost PL Championship vs Billings Mustangs Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated... , 1–2 |
||
| 1994 | 44–28 | .611 | 1st | 2–3 | .400 | Lost PL Championship vs Billings Mustangs Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated... , 2–3 |
||
| 1995 | 49–22 | .690 | 1st | 4–1 | .800 | Won Northern Division Championship vs Idaho Falls Braves, 2–1 Won PL Championship vs Medicine Hat Blue Jays Medicine Hat Blue Jays The Medicine Hat Blue Jays were the Toronto Blue Jays rookie-level affiliate in the Pioneer League beginning in 1978 and remained with their parent club for 25 seasons. They played their home games at Athletic Park. Over the years, the club generally struggled on the field and with attendance, but... , 2–0 |
||
| 1996 | 43–29 | .597 | 2nd | 4–1 | .800 | Won Northern Division Championship vs Lethbridge Black Diamonds Lethbridge Black Diamonds The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992-1995 before becoming the Lethbridge Black Diamonds from 1996-1998. The team was one of the first two farm clubs of the Arizona... , 2–1 Won PL Championship vs Ogden Raptors Ogden Raptors The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of... , 2–0 |
||
| 1997 | 37–34 | .521 | 5th | – | – | — | ||
| 1998 | 21–55 | .276 | 4th | – | – | — | ||
| 1999 | 47–28 | .627 | 1st | 0–2 | .000 | Lost Northern Division Championship vs Missoula Osprey Missoula Osprey The Missoula Osprey is a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks in Missoula, Montana. The team plays its home games at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field. The club is a member of the Pioneer League, a short-season league which is designated Rookie Advanced.The Osprey... , 0–2 |
||
| 2000 | 26–50 | .342 | 4th | – | – | — | ||
| 2003 | 48–28 | .632 | 2nd | 1–2 | .333 | Lost Northern Division Championship vs Billings Mustangs Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated... , 1–2 |
||
| 2004 | 39–37 | .513 | 2nd | – | – | — | ||
| 2005 | 46–30 | .605 | 1st | 2–2 | .500 | Won Northern Division Championship vs Billings Mustangs Billings Mustangs The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated... , 2–0 Lost PL Championship vs Orem Owlz Orem Owlz The Orem Owlz are a minor league baseball farm team affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball franchise. The team plays in Orem, Utah.... , 0–2 |
||
| 2006 | 34–42 | .447 | 3rd | – | – | — | ||
| 2007 | 48–28 | .632 | 2nd | 1–2 | .333 | Lost Northern Division Championship vs Great Falls White Sox Great Falls White Sox The Great Falls Voyagers are a minor league baseball team based in Great Falls, Montana. This team has played continuously since 1969, and also played in the Pioneer League from 1948 to 1963.... , 1–2 |
||
| 2008 | 35–41 | .461 | 6th | – | – | — | ||
| 2009 | 32–44 | .421 | 6th | – | – | — | ||
| 2010 | 41–34 | .421 | 3rd | 4–1 | .800 | Won North Division Championship vs Great Falls Voyagers, 2–1 Won PL Championship vs Ogden Raptors Ogden Raptors The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of... , 2–0 |
||
| Totals | 1,150–1,317 | .466 | – | 23–22 | .511 | 4 League Championships | ||
| Note: |
||||||||
Notable alumni
Former players include Gary SheffieldGary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
, Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno" is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. During a 16-year baseball career, he played from 1981–1994 and 1996–97, spending nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best...
, Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
, Jeff Cirillo
Jeff Cirillo
Jeffrey Howard Cirillo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. In a 14-season career, Cirillo was a .296 hitter with 112 home runs and 727 RBI in 1617 games. He was named an All-Star in and . He is the Brewers all-time career leader in batting average at .306...
, Matt LaPorta, Jaime Navarro
Jaime Navarro
Jaime Navarro Cintrón is a former Puerto Rican baseball player. Navarro was a 6 foot, four inch tall right-handed pitcher in the major leagues from to , playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians...
, Mike Sarbaugh
Mike Sarbaugh
Michael "Mike" Sarbaugh is a former minor league baseball player, and is currently a minor league manager for the Columbus Clippers the AAA farm team of the Cleveland Indians. After attending Lamar University, where he was an all conference shortstop and earned a degree in kinesiology, Sarbaugh...
, and Jared Theodorakos
Jared Theodorakos
Jared G. Theodorakos is a professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher who bats from the left side, he has a listed height of 6'3" and a listed weight of 240 pounds.-Baseball career:...
.