Helena Brewers
Pioneer League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers from 1985 to 2018.
The Helena Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pioneer League located in Helena, Montana, from 1978 to 2018. The team played their home games at Kindrick Legion Field, which was built in 1939. They were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers (1985–2000, 2003–2018) and Philadelphia Phillies (1978–1983). 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 and Mark Loretta who began their careers with the 1991 and 1993 Helena Brewers, respectively; and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.
Quick Facts
- City
- Helena, Montana
- Class level
- Rookie (1978–2000, 2003–2018)
- Current league
- Pioneer League (1978–2000, 2003–2018)
- Majorleague
- Milwaukee Brewers (1985–2000, 2003–2018)
- Independent (1984)
- Philadelphia Phillies (1978–1983)
- Mascot
- Wally the Mammoth (2015–2018)
- Lewis the Lion and Clark the Cougar (2003–2015)
- Brewinkle (1996-2000)
- Ballpark
- Kindrick Legion Field (1978–2000, 2003–2018)
Facts from the source article.
History
Professional baseball returned to Helena in 1978 after a 64-year absence, with the arrival of the Pioneer League's Helena Phillies. An independent club, the Helena Gold Sox, captured the league championship in 1984. The team affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1985 and adopted the Helena Brewers name in 1987, going on to win consecutive titles in 1995 and 1996. After the franchise relocated to Provo, Utah, as the Provo Angels following the 2000 season, the Medicine Hat Blue Jays moved to Helena in 2003, reviving the Brewers affiliation and name. In 2015, Helena Brewers player David Denson made history as the first active affiliated professional baseball player to publicly come out as gay. The franchise departed Helena after the 2018 season, moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to become the Rocky Mountain Vibes.
Major leaguers
The following is a list of Helena players by year that later played in Major League Baseball: 1978: George Bell, Carmelo Castillo, Wil Culmer, Bob Dernier, Ed Hearn, Alejandro Sánchez, Ryne Sandberg. 1979: Jay Baller, Roy Smith. 1980: Rocky Childress, Darren Daulton, Marty Decker, Ken Dowell, Tony Ghelfi. 1981: Johnny Abrego, Charles Hudson, Jim Olander, Jose Segura. 1982: Ken Jackson, Lance McCullers, Johnny Paredes, Wilfredo Tejada. 1983: Ricky Jordan, Tom Magrann, Tom Newell. 1984: Jack Daugherty, John Trautwein. 1985: John Jaha, Russ McGinnis, Randy Veres. 1986: George Canale, Brian Drahman, Darryl Hamilton, Gary Sheffield, Greg Vaughn. 1987: Frank Bolick, Oreste Marrero, Ángel Miranda, Charlie Montoyo, Jaime Navarro, Dave Nilsson, Troy O'Leary, Steve Sparks, Bill Spiers. 1988: Bert Heffernan, Mike Ignasiak, Mark Kiefer. 1991: Jeff Cirillo, Mike Matheny, Marshall Boze. 1992: Bobby Hughes, Danny Perez, Tim Unroe; Danan Hughes played minor league baseball for the 1992 and 1993 seasons in the Pioneer League for the Helena Brewers, then played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1993 to 1998 as a wide receiver and special teams player. 1993: Brian Banks, Todd Dunn, Danny Klassen, Mark Loretta, Sean Maloney, Greg Martinez. 1994: Antone Williamson, Kelly Wunsch. 1995: Robinson Cancel, Geoff Jenkins, Mike Kinkade, Mickey Lopez, Greg Mullins. 1996: Allen Levrault, Mark Watson. 1997: Jason Childers, Brian Mallette. 1998: Matt Childers, Bill Hall, Luis Martinez. 2003: Drew Anderson, Carlos Corporán, Tim Dillard, Dana Eveland, Vinny Rottino, Mitch Stetter, Ty Taubenheim. 2004: Alcides Escobar. 2005: Michael Brantley, Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, Darren Ford, Matt Gamel, Ángel Salomé, Joe Thatcher. 2006: Zach Braddock, Cole Gillespie, Taylor Green, Mike McClendon. 2007: Dane De La Rosa, Eric Farris, Eric Fryer, Caleb Gindl, Donovan Hand, Matt LaPorta, Jonathan Lucroy, Zelous Wheeler. 2008: Erik Komatsu, Lucas Luetge, Wily Peralta, Logan Schafer, Rob Wooten. 2009: Chris Capuano, Khristopher Davis, Michael Fiers, Sean Halton, Jake Odorizzi, Josh Prince. 2010: Hiram Burgos, Jimmy Nelson, Caleb Thielbar, Tyler Thornburg. 2011: Tyler Cravy, David Goforth, Yadiel Rivera, Jason Rodgers. 2012: Michael Reed, Tyler Wagner. 2018: Max Lazar.
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