Helena Brewers

Helena Brewers
Founded in 1978
Helena, Montana
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Rookie (1978–2000, 2003–present)
Minor league affiliations
League Pioneer League
Division North Division
Major league affiliations
Current Milwaukee Brewers (1985–2000, 2003–present)
Previous

Independent (1984)

Philadelphia Phillies (1978–1983)
Minor league titles
League titles 1984, 1995, 1996, 2010
Division titles 1979, 1984, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2010, 2013
Team data
Nickname Helena Brewers (1987–2000, 2003–present)
Previous names

Helena Gold Sox (1984–1986)

Helena Phillies (1978–1983)
Colors navy blue, gold, white
              
Ballpark Kindrick Legion Field (1978–2000, 2003–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 D. G. Elmore
Manager Tony Diggs
General manager Paul Fetz

The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana. The team plays their home games at Kindrick Legion Field; built in 1939, the park currently holds 2,010 people.

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.

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 Brewers 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.

Season-by-season record

Helena Brewers
Year Regular Season 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, 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, 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, 1–2
1994 44–28 .611 1st 2–3 .400 Lost PL Championship vs Billings Mustangs, 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, 2–0
1996 43–29 .597 2nd 4–1 .800 Won Northern Division Championship vs Lethbridge Black Diamonds, 2–1
Won PL Championship vs Ogden Raptors, 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, 0–2
2000 26–50 .342 4th – – —
2003 48–28 .632 2nd 1–2 .333 Lost Northern Division Championship vs Billings Mustangs, 1–2
2004 39–37 .513 2nd – – —
2005 46–30 .605 1st 2–2 .500 Won Northern Division Championship vs Billings Mustangs, 2–0
Lost PL Championship vs Orem Owlz, 0–2
2006 34–42 .447 3rd – – —
2007 48–28 .632 2nd 1–2 .333 Lost Northern Division Championship vs Great Falls White Sox, 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, 2–0
2011 30–46 .395 7th – – —
2012 24–52 .316 8th – – —
2013 43–33 .566 2nd 3-2 .600 Won North Division Championship vs Great Falls Voyagers, 2–0
Lost PL Championship vs Idaho Falls Chukars, 1–2
2014 27–49 .355 8th – – —
Totals 1,309–1,226 .516 – 29–26 .509 4 League Championships
Note: * Finish denotes overall position in the league standings.

Major leaguers

The following is a list of Helena players by year that would eventually play in Major League baseball:

Roster

Helena Brewers roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Tristan Archer
  • 13 David Carver
  • 22 Donnie Hissa
  • 10 J. B. Kole
  • 37 Junior Rincon
  • -- Gian Rizzo
  • 23 Devin Williams
  • -- Taylor Williams

Catchers

  • -- Paul Eshleman
  • -- Beau Wallace

Infielders

  •  6 Francisco Castillo
  • 15 Connor Narron
  •  4 Alan Sharkey

Outfielders

  • 16 Mitch Meyer

Manager

  •  7 Tony Diggs

Coaches


7-day disabled list
* On Milwaukee Brewers 40-man roster
∞ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
‡ Restricted list
# Rehab assignment
Roster updated April 16, 2015
Transactions · Coaching staff
→ More MiLB rosters
→ Milwaukee Brewers minor league players

External links