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Helena Brewers

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Helena Brewers
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesRookie (1978–2000, 2003–2018)
Previous leagues
Pioneer League (1978–2000, 2003–2018)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1984
  • 1995
  • 1996
  • 2010
Division titles (10)
  • 1979
  • 1984
  • 1987
  • 1993
  • 1994
  • 1995
  • 1996
  • 2005
  • 2010
  • 2013
Team data
Previous names
  • Helena Brewers (1987–2000, 2003–2018)
  • Helena Gold Sox (1984–1986)
  • Helena Phillies (1978–1983)
ColorsNavy blue, gold, white
     
MascotWally the Mammoth (2015–2018)
Lewis the Lion and Clark the Cougar (2003–2015)[1]
Brewinkle (1996-2000)
Previous parks
Kindrick Legion Field (1978–2000, 2003–2018)

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.

History

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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 league championship in back-to-back seasons in 1995 and 1996. The franchise moved to Provo, Utah, as the Provo Angels after the 2000 season. In 2003, the Medicine Hat Blue Jays moved to Helena, and the team once again became a Brewers affiliate.

The franchise left Helena for Colorado Springs, Colorado, after the 2018 season, where it would play as the Rocky Mountain Vibes.[2]

Season-by-season record

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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
2015 32–42 .432 8th
2016 28–46 .378 8th
2017 28–48 .368 8th
2018 36–40 .474 6th
Totals 1,433–1,402 .505 29–26 .509 4 League Championships
Note: * Finish denotes overall position in the league standings.

Major leaguers

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The following is a list of Helena players by year that later played in Major League Baseball:

References

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  1. ^ Shockley, Troy (May 19, 2015). "Brewers introduce team's newest addition". Independent Record. Helena, Montana. Retrieved March 7, 2019. farewell to old mascots Lewis the lion and Clark the cougar.
  2. ^ Hill, Benjamin (November 19, 2018). "Colorado Springs feels the Vibes". MILB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
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