Helena Brewers

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Helena Brewers
Founded in 1978
Helena, Montana

Team Logo

Cap Insignia
Class-Level
  • Rookie (1978–2000, 2003–present)
Minor League affiliations
Major League affiliations
Name
  • Helena Brewers (1987–2000), (2003–present)
  • Helena Gold Sox (1984–1986)
  • Helena Phillies (1978–1983)
Ballpark
Minor League titles
League titles 1984, 1995, 1996
Division titles 1979, 1984, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2005
Owner(s)/Operated by: D.G. Elmore
Manager: Rene Gonzales
General Manager: Paul Fetz

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 and are nicknamed the "Brew Crew." The team plays their home games at Kindrick Field; built in 1939, the park currently holds 2,010 fans.

They finished with a 48-28 record in the 2007 season, placing second in the Pioneer League. Three of the best-known players to play in Helena are Gary Sheffield who started his career with the Helena Gold Sox in 1986 and hall of famer Ryne Sandberg who started his career with the Phillies in Helena and current outfielder of the Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun.

Contents

[edit] 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, but 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.

[edit] Season-by-season record

Helena Brewers (Pioneer League)
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
Totals 1077-1239 .465 - 19-21 .475 3 League Championships
Note: * Finish denotes their position in the overall league standings.

[edit] Personnel

José Núñez is currently the team's pitching coach. Former players include Ryan Braun, Matthew Laporta, Jaime Navarro, Mike Sarbaugh, and Jared Theodorakos. Nicholas Tyson, a 2006 MLB Draft selection of the Milwaukee Brewers, currently plays for the team.

[edit] External links