Editing Pioneer League (baseball)

{{Short description|Baseball league in the Western United States}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season = 2025 Pioneer League season
| title          = Pioneer League
| logo           = Pioneer League.png
| classification = [[Independent baseball league|Independent league]]
| sport          = Baseball
| founded        = {{start date and years ago|1939|p=yes}}
| president      = Mike Shapiro
| commissioner   = Henry Hunter
| teams          = 12
| country        = United States
| champion       = [[Yolo High Wheelers]] (2024)
| most_champs    = [[Billings Mustangs]] (15)
| website        = [https://www.pioneerleague.com/landing/index Official website]
}}

The '''Pioneer Baseball League''' (also known as simply the '''Pioneer League''') is a [[professional sports|professional]] [[baseball]] [[Sports league|league]]  based in the [[Western United States]]. It operates as one of four [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) Partner Leagues in the American [[independent baseball league]] system without MLB team affiliations. The league is contested by twelve teams from the [[Northern California]] and [[Rocky Mountains]] regions, who play a [[Season (sports)|regular season]] split into two halves. The top two teams at the end of each half qualify for a [[Playoffs|postseason]] tournament that determines the overall champion. 

The Pioneer League was established in 1939 as a [[Minor League Baseball#Classification history|Class C]] [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] consisting of six teams from [[Idaho]] and [[Utah]]. It later expanded to [[Montana]] as part of a failed effort in the 1950s to become a third major league rivalling the [[American League|American]] and [[National League (baseball)|National]] leagues, complicated by competition with the [[Pacific Coast League]]. By the time it was reclassified as a [[Minor League Baseball#Rookie|Rookie]] league in 1964, only four teams in Idaho remained. Gradually, it returned to Montana and Utah, and expanded into [[Colorado]] and the Canadian province of [[Alberta]] by 1974, and since then has consistently had eight or more teams competing. In 2021, the league became independent, and ceased all MLB team affiliations, reorganizing as an MLB Partner League representing the Western United States market. An expansion into [[California]] followed in 2024.

As of the [[2024 Pioneer League season|2024 season]], four teams from Montana, three from Colorado, two from California and Idaho each, and one from Utah compete in the Pioneer League. Nineteen franchises have competed in the league across its {{Age in years|1939|01|01}}-year history, with the [[Missoula PaddleHeads]], a current team that joined as the [[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Pocatello Cardinals]] in the inaugural season, being the longest-tenured. The [[Ogden Raptors]] are the current champions, while the [[Billings Mustangs]], also a current team, have won the most championships (15).

== History ==

The Pioneer League began in 1939 with six teams in [[Idaho]] and [[Utah]], operating at the [[Minor League Baseball#Pre-1963 classifications|Class C]] level. The original six teams were the [[Boise Pilots]], [[Lewiston Indians]], [[Ogden Reds]], [[Pocatello Cardinals]], [[Salt Lake City Bees]], and [[Twin Falls Cowboys]]. With players in short supply due to [[World War II]], the league suspended operations for the 1943 through 1945 seasons.

In 1948, the league expanded by adding two teams in [[Montana]]; the [[Billings Mustangs]] and [[Great Falls Electrics]]. In these early years, teams in the league either operated independently or were affiliated with [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) or [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL) parent clubs, as the PCL was attempting to grow into a third major league (a bid that ultimately failed). When MLB's [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] displaced the PCL's [[Hollywood Stars]] in 1958, the Stars relocated and became the "new" Salt Lake City Bees, remaining in the PCL and taking away the Pioneer League's largest market.

By 1959, the Pioneer League was down to six teams; Billings and Great Falls along with the [[Boise Braves]], [[Idaho Falls Russets]], [[Missoula Timberjacks]], and [[Pocatello A's|Pocatello Athletics]]. The league operated at the [[Minor League Baseball#Class A|Class A]] level for one year (1963), before changing to Rookie league in 1964, when there were only four teams in the league; the [[Idaho Falls Angels]], [[Magic Valley Cowboys]], [[Pocatello Chiefs]], and [[Treasure Valley Cubs]]. By 1978, the league had again grown to eight teams — Billings and Idaho Falls along with the [[Butte Copper Kings]], [[Calgary Cardinals]], [[Great Falls Giants]], [[Helena Phillies]], [[Lethbridge Dodgers]], and [[Medicine Hat Blue Jays]]. With the exception of 1986 (when there were six teams), there have been at least eight teams in the league since then.

In 2016, total league attendance was 616,686,<ref>{{cite web|title=Pioneer League: Attendance (2016)|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2016&t=l_att&lid=128&sid=l128|website=[[MiLB.com]]|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> down slightly from the 2015 total of 633,622.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pioneer League: Attendance (2015)|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2015&t=l_att&lid=128&sid=l128|website=MiLB.com|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref>

In its final years as an MLB-affiliated league, the Pioneer League was one of two "Rookie Advanced" minor leagues along with the [[Appalachian League]]. As such, it occupied the second-lowest rung in the minor league ladder. 
Although classified as a Rookie league, the level of play was slightly higher than that of the two "complex" Rookie leagues, the [[Gulf Coast League]] and [[Arizona League]]. Unlike the complex leagues, Pioneer League teams charged admission and sold concessions. It was almost exclusively the first fully professional league in which many players competed; most of the players had just been signed out of high school. It was a short-season league that competed from late June (when Major League teams signed players whom they selected in the amateur draft) to early September.

After the 2018 season, the [[Helena Brewers]] relocated to [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], where they now play as the [[Rocky Mountain Vibes]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/06/13/new-name-on-tap-for-colorado-springs-pioneer-league-team/|title=New Name on Tap for Colorado Springs Pioneer League Team|work=Ballpark Digest|publisher=August Publications|date=June 13, 2018|access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref>

As the start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before being cancelled on June 30,<ref>{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=MiLB.com|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=MiLB.com|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> making the 2019 season the league's last as an MLB-affiliated league of Minor League Baseball.

In conjunction with the reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League was converted to an [[independent baseball league]] and was granted status as an MLB Partner League.<ref name="MLBann">{{cite web|title=Pioneer League named MLB Partner League|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pioneer-league-designated-mlb-partner-league|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=Major League Baseball|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref> The reconfigured league continued with the same franchises using the same identities, with the exception of the [[Orem Owlz]] who relocated to [[Windsor, Colorado]], as the [[Northern Colorado Owlz]].<ref name="MLBann" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Kirk|first=Alexander|title=Orem Owlz announce move to Windsor in 2021|url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/baseball/northern-colorado-owlz/73-bb93ff83-d8be-4057-aa8d-33c1d93c18af|work=[[KUSA (TV)|9 News]]|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref> The [[Boise Hawks]] also joined the Pioneer League in 2021 after moving from the [[Northwest League]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kloppenburg|first=Katie|title=Boise Hawks plan to join Pioneer Baseball League in 2021|url=https://www.kivitv.com/news/boise-hawks-plan-to-join-pioneer-baseball-league-in-2021|website=[[KIVI-TV|Idaho News 6]]|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=December 9, 2020}}</ref>

The Pioneer League announced a five-year naming rights deal between the league and ticket vendor TicketSmarter that would have the league go as The Pioneer Baseball League presented by TicketSmarter starting in time for the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 26, 2022|title=Pioneer League, TicketSmarter unveil naming-rights deal|work=Ballpark Digest|publisher=August Publications|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2022/01/26/pioneer-league-ticketsmarter-unveil-naming-rights-deal/|access-date=January 29, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 10, 2024, [[Kelsie Whitmore]] signed with the [[Oakland Ballers]] of the Pioneer League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/oakland-ballers-sign-teams-first-female-player/|title=Oakland Ballers sign team’s first female player|date=April 10, 2024}}</ref> She became the first woman to play for that league later that year. On June 6, 2024, she became the first female player to start a Pioneer League game. In that game she struck out one batter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5547719/2024/06/06/kelsie-whitmore-pioneer-league-women-history/|title=Kelsie Whitmore first woman to start Pioneer League game|first=Melissa|last=Lockard|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

== Organization ==

Mike Shapiro is the current president of the Pioneer Baseball League, having been a senior executive in a wide range of professional sports including baseball, golf, basketball and hockey.<ref name="staff">{{cite web |title=Pioneer League staff |url=https://www.milb.com/pioneer/league/staff-directory |website=Pioneer League |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=January 30, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Jim McCurdy is the commissioner<ref name="staff" /> and a past president of the Pioneer Baseball League. McCurdy received his BBA from the [[University of Houston]] in 1970 and his JD from the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in 1974. He mediated the restructure of Minor League Baseball's governing structure in 1992 and was an inaugural member of the MiLB board of trustees from 1992 to 1994. In 1993, he was appointed by the president of MiLB to serve on the Professional Baseball Executive Council. McCurdy was elevated to the position of league president in 1994, replacing Ralph Nelles who was the president from 1975 to 1993. McCurdy also teaches sports law courses at [[Gonzaga University School of Law]] and the [[University of San Diego School of Law]]. His publications include: Sports Law: Cases & Materials (with Ray Yasser, C. Peter Goplerud, and Maureen Weston) (7th ed. LexisNexis 2011),<ref name="pubs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tjsl.edu/directory/james-r-mccurdy|title=James R. McCurdy|date=December 11, 2015|language=en|access-date=August 11, 2016|website=[[Thomas Jefferson School of Law]]}}</ref> ''Thunder on the Road from Seattle to Oklahoma City: Going from NOPA to ZOPA in the NBA, in'' Legal Issues in American Basketball ch. IV (Lewis Kurlantzick ed., Academica Press 2011),<ref name="pubs" /> and, ''The Fundamental Nature of Professional Sports Leagues, Constituent Clubs, & Mutual Duties to Protect Market Opportunities: Organized Baseball Case Study, in'' Legal Issues in Professional Baseball ch. IV (Lewis Kurlantzick ed., Academica Press 2005).<ref name="pubs" />

== Teams ==
{{See also|List of Pioneer League team rosters}}

=== Map of teams ===
{{OSM Location map      
| nolabels = 1  
| coord = {{coord|43.280|-113.310}}
| zoom = 5
| width = 600
| height = 500| caption = {{hlist
| [[File:Blue pog.svg|11px]] Current Members
}}
| mark1 = blue pog.svg|shape-color1 = blue| label1 = Mustangs| mark-title1=[[Billings Mustangs]]| mark-coord1 = {{coord|45.783|-108.501}}| label-pos1 = right| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = blue pog.svg|shape-color2 = blue| label2 = Hawks| mark-title2=[[Boise Hawks]]| mark-coord2 = {{coord|43.615|-116.202}}| label-pos2 = top| label-color2 = black
| mark3 = blue pog.svg|shape-color3 = blue| label3 = Range Riders| mark-title3=[[Glacier Range Riders]]| mark-coord3 = {{coord|48.192|-114.317}}| label-pos3 = left| label-color3 = black
| mark4 = blue pog.svg|shape-color4 = blue| label4 = Jackalopes| mark-title4=[[Grand Junction Jackalopes]]| mark-coord4 = {{coord|39.064|-108.551}}| label-pos4 = left| label-color4 = black
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| mark8 = blue pog.svg|shape-color8 = blue| label8 = Owlz| mark-title8=[[Northern Colorado Owlz]]| mark-coord8 = {{coord|40.476|-104.901}}| label-pos8 = left| label-color8 = black
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| mark10 = blue pog.svg|shape-color10 = blue| label10 = Raptors| mark-title10=[[Ogden Raptors]]| mark-coord10 = {{coord|41.223|-111.974}}| label-pos10 = right| label-color10 = black
| mark11 = blue pog.svg|shape-color11 = blue| label11 = Vibes| mark-title11=[[Rocky Mountain Vibes]]| mark-coord11 = {{coord|38.831|-104.821}}| label-pos11 = bottom| label-color11 = black
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{{-}}

=== Table of current teams ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
! Team !! class="unsortable" | Location !! Joined !! class="unsortable" | Stadium !! Capacity
|-
| '''[[Billings Mustangs]]''' || [[Billings, Montana]] || 1948 || [[Dehler Park]] || 3,071
|-
| '''[[Boise Hawks]]''' || [[Boise, Idaho]]|| 2021{{Efn|Previously played in the [[Northwest League]] from 1969 to 2020.}} || [[Memorial Stadium (Boise)|Memorial Stadium]] || 3,452
|-
| '''[[Glacier Range Riders]]''' || [[Kalispell, Montana]] || 2022 || [[Glacier Bank Park]]|| 2,500
|-
| '''[[Grand Junction Jackalopes]]''' || [[Grand Junction, Colorado]] || 1978 || [[Suplizio Field]] || 10,000
|-
| '''[[Great Falls Voyagers]]''' || [[Great Falls, Montana]] || 1948 || [[Centene Stadium (Great Falls, Montana)|Centene Stadium]] || 4,000
|-
| '''[[Idaho Falls Chukars]]''' || [[Idaho Falls, Idaho]] || 1940 || [[Melaleuca Field]] || 3,400
|-
| '''[[Missoula PaddleHeads]]''' || [[Missoula, Montana]] || 1939 || [[Ogren Park at Allegiance Field]] || 5,000
|-
| '''[[Northern Colorado Owlz]]''' || [[Windsor, Colorado]] || 1978 || [[Future Legends Complex]] || 6,000
|-
| '''[[Oakland Ballers]]''' || [[Oakland, California]] || 2024 || [[Raimondi Park]] || 4,000
|-
| '''[[Ogden Raptors]]''' || [[Ogden, Utah]] || 1977 || [[Lindquist Field]] || 8,700
|-
| '''[[Rocky Mountain Vibes]]''' || [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]] || 1977{{Efn|Previously played in the [[Northwest League]] from 1974 to 1976.}} || [[UCHealth Park]] || 8,500
|-
| '''[[Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers]]''' || [[Marysville, California]] || 2024 || [[Bryant Field (stadium)|Bryant Field]] || 4,000
|}

{{Ubl|'''List of franchises (1939–present)'''|{{Resize|'''''Bold''' text indicates current teams''}}}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{Resizediv|
* [[Boise Pilots]] / [[Boise Yankees]] / [[Boise Braves]] (1939–1963)
* [[Lewiston Indians]] (1939)
* [[Ogden Reds]] (1939–1955)
* [[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Pocatello Cardinals / Pocatello Bannocks / Pocatello A's / Pocatello Giants / Pocatello Chiefs]] / [[Ogden Dodgers|Ogden Dodgers / Ogden Spikers]] / [[Lethbridge Dodgers|Lethbridge Expos / Lethbridge Dodgers]] / [[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Pocatello Gems / Gate City Pioneers / Pocatello Pioneers]] / [[Lethbridge Black Diamonds|Lethbridge Mounties / Lethbridge Black Diamonds]] / [[Missoula PaddleHeads|Missoula Osprey / '''Missoula PaddleHeads''']] (1939–present)
* [[Salt Lake City Bees|Salt Lake City Bees / Salt Lake City Giants]] (1939–1957; 1967–1969)
* [[Twin Falls Cowboys]] / [[Magic Valley Cowboys]] (1939–1971)
* [[Idaho Falls Chukars|Idaho Falls Russets / Idaho Falls Yankees / Idaho Falls Angels / Idaho Falls A's / Idaho Falls Eagles / Idaho Falls Braves / Idaho Falls Gems / Idaho Falls Padres / '''Idaho Falls Chukars''']] (1940–present)
* '''[[Billings Mustangs]]''' (1948–present)
* [[Great Falls Electrics|Great Falls Electrics / Great Falls Selectrics / Great Falls Dodgers]] / [[Great Falls Voyagers|Great Falls Giants / Great Falls Dodgers / Great Falls White Sox / '''Great Falls Voyagers''']] (1948–present)
* [[Missoula Timberjacks]] (1956–1960)
* [[Caldwell Cubs|Treasure Valley Cubs / Caldwell Cubs]] (1964–1971)
* [[Calgary Cardinals]] / [[Calgary Expos]] / [[Salt Lake City Trappers]] / [[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Pocatello Posse]] / '''[[Ogden Raptors]]''' (1977–present)
* [[Medicine Hat A's]] / [[Medicine Hat Blue Jays]] / [[Helena Brewers]] / '''[[Rocky Mountain Vibes]]''' (1977–present)
* [[Grand Junction Jackalopes|Butte Copper Kings / Casper Rockies / Casper Ghosts / Grand Junction Rockies / '''Grand Junction Jackalopes''']] (1978–present)
* [[Helena Brewers|Helena Phillies / Helena Gold Sox / Helena Brewers]] / [[Orem Owlz|Provo Angels / Orem Owlz]] / '''[[Northern Colorado Owlz]]''' (1978–present)
* '''[[Boise Hawks]]''' (2021–present)
* '''[[Glacier Range Riders]]''' (2022–present)
* '''[[Oakland Ballers]]''' (2024–present)
* [[Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers|Yolo High Wheelers / '''Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers''']] (2024–present)
}}
{{Div col end}}

'''Timeline of franchises (1939–present)'''

{{#tag:timeline|
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
ImageSize  = width:1600 height:auto barincrement:25
PlotArea   = right:0 left:8 bottom:60 top:0
Period     = from:01/01/1938 till:10/01/2032
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
Legend     = orientation:vertical
Colors     =
  id:league    value:rgb(0.83,0.92,0.96) Legend:Playing_in_Pioneer_League
  id:nonleague value:rgb(0.97,0.97,0.69) Legend:Playing_in_another_league
  id:grid      value:rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:grid unit:year increment:2 start:01/01/1939
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:grid unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1939
PlotData   = 
  width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
  bar:1  color:league    from:01/22/1939 till:12/10/1942 text:"[[Boise Pilots]]"
  bar:1  color:league    from:01/22/1946 till:12/10/1951
  bar:1  color:league    from:01/22/1952 till:12/10/1953 text:"[[Boise Yankees|Yank.]]"
  bar:1  color:league    from:01/22/1954 till:12/10/1954 text:"[[Boise Pilots|P.]]"
  bar:1  color:league    from:01/22/1955 till:12/10/1963 text:"[[Boise Braves]]"
  bar:2  color:league    from:01/22/1939 till:12/10/1939 text:"[[Lewiston Indians]]"
  bar:3  color:league    from:01/22/1939 till:12/10/1942 text:"[[Ogden Reds]]"
  bar:3  color:league    from:01/22/1946 till:12/10/1955 
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1939 till:12/10/1942 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Pocatello Cardinals]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1946 till:12/10/1951
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1952 till:12/10/1956 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Bannocks]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1957 till:12/10/1959 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|A's]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1960 till:12/10/1960 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|G.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1961 till:12/10/1961 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|B.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1962 till:12/10/1965 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|Chiefs]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1966 till:12/10/1973 text:"[[Ogden Dodgers]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1974 till:12/10/1974 text:"[[Ogden Dodgers|S.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1975 till:12/10/1976 text:"[[Lethbridge Dodgers|Exp.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1977 till:12/10/1983 text:"[[Lethbridge Dodgers]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1984 till:12/10/1987 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|P. Gems]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1988 till:12/10/1989 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|P. Gi.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1990 till:12/10/1990 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|G.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1991 till:12/10/1991 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|P.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1992 till:12/10/1995 text:"[[Lethbridge Black Diamonds|L. Mounties]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1996 till:12/10/1998 text:"[[Lethbridge Black Diamonds|Black Di.]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/1999 till:12/10/2019 text:"[[Missoula PaddleHeads|Missoula Osprey]]"
  bar:4  color:league    from:01/22/2020 till:end        text:"[[Missoula PaddleHeads]]"
  bar:5  color:league    from:01/22/1939 till:12/10/1942 text:"[[Salt Lake City Bees]]"
  bar:5  color:league    from:01/22/1946 till:12/10/1957 
  bar:5  color:nonleague from:01/22/1958 till:12/10/1965 
  bar:5  color:league    from:01/22/1967 till:12/10/1968 text:"[[Salt Lake City Bees|Gian.]]"
  bar:5  color:league    from:01/22/1969 till:12/10/1969 text:"[[Salt Lake City Bees]]"
  bar:5  color:nonleague from:01/22/1970 till:12/10/1984 
  bar:6  color:league    from:01/22/1939 till:12/10/1942 text:"[[Twin Falls Cowboys]]"
  bar:6  color:league    from:01/22/1946 till:12/10/1951 
  bar:6  color:league    from:01/22/1952 till:12/10/1958 text:"[[Magic Valley Cowboys]]" 
  bar:6  color:league    from:01/22/1961 till:12/10/1966
  bar:6  color:league    from:01/22/1968 till:12/10/1971
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1940 till:12/10/1942 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|Idaho Falls Russets]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1946 till:12/10/1961
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1962 till:12/10/1965 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|Yankees]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1966 till:12/10/1981 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|Idaho Falls Angels]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1982 till:12/10/1984 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|A's]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1985 till:12/10/1985 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|E.]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1986 till:12/10/1991 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|Idaho Falls Braves]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1992 till:12/10/1992 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|G.]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/1993 till:12/10/1999 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|Idaho Falls Braves]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/2000 till:12/10/2003 text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars|Padres]]"
  bar:7  color:league    from:01/22/2004 till:end        text:"[[Idaho Falls Chukars]]"
  bar:8  color:league    from:01/22/1948 till:12/10/1963 text:"[[Billings Mustangs]]"
  bar:8  color:league    from:01/22/1969 till:end
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1948 till:12/10/1948 text:"[[Great Falls Electrics|E.]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1949 till:12/10/1950 text:"[[Great Falls Electrics|Sele.]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1951 till:12/10/1956 text:"[[Great Falls Electrics]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1957 till:12/10/1957 text:"[[Great Falls Electrics|D.]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1958 till:12/10/1963 text:"[[Great Falls Electrics]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1969 till:12/10/1983 text:"[[Great Falls Voyagers|Great Falls Giants]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/1984 till:12/10/2002 text:"[[Great Falls Voyagers|Great Falls Dodgers]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/2003 till:12/10/2007 text:"[[Great Falls Voyagers|White Sox]]"
  bar:9  color:league    from:01/22/2008 till:end text:"[[Great Falls Voyagers]]"
  bar:10 color:league    from:01/22/1956 till:12/10/1960 text:"[[Missoula Timberjacks]]"
  bar:11 color:league    from:01/22/1964 till:12/10/1966 text:"[[Caldwell Cubs|TV Cubs]]"
  bar:11 color:league    from:01/22/1967 till:12/10/1971 text:"[[Caldwell Cubs]]"
  bar:12 color:league    from:01/22/1977 till:12/10/1978 text:"[[Calgary Cardinals|Card.]]"
  bar:12 color:league    from:01/22/1979 till:12/10/1984 text:"[[Calgary Expos]]"
  bar:12 color:league    from:01/22/1985 till:12/10/1992 text:"[[Salt Lake City Trappers]]"
  bar:12 color:league    from:01/22/1993 till:12/10/1993 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|P.]]"
  bar:12 color:league    from:01/22/1993 till:12/10/1993 text:"[[Pocatello, Idaho minor league baseball teams|P.]]"
  bar:12 color:league    from:01/22/1994 till:end        text:"[[Ogden Raptors]]"
  bar:13 color:nonleague from:01/22/1974 till:12/10/1976
  bar:13 color:league    from:01/22/1977 till:12/10/1977 text:"[[Medicine Hat A's|A.]]"
  bar:13 color:league    from:01/22/1978 till:12/10/2002 text:"[[Medicine Hat Blue Jays]]"
  bar:13 color:league    from:01/22/2003 till:12/10/2018 text:"[[Helena Brewers]]"
  bar:13 color:league    from:01/22/2019 till:end        text:"[[Rocky Mountain Vibes]]"
  bar:14 color:league    from:01/22/1978 till:12/10/1985 text:"[[Grand Junction Jackalopes|Butte Copper Kings]]"
  bar:14 color:league    from:01/22/1987 till:12/10/2000
  bar:14 color:league    from:01/22/2001 till:12/10/2007 text:"[[Grand Junction Jackalopes|Casper Rockies]]"
  bar:14 color:league    from:01/22/2008 till:12/10/2011 text:"[[Grand Junction Jackalopes|Ghosts]]"
  bar:14 color:league    from:01/22/2012 till:12/10/2022 text:"[[Grand Junction Jackalopes|Grand Junction Rockies]]"
  bar:14 color:league    from:01/22/2023 till:end text:"[[Grand Junction Jackalopes]]"
  bar:15 color:league    from:01/22/1978 till:12/10/1983 text:"[[Helena Brewers|Helena Phillies]]"
  bar:15 color:league    from:01/22/1984 till:12/10/1986 text:"[[Helena Brewers|Gold S.]]"
  bar:15 color:league    from:01/22/1987 till:12/10/2000 text:"[[Helena Brewers]]"
  bar:15 color:league    from:01/22/2001 till:12/10/2004 text:"[[Orem Owlz|Angels]]"
  bar:15 color:league    from:01/22/2005 till:12/10/2020 text:"[[Orem Owlz]]"
  bar:15 color:league    from:01/22/2022 till:end text:"[[Northern Colorado Owlz]]"
  bar:16 color:nonleague from:01/22/1969 till:12/10/2020
  bar:16 color:league    from:01/22/2021 till:end text:"[[Boise Hawks]]"
  bar:17 color:league    from:01/22/2022 till:end text:"[[Glacier Range Riders]]"
  bar:18 color:league    from:01/22/2024 till:end text:"[[Oakland Ballers]]"
  bar:19 color:league    from:01/22/2024 till:end text:"[[Yolo High Wheelers]]"
  bar:20 color:white     from:01/01/1938 till:12/01/1938
}}

== Champions ==
{{main|List of Pioneer League champions}}

League champions have been determined by different means since the Pioneer League's formation in 1939. There were postseason playoffs when the league operated as Class C (1939–1962), except for 1939 and 1956, and for the three years during World War II when the league did not operate. In the league's one year as Class A (1963), there were also postseason playoffs. After becoming a Rookie league in 1964, the league champions were simply the regular season pennant winners through 1977. Since 1978, postseason playoffs have again been held to determine a league champion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/pioneer/history/champions|title=Pioneer League Champions|website=Pioneer League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |edition=third |date=2007 |first1=Lloyd |last1=Johnson |first2=Miles |last2=Wolff |isbn=9781932391176 |publisher=Baseball America}}</ref>


== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Pioneer League|state=expanded}}
{{Professional Baseball}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Pioneer League (baseball)| ]]
[[Category:Independent baseball leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Minor baseball leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1939]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in Utah]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in Idaho]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in Montana]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in Colorado]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in Wyoming]]