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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.
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.
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
2008
35–41
.461
6th
—
—
—
Totals
1077–1239
.465
—
19–21
.475
3 League Championships
Note: * Finish denotes their position in the overall league standings.
Roster
Helena Brewers roster
Players
Coaches/Other
Pitchers
59 Cody Adams
79 Adam Arnold
49 Nestor Corredor
48 Santo Manzanillo
56 Daniel Meadows
77 Efrain Nieves
64 Liam Ohlmann
95 Brandon Rapoza
82 Brandon Ritchie
75 Rico Salmon
57 Garrett Sherrill
73 Nick Tyson
71 Trey Watten
50 Mark Willinsky
Catchers
24 Derrick Alfonso
16 Corey Kemp
72 Michael Roberts
Infielders
68 Steven Braun
9 John Delaney
78 Jose Duran
70 David Fonseca
53 Brock Kjeldgaard
67 Miguel Vasquez
Outfielders
6 Christopher Dennis
51 Cutter Dykstra
63 Erik Miller
Manager
Coaches
7 Norberto Martin (hitting)
15 Aristarco Tirado (pitching)
30 Ned Yost IV (coach)
Aaron Hoback (trainer)
† Disabled list
* On Milwaukee Brewers 40-man roster
‡ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
Roster updated 2008 -11-21
Transactions
Notable alumni
Former players include Ryan Braun , Matt LaPorta , Jaime Navarro , Mike Sarbaugh , and Jared Theodorakos .
External links
,
Ballparks
Culture
Important Figures
Retired Numbers
Key Personnel
Minors
League Pennants
American League:
1982 • National League:
none
Division Titles
AL East:
1981 (second half) •
1982 • NL Central:
none • Wild Card:
2008
Seasons (41)
1960s
1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s