Boise Pilots Explained

Boise Pilots
Allyears:1939–42, 1946–51, 1954
City:Boise, Idaho
Past Class Level:Class C
Past League:Pioneer League
Pastparks:Airway Park (1939–42, 1946–51)
Joe Devine Airway Park (1954)

The Boise Pilots were a minor league baseball team in the western United States, based in Boise, Idaho. They played in the Pioneer League for a total of 11 seasons between 1939 and 1954. They were unaffiliated with any major league team, and played at the Class C level. Their home venue was originally named Airway Park in 1939, and in 1952 was renamed Joe Devine Airway Park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Boise in 1904 when the Boise Fruit Pickers played as members of the Pacific National League.[1] In 1905, the Boise Infants continued play in the Pacific National League.[2] Boise fielded two teams in 1909, as Boise played as members of the Montana State League,[3] and the Boise Irrigators were members of the Inter-Mountain League.[4] The Boise Irrigators later played in the Union Association (1911, 1914)[5] [6] and Western Tri-State League (1912–1913).[7] [8]

The Boise Pilots immediately followed the Boise Senators of the 1928 Utah-Idaho League and were one of the six original teams of the Pioneer League when it was formed in 1939. The team competed through the 1951 season, except for three years during World War II when the league did not operate. Boise's team then became the Yankees, who were affiliated with New York during 1952 and 1953. That affiliation did not continue, and the team operated independently again as the Pilots in 1954. Boise's team then became a Milwaukee affiliate from 1955 through 1963, operating as the Braves. After the Braves' final season of 1963, the ballpark was demolished, and Boise was without a minor league team until the Boise A's of the Northwest League debuted in 1975.

Season records

Season Manager(s) W–L Win % Finish Playoffs Ref
193962–62 .500 3rd no playoffs held [9]
194066–63 .512 3rd lost in finals [10]
194181–49 .623 1st lost in finals [11]
194268–51 .571 2nd lost in finals [12]
1943–45 league paused due to World War II
1946Walter Lowe 52–77 .403 6th none [13]
194767–70 .489 4th none [14]
194858–68 .460 6th none [15]
1949William Stenger
Gordon Williamson
47–77 .379 7th none [16]
195050–74 .403 7th none [17]
1951Thomas Lloyd
Frank Gregory
51–88 .367 8th none [18]
1952–53 team operated as the Boise Yankees
195447–84 .359 8th none [19]

All-stars

Season[20] Name & Position
1940 Walter Lowe, 1B
Joe Egnatz, OF
Elden Lorenzen, Util.
1941 Jack Radtke, 2B
Joe Egnatz, OF
Clifford Barker, C
Gerry Staley, P
1947 Walter Lowe, 1B
Lou Tamone, 3B
1948 William Franks, P
1954 William Francis, P

Notable players

See also

External links

43.602°N -116.186°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1904 Pacific National League . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  2. Web site: 1905 Pacific National League . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  3. Web site: 1909 Montana State League Standings . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  4. Web site: 1909 Inter-Mountain League . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  5. Web site: 1911 Union Association . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  6. Web site: 1914 Union Association . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  7. Web site: 1912 Western Tri-State League . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  8. Web site: 1913 Western Tri-State League . statscrew.com . December 27, 2020.
  9. Web site: 1939 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  10. Web site: 1940 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  11. Web site: 1941 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  12. Web site: 1942 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  13. Web site: 1946 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  14. Web site: 1947 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  15. Web site: 1948 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  16. Web site: 1949 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  17. Web site: 1950 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  18. Web site: 1951 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  19. Web site: 1954 Boise Pilots . . August 16, 2017.
  20. Web site: All-Star Teams 1939-1963 . milb.com . August 16, 2017.