Missoula Timberjacks

The Missoula Timberjacks represented Missoula, Montana, in the Class C level Pioneer League from 1956 to 1960. Previously, Missoula played as members of the Montana State League (1892, 1905, 1925) and Union Association (1911–1913). Their best season was 1958 when they went 70–59 under manager Jack McKeon and had Jim Kaat on the roster.

Missoula Timberjacks
(1892, 1905, 1911–1913, 1925, 1956–1960)
Missoula, Montana
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass B (1892)
Class C (1956–1960)
Class D 1911–1914)
Independent (1900, 1905)
Previous leagues
Montana State League (1892, 1905, 1925)
Union Association (1911–1913)
Pioneer League (1956–1960)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsWashington Senators (1957–1959)
Cincinnati Reds (1960)
Minor league titles
League titles 1 1912
Division titles 1892
Team data
Previous names
Missoula (1892, 1905, 1911–1913, 1925)
Missoula Timberjacks (1956–1960)
Previous parks
Campbell Field

The Missoula Timberjacks were an affiliate of the Washington Senators (1957–1959) and Cincinnati Reds (1960).[1]

Baseball Hall of Fame member Clark Griffith played for Missoula in 1892.

History

The Timberjacks were preceded by Missoula teams in the Montana State League (1892, 1905, 1925) and Union Association (1911–1913).[2][3]

Missoula first began minor league play as charter members of the 1892 Montana State League. The 1892 Montana State League was six–team Class B league. The league played a split season. The Bozeman and Great Falls franchises disbanded on July 23, 1892, after the conclusion of the first half. The overall standings were Helena (29–21), Butte (26–22), Missoula (18–29) and Philipsburg (22–23). Bozeman had a record of 10–8 and the Great Falls Smelter Cities 6–10 when they folded. Butte won the first half championship and Missoula won the second half title. Butte won the overall championship. Helena allegedly forfeited over complaints regarding money and umpiring. Baseball Hall of Fame member Clark Griffith played for Missoula in 1892. It was reported Griffith pitched so well in one game that Missoula fans showered him with gold coins after the game. Griffith later bought property and built a home in Montana.The league did not return to play in 1893.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

The Montana State League played a season in 1905. Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula composed the league. No league standings or records are available.[11]

Missoula captured the Union Association championship in 1912.[2]

In 1925, the Montana State League played a final season as a four–team Independent minor league. Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula played in the league, which has no official results.[12]

The Timberjacks resumed play as members of the 1956 Class C Pioneer League.[13]

Country singer Charley Pride played for the Timberjacks briefly in 1960.[14]

Today, Missoula is home to the Missoula PaddleHeads, continuing play as members of the Rookie level Pioneer League.[15]

The ballpark

The Timberjacks played at Campbell Field for the duration of their existence. Built in 1947, the original ballpark burned in 1969 and was rebuilt. Campbell Field is still in use today on the campus of the University of Montana.[16][17]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
18921MissoulaClass BMontana State League
19051Independent
1911–19134Class DUnion Association
19251IndependentMontana State League
1956–19605Missoula TimberjacksClass DPioneer League

Year-by-Year Record
YearLeagueAffiliationRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
1892Montana State Leaguenone18–294thEd Cartwright/George McVey/Johnny MorinWon 2nd half title
1911Union Associationnone42–986thWilliam Joyce/Charles McCaffertynone
1912Union Associationnone83–511stCliff BlankenshipLeague Champs
1913Union Associationnone54–684thCliff Blankenship/Nig Perrinenone
1956Pioneer Leaguenone61–717thJack McKeonNone
1957Pioneer LeagueWashington Senators62–644thJack McKeonNone
1958Pioneer LeagueWashington Senators70–592ndJack McKeonNone
1959Pioneer LeagueWashington Senators56–736thRalph RoweNone
1960Pioneer LeagueCincinnati Reds58–714thRocky TedescoNone

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Missoula Timberjacks – BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Missoula (Union Association) – BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  3. "Montana State League – BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  4. "1892 Missoula Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "Montana State League". Baseball History Daily.
  6. "1892 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. Standard, RICHARD I. GIBSON for The Montana. "Mining City History: Baseball in Butte started in the 1890s". Montana Standard.
  8. History, SKYLAR BROWNING & JEREMY WATTERSON Montana Baseball. "From Brownie to the Black Sox: Montana baseball history's 10 gee-whiz moments". 406 MT SPORTS.
  9. "1892 Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1892 Montana State League (MSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1905 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1925 Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1956 Pioneer League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. Ratliff, Jason (February 23, 2006). "Baseball set stage for country legend". MLB. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  15. "Missoula, MT – BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  16. "Campbell Field in Missoula, MT history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. Herman, excerpted from a 1999 Missoulian article by Jeff. "The Timberjacks: Missoula's second baseball team had movie roots". Missoula.com.
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