Portland Pickles

The Portland Pickles are a collegiate woodbat baseball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the South Division of the West Coast League, a premier collegiate summer baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The Pickles play their home games at Walker Stadium in Portland's Lents Park.

Portland Pickles
Information
LeagueWest Coast League (2018–present)
LocationPortland, Oregon
BallparkCharles B. Walker Stadium at Lents Park
Year founded2015
Nickname(s)Picks
League championships0
Division championships1
Former league(s)Great West League (2016-2017)
ColorsNavy Blue, Green and White
     
MascotDillon the Pickle
OwnershipRose City Baseball, LLC
Alan Miller
Jon Ryan
ManagerJustin Barchus
General ManagerRoss Campbell
Websitewww.portlandpicklesbaseball.com

History

How the Pickles got the name (2015)

On April 21, 2015, team officials announced the team's name at Woodstock Elementary School in Southeast Portland.[1] The name was selected by online voting from six candidates. In order of vote, Pickles was followed by Mud Hounds, Red Dogs, Posse, Pliers, and Pixels.

Great West League (2015–2017)

The Pickles were charter members of the Great West League, having been founded in 2015 by GWL commissioner Ken Wilson. The Pickles played before 16 sell-outs and to 99% of capacity in their inaugural 2016 season. A month before their second season on April 5, 2017, it was announced that Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan and marketing entrepreneur Alan Miller would become part of the Pickles ownership group, along with members from Rose City Baseball LLC. Former Major League Baseball pitcher and Oregon-native Jeff Lahti took over the managerial role for the 2017 season, and the Pickles were eliminated from the Great West League playoffs by the Medford Rogues (Great West League).

West Coast League (2018–present)

On October 24, 2017, the Pickles announced that they were leaving the GWL and joining the West Coast League.[2] Prior to the 2018 season, Gresham GreyWolves head coach Justin Barchus replaced Lahti as manager. His team won the South Division in the first half of the season with a 17–9 record, securing them a playoff spot in their first year. The Pickles went on to claim the best record in the WCL by going 37–17 overall, but could not get past the Corvallis Knights in the first round of playoffs. Justin Barchus went on to win WCL Coach of the Year along with Kelowna Falcons manager Brain Donohue.

CBD sponsorship

On May 15, 2019, the Portland Pickles announced a two-year-long sponsorship with Lazarus Nationals. The deal with the Portland based CBD (Cannabidiol) company acted as the very first deal of its kind in Baseball history. Along with this, Lazarus Nationals sponsored a concert series at the Pickles ballpark, Walker Stadium.

The sponsorship also took shape in the form of the Lazarus Nationals Veterans at The Park Program which allows for local veterans to be submitted for special tickets in the Lazarus Nationals Patriot Box at Walker Stadium.[3]

The Portland Gherkins

The Portland Gherkins are a team in the Summer Collegiate West Coast league and farm team to Portland Pickles. The team plays fellow teams in the WCL including the Pickles with Gherkin players given the opportunity to move up to the Pickles roster based on ability.

Largely made up of local players, the Gherkins have partnered with the Milwaukie, Oregon-based company Dave's Killer Bread for the latter to act as the official broadcast partner.[4]

Relationship with the Venados

On October 9, 2019, the Portland Pickles faced off against the Mazatlan Venados in a friendly exhibition game in front of 16,000 people. In the lead up to the game, the Pickles held tryouts amongst fans in Portland for the chance to travel with the team to Mexico and play in the game. There is currently a documentary on the game in the works that is slated to be released soon.[5]

Wild Wild West League (2020)

On June 5, 2020, the West Coast League board of directors voted to cancel the 2020 season.[6] The Pickles organization founded the Wild Wild West League in response, playing in Bob Brack Stadium in Aurora, Oregon. The league consisted of four teams: the Portland Pickles, Portland Gherkins, Gresham Greywolves, and West Linn Knights. Games ran from July 11 to August 7 with playoffs on August 8 and a final championship game on August 9. The West Linn Knights took on the Portland Pickles in the championship and took the title in a close match up, winning 8–7. [7]

Promotional events

The Portland Pickles had a wide variety of promotional nights including Tattoo Tuesday, Woof Wednesday, and weekly concerts at the ballpark ("Rock the Walk") during the 2019 season.[8] They also offer regular giveaways where fans get free socks, bobble heads, scarves, stocking caps, posters, and t-shirts.[9]

Broadcast

Pickles games are broadcast on Facebook Live and YouTube with play-by-play announcer Judah Newby. The Wild Wild West League announcer in summer 2020 was Carlo Jimenez.

References
Specific
  1. Tribune, Portland. "Name that team: Portland Pickles is the winner". joomlakave.com. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  2. Pickles Join the West Coast League, Portland Pickles website, October 24, 2017
  3. West Coast League's Portland Pickles Unveil First-Ever CBD Sponsorship In Baseball, Forbes, May 16, 2019
  4. New for 2020: Portland Gherkins, Ballpark Digest, December 11, 2019
  5. Portland Pickles open tryouts to the public before game in Mexico, KATU 2 Website, August 21, 2019
  6. "WCL Cancels 2020 Season". West Coast League. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  7. "2020 Wild Wild West League". gc.com. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  8. Garcia, Kyle. "Pickles' sour first half turns sweeter". The Outlook. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  9. "Pickles Announce 2019 Promotional Schedule". Portland Pickles. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
General
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