Monday marked the end of an era at Kindrick Legion Field, where the Helena Brewers (Rookie; Pioneer League) played their final home game.
Once the 2018 season concludes, the Brewers will relocate to Colorado Springs. They will take the place of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), who are moving to San Antonio to replace the Missions (Class AA; Texas League) as they shift to a new ballpark in Amarillo. This is all part of a series of franchise relocations by owner Elmore Sports Group.
The Pioneer League season continues until later week, but the Brewers closed out a chapter in their history by playing their final regular-season home game at Kindrick Legion Field on Monday. The game, which resulted in the Missoula Osprey defeating the Brewers 4-0, marked an emotional day for front office staff members and fans alike, as the contest signaled the end of a tradition at Kindrick Legion Field. More from the Independent Record:
“It’s weird; I’ve been doing this for more 29 years,” Brewers general manager Paul Fetz said. “One season leads to another. However, that’s not the case here. This ballpark has been my whole life the past 16 years.”…
“It sucks,” said longtime fan Kim Ranger, who is also part of the team’s booster club. “I’ve been coming here for 20 years. To think we are not going to have baseball here is kind of sad. I’ve housed players. It’s an emotional day for many people.”
Professional baseball has been played in the stadium since 1978 when the Helena Phillies joined the Pioneer League. They were an independent team for a stretch, known as the Gold Sox.
Then the Milwaukee Brewers became the parent club in 1985. There was a two-year stint when the team moved to Provo, Utah, from 2000-02, but a team from Medicine Hat, Alberta, came to town to become the Brewers.
The Brewers will begin a three-game season finale series in Missoula on Tuesday. The club will rebrand once it arrives in Colorado Springs.
As for Kindrick Legion Field, baseball will continue to be played at the historic ballpark. A proposal to place a summer-collegiate Expedition League team at Kindrick Legion Field will be considered by city officials this week, but the ballpark is expected to remain open for American Legion baseball regardless. Kindrick Legion Field originally opened in 1932, and was the Pioneer League’s oldest active ballpark this season.