Billings Mustangs

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Billings Mustangs
Founded in 1948
Billings, Montana
Image:Billings Mustangs logo.png
Team Logo
Image:BillingsMustangsCapLogo.PNG
Cap Insignia
Class-Level
  • Advanced Rookie
Minor League affiliations
Major League affiliations
Name
  • Billings Mustangs (1948-1963, 1969-present)
Ballpark
Minor League titles
League titles 1950, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2003
Division titles 1980, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004
Owner(s)/Operated by: Billings Pioneer Baseball Club, Inc.
Manager:
General Manager: Gary Roller

The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated with the Reds since 1974 (after an affiliation with the Kansas City Royals). The team was officially established on November 4, 1947.

The Mustangs play at Cobb Field, named in 1948 after Bob Cobb (not Ty Cobb, as many, most notably Peter Bouchoux, mistake its name for). Bob Cobb was responsible for bringing professional baseball to the city of Billings. In 2008, the team will move to a new ballpark.

The Mustangs won three consecutive Pioneer League titles from 1992 and 1994, then won another in 1997. In 2003, Billings beat the Provo Angels in the Championship Series 2 games to 0. Provo had tied the league record for wins that year with 54. Billings, the last team to qualify for the postseason, won game 1 at Provo 8-5 in 11 innings, then, Billings won 3-0 on a no-hitter by James Paduch to win the Championship in front of a sold-out Cobb Field in Billings. The game was a classic pitchers duel between two of the top pitchers in the league (Provo's being 2003 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year Abel Moreno). In 2006, Chris Valaika set a Pioneer League record with a 32-game hitting streak during the Mustangs 51-win campaign.

Many Major League stars have began their pro careers in Billings. These include George Brett, Reggie Sanders, Paul O'Neill, Keith Lockhart, Danny Tartabull, Ben Broussard, Scott Sullivan, Aaron Boone, Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, and B.J. Ryan.

After years of award-winning work in the front office, Assistant General Manager Gary Roller was promoted to General Manager for the 2005 season. Roller took over for long time GM and Mustangs Hall-of-Famer Bob Wilson. Matt Bender, who formerly handled the duties of Official Scorer, took over the vacated Assistant General Manager position.

Cobb Field is renowned in the Pioneer League for the "Beer Batter." Every game the Mustangs Beer Boosters designate one player as the "Beer Batter." If that player gets a hit, attendees can buy four beers for $8. Many eager buyers stand at the stairs anticipating a hit and the oncoming rush of people.

The Billings Mustangs changed their logo for the 2006 season. The 2007 season will be their last at Cobb Field, a new stadium will be built on the current site for the 2008 season.

Contents

[edit] Management

  • President - Bob Wilson
  • General Manager - Gary Roller
  • Secretary/Treasurer - Don Brocopp
  • Assistant General Manager - Matt Bender
  • Radio Broadcaster - Jerry Schemmel
  • P.A. Announcer(s) - Kyle Riley, Rob Kovatch, Tom Laroque
  • Grounds Crew - John Barta (Head Official), Willie Crtalic
  • Clubhouse Operations Director - Matt Koizim
  • Official Scorer/Statistician - Phil Sites
  • Scoreboard Operator - Seth Moir
  • Operations Intern - Chris Marshall
  • Ticket Booth - Teresa Sites
  • Programs - Kristen Glenn
  • Delta Force - Alex Taylor, Jeffery Glenn, Katie Desin, Matt Schoonover, Justin King
  • Beat Writer(s) - Mike Scherting and Greg Rachac (main beat writers from the Billings Gazette), Ed West, John Letasky

[edit] Coaching Staff

  • Manager/3rd Base - TBA
  • Hitting Coach - Aaron Holbert
  • Pitching Coach - Tom Browning
  • Bench Coach/1st Base - Rex De La Nuez (as of 2007)
  • Trainer - Charles Leddon
  • Strength Coach - John Gallagher
  • Team Physician - Dr. James Elliott
  • Team Optometrist - Dr. Brian Linde

[edit] Current Roster

Updated on September 4, 2007

Pitchers

 

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Disabled List

Inactive List

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] External links

Image:Flag of Montana.svg
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Sports teams based in Montana
Baseball PIO: Billings MustangsGreat Falls White SoxHelena BrewersMissoula Osprey
Basketball CBA: Butte DaredevilsGreat Falls Explorers
Football UIF: Billings Outlaws
Hockey NorPac: Billings BullsBozeman Icedogs • Butte Roughriders • Helena Bighorns • Missoula Maulers
College athletics
(NCAA Division I)
Montana State University - BozemanMontana Grizzlies
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