| Billings Mustangs | |||||
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| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| Class | Independent (2021–present) | ||||
| Previous classes |
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| League | Pioneer League (1948–1963, 1969–present) | ||||
| Division | Northern Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Team | Independent (1948, 2021–present) | ||||
| Previous teams |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles (15) |
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| Division titles (10) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Name | Billings Mustangs (1948–1963, 1969–present) | ||||
| Mascot | Homer | ||||
| Ballpark | Dehler Park (2008–present) | ||||
Previous parks | Cobb Field (1948–1963, 1969–2007) | ||||
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Main Street Baseball[1] | ||||
| General manager | Gary Roller | ||||
| Manager | Jim Riggleman | ||||
The Billings Mustangs are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Billings, Montana, and have played their home games at Dehler Park since 2008. The previously played at Cobb Field.
The Mustangs joined the Pioneer League in 1948 and, with the exception of a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, have been members ever since. The league was affiliated with MLB teams until 2020, when it was reorganized as an independent league. Prior to this, the Mustangs had affiliations with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1949–1951), Pittsburgh Pirates (1952–1956), St. Louis Cardinals (1957–1963), Seattle Pilots (1969), Kansas City Royals (1970–1973), and Cincinnati Reds (1974–2020).
The Mustangs won three consecutive Pioneer League championships from 1992 to 1994, then won another in 1997. In 2003, Billings swept the Provo Angels in the championship series, winning two games to none. Billings, the last team to qualify for the postseason, won game one 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 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 begun their pro careers in Billings. These include George Brett, Reggie Sanders, Paul O'Neill, Trevor Hoffman, 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.
Dehler Park (and before at Cobb Field) is renowned in the Pioneer League for the "Beer Batter" tradition. 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 $10. 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 was their last at Cobb Field and the Mustangs begin the 2008 season at Dehler Park. On September 11, 2014, the Mustangs defeated the Orem Owlz for their first Pioneer League Championship since the 2003 season. After the 2014 season, the team introduced its new ownership group, Main Street Baseball at a December 5 in a press conference at Dehler Park.[2]
In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League was converted to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League, with Billings continuing as members.[3]
