Austin Pioneers

The Austin Pioneers were a minor league baseball team based in Austin, Texas from 1947 to 1955. The Pioneers were founding members of the Class B level Big State League. The Pioneers were preceded in Austin by the 1915 Austin Representatives and succeeded by the 1956 Austin Senators.

Austin Pioneers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass B (1947–1955)
LeagueBig State League (1947–1955)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (5)
  • 1948
  • 1949
  • 1951
  • 1952
  • 1954
Team data
NameAustin Pioneers (1947–1955)
BallparkDisch Field (1947–1955)

History

Preceded in Austin by the Austin Senators, the Austin Pioneers were founded, owned and operated by Edmund P. Knebel, a local bottler of 7-Up and Nu-Grape soft drinks. Knebel had Disch Field constructed for the Pioneers. Knebel sold the team after the 1955 season, when the franchise moved to the Texas League and renamed the Austin Senators.[1][2]

The Pioneers began play in the Big State League in 1947, joining the Gainesville Owls, Greenville Majors, Paris Red Peppers, Sherman–Denison Twins, Texarkana Bears, Waco Dons and Wichita Falls Spudders as charter members.[3]

The Pioneers never finished higher than 3rd place in the Big State League standings during their nine seasons of play in the league. Austin qualified for the playoffs in five Big State League seasons and advanced to the Finals in 1952.[4]

Baseball first began in Austin with the Austin Senators in 1888. The last minor league baseball team in Austin, was the Class AA Austin Braves of the Texas League, who folded after the 1967 season. The Pioneers were both preceded and succeeded by Austin teams with the Austin Senators moniker.[2]

The ballpark

The Austin Pioneers played minor league home games at Disch Field. Located next to the Colorado River, the ballpark was built for the beginning of the 1947 season, financed by Pioneers' owner Edmund Knebel. Named after collegiate coach Billy Disch, the original ballpark was demolished in 1975. Today, UFCU Disch–Falk Field is a collegiate field, located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin.[1][5][6]

(2008) Disch-Falk Field. Austin, Texas

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliate
1888–18903Austin SenatorsClass CTexas LeagueNone
18951Austin BeaversIndependentTexas-Southern League
18961Austin Senators
1897–1899, 19054Class CTexas League
19061Class DSouth Texas League
1907–1908, 1911–19146Class CTexas League
19151Austin RepsClass DMiddle Texas League
1923–19242Austin RangersTexas Association
1925–19262Austin Senators
1947–19559Austin PioneersClass BBig State League
1965–19673Austin BravesClass AATexas LeagueAtlanta Braves

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
194755–997thBeau BellDid not qualify
194879–674thPrince OanaLost in 1st round
194986–623rdPrince OanaLost in 1st round
195052–948thPrince Oana / David SarverDid not qualify
195175–724thTom JordanLost in 1st round
195281–664thTom JordanLost League Finals
195369–777thAl UnserDid not qualify
195479–674thGeorge HausmannLost in 1st round
195558–856thGeorge HausmannDid not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Austin Pioneers players

References
  1. "Austin Pioneers, Big State League". February 2, 2014.
  2. "Austin, Texas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Big State League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "Austin Pioneers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Disch Field - Austin Texas - Austin Pioneers / Austin Senators / Austin Braves". digitalballparks.com.
  6. Douglass, Neal (August 20, 1948). "[Disch Field Aerials]". The Portal to Texas History.

Baseball Reference Bullpen

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