{{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name = Boise Pilots | firstseason = | lastseason = | allyears = 1939–42, 1946–51, 1954 | city = Boise, Idaho | logo = | caplogo = | past class level = Class C | league = | conference = | division = | past league = Pioneer League | pastmajorleague = | pastnames = | pastparks = Airway Park (1939–42, 1946–51)<br>Joe Devine Airway Park (1954) | classchamps = | leaguenum = | leaguechamps = | conferencechamps = | divisionchamps = }}
The '''Boise Pilots''' were a minor league baseball team in the western United States, based in Boise, Idaho. They played in the Pioneer League for a total of 11 seasons between 1939 and 1954. They were unaffiliated with any major league team, and played at the Class C level. Their home venue was originally named Airway Park in 1939, and in 1952 was renamed Joe Devine Airway Park.
==History== Minor league baseball began in Boise in 1904 when the '''Boise Fruit Pickers''' played as members of the Pacific National League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-NWES4/y-1904 |title=1904 Pacific National League |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> In 1905, the '''Boise Infants''' continued play in the Pacific National League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-PNAL/y-1905 |title=1905 Pacific National League |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> Boise fielded two teams in 1909, as Boise played as members of the Montana State League,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-MTSL/y-1909 |title=1909 Montana State League Standings |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> and the '''Boise Irrigators''' were members of the Inter-Mountain League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-IMTL/y-1909 |title=1909 Inter-Mountain League |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> The Boise Irrigators later played in the Union Association (1911, 1914)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-UA/y-1911 |title=1911 Union Association |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-UA/y-1914 |title=1914 Union Association |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> and Western Tri-State League (1912–1913).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-WTSL/y-1912 |title=1912 Western Tri-State League |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-WTSL/y-1913 |title=1913 Western Tri-State League |website=statscrew.com |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref>
The Boise Pilots immediately followed the '''Boise Senators''' of the 1928 Utah-Idaho League and were one of the six original teams of the Pioneer League when it was formed in 1939. The team competed through the 1951 season, except for three years during World War II when the league did not operate. Boise's team then became the Yankees, who were affiliated with New York during 1952 and 1953. That affiliation did not continue, and the team operated independently again as the Pilots in 1954. Boise's team then became a Milwaukee affiliate from 1955 through 1963, operating as the Braves. After the Braves' final season of 1963, the ballpark was demolished, and Boise was without a minor league team until the Boise A's of the Northwest League debuted in 1975.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
==Season records== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" !Season !! Manager(s) !! W–L !! Win % !! Finish || Playoffs || Ref |- ! 1939 | rowspan=2 | Andy Harrington || 62–62 || .500 || 3rd || no playoffs held || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=8e6350c2 |title=1939 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1940 | 66–63 || .512 || 3rd || lost in finals || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=ffa2d6e7 |title=1940 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1941 | rowspan=2 | Jim Keesey || 81–49 || .623 || 1st || lost in finals || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=2df5b4ab |title=1941 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1942 | 68–51 || .571 || 2nd || lost in finals || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=45d364b6 |title=1942 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- | 1943–45 || colspan=6 | ''league paused due to World War II'' |- ! 1946 | rowspan=3 | Walter Lowe || 52–77 || .403 || 6th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=55456da5 |title=1946 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1947 | 67–70 || .489 || 4th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=99a8235f |title=1947 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1948 | 58–68 || .460 || 6th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=35dc1cb4 |title=1948 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1949 | William Stenger<br>Gordon Williamson || 47–77 || .379 || 7th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=bb9baae0 |title=1949 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1950 | Ford "Moon" Mullen || 50–74 || .403 || 7th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=20bd4eca |title=1950 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- ! 1951 | Thomas Lloyd<br>Frank Gregory || 51–88 || .367 || 8th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=3f6aa479 |title=1951 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |- |1952–53 || colspan=6 | ''team operated as the Boise Yankees'' |- ! 1954 | Ed Fernandes || 47–84 || .359 || 8th || none || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=68deb2cc |title=1954 Boise Pilots |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref> |}
==All-stars== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" !Season<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-45669520 |title=All-Star Teams 1939-1963 |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> !! Name & Position |- | 1940 || Walter Lowe, 1B<br>Joe Egnatz, OF<br>Elden Lorenzen, Util. |- | 1941 || Jack Radtke, 2B<br>Joe Egnatz, OF<br>Clifford Barker, C<br>Gerry Staley, P |- | 1947 || Walter Lowe, 1B<br>Lou Tamone, 3B |- | 1948 || William Franks, P |- | 1954 || William Francis, P |}
==Notable players== * Lee Maye * Ford "Moon" Mullen * Marv Rickert * Floyd Robinson * Gerry Staley
==See also== *Boise Pilots players
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?city=Boise&state=ID&country=US Baseball Reference] – Boise teams *[http://www.nwsabr.org/wp-content/uploads/ID03.jpg NWSABR] – 1941 team photo
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Category:Baseball teams established in 1939 Category:Defunct Pioneer League (baseball) teams Category:Professional baseball teams in Idaho Category:Sports in Boise, Idaho Category:1939 establishments in Idaho Category:1954 disestablishments in Idaho Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1954 Category:Defunct baseball teams in Idaho