Saskatoon Stallions

{{Infobox baseball team|name=Saskatoon Stallions|league=Prairie League|founded=1994|disbanded=1997|former_names='''Saskatoon Riot''' (1994-1995)<br>'''Saskatoon Smokin' Guns''' (1996)|location=Saskatoon, Saskatchewan|ballpark=Cairns Field|division=Canadian/Northern|logo=SaskatoonStallions-1-.png}} The '''Saskatoon Stallions''' were a minor league baseball team that played in the Prairie League. The team was based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and played its games at Cairns Field. The team folded along with the league after the 1997 season. The team frequently changed ownership and names; it was earlier known as the Saskatoon Riot and the Saskatoon Smokin' Guns.

== Team history == The team was founded as the Saskatoon Riot, a charter member of the North Central League in 1994.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hack |first=Paul |title=Wheat Province Diamonds: A Story of Saskatchewan Baseball |last2=Shury |first2=Dave |publisher=Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum |year=1997 |isbn=0-9681965-0-0 |location=Regina, Saskatchewan |pages=347 |language=en-CA}}</ref> In 1995, the team moved to the new Prairie League, joining the Regina Cyclones, Moose Jaw Diamond Dogs, and Brandon Grey Owls in the Canadian Division.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hack & Shury |title=Wheat Province Diamonds |pages=348}}</ref>

In 1996, the team was sold to new ownership and changed its name to the Saskatoon Smokin' Guns, selected through a fan contest.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hack & Shury |title=Wheat Province Diamonds |pages=349}}</ref> In 1997, the team was sold once again. Cyclones member Daryl Boston pursued the team, but it was ultimately sold to a group of American investors, who changed the team name again, this time to the Stallions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hack & Shury |title=Wheat Province Diamonds |pages=350}}</ref> The Prairie League folded after the 1997 season due to financial difficulties.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Romuld |first=Darrell |date=2022-10-04 |title=What pro sports teams used to exist in Sask.? |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/just-curious/justcurious-what-pro-sports-teams-used-to-exist-in-sask-1.6050156 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004125345/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/just-curious/justcurious-what-pro-sports-teams-used-to-exist-in-sask-1.6050156 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=2023-07-21 |work=CTV News}}</ref>

After the team folded, local baseball builder Dan Asham purchased the uniforms to start a Saskatoon midget team. One year later, he moved the team to the Saskatoon Senior Baseball League (SSBL). That team has gone on to win numerous championships, including three SSBL Championships (2007, 2011, and 2012).{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} The Smokin' Guns name has also been revived, and a team by that name represented Saskatchewan at the 2015 senior men's national championship in Chatham, New Brunswick.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-08-24 |title=Smokin' Guns lose all four |work=Toronto Sun |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/smokin-guns-lose-all-four |access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref>

== Season-by-season record == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Season{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} !League !W !L |- |1994 * |North Central League |32 |38 |- |1995 * |Prairie League |26 |45 |- |1996 ** |Prairie League |30 |47 |- |1997 |Prairie League |38 |28 |} <nowiki>*</nowiki>''As Saskatoon Riot''

<nowiki>**</nowiki>''As Saskatoon Smokin' Guns''

==References== <references/>

== See also ==

* List of baseball teams in Canada {{Defunct Saskatchewan sports teams}}

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Saskatoon Category:Baseball teams in Saskatchewan Category:Defunct baseball teams in Canada Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Saskatchewan Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1997 Category:Defunct independent baseball league teams