Austin Pioneers

The Austin Pioneers were a minor league baseball based in Austin, Texas from 1947 to 1955. The Pioneers were founding members of the Class B level Big State League.

Austin Pioneers
1947–1955
Austin, Texas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
Previous leagues
Big State League (1947–1955)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
  • Non-affiliated
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Previous parks
Disch 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 they were 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.[3]

The Pioneers never finished higher than 4th place in the Big State League standings during their nine seasons of play in the league.[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 Pioneers played at Disch Field. Located next to the Colorado River, the ballpark was built for the 1947 Pioneer season, financed by owner Edmund Knebel. Named after collegiate coach Billy Disch, the 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]

Notable alumni

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.
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