After the 2019 baseball season, there was a proposal by executives from the Houston Astros to contract 42 teams from Minor League Baseball. That contraction would result in almost no ties to professional baseball in the Mountain West and the loss of the Pioneer League in its entirety. There would no longer be any Minor League Baseball teams in Montana after a history of having professional baseball in the state since the 1940's, and Idaho, Utah, and Colorado would have their baseball influence significantly reduced.This podcast series serves to be an audio scrapbook of players and media members that have passed through the Pioneer League during their careers. The Pioneer League is a Rookie-level short season league in Minor League Baseball, and it is often players' first stop in professional baseball. The questions asked of these people are to reflect on their memories of their time playing and covering baseball in the Mountain West. You'll hear from Major League All-Stars like Greg Vaughn, players that just debuted in the big leagues like Brian O'Grady, guys that never quite figured out how to hit a curveball like Greg Morrison, newspaper writers that have covered their team for almost 20 years like Mike Scherting and other influences on the Pioneer League since its inception in 1939.

Latest episodes of the podcast The Pioneer League Podcast

• 2002 Great Falls Dodger and 11-Year MLB Veteran James Loney
• Billings Gazette and 406mtsports.com Senior Sports Writer Mike Scherting
• 2014 Billings Mustang and Current Tampa Bay Ray Brian O'Grady
• 1997 Pioneer League Triple Crown Winner Greg Morrison
• 2015 Idaho Falls Chukars and Current Iowa Cubs Play-By-Play Broadcaster Alex Cohen
• 1999 Missoula Osprey and 14-Year MLB Veteran Lyle Overbay
• 2010 Ogden Raptor and 5-Year MLB Veteran Shawn Tolleson
• 1986 Helena Gold Sock and 4-Time MLB All-Star Greg Vaughn
• 2006 Billings Mustang and 9-Year MLB Veteran Drew Stubbs
• Welcome to The Pioneer League Podcast!