Northwest, Pioneer to do joint All-Star Game

Short-season leagues to battle for first time in Spokane next August

August 26, 2014

The Pioneer Baseball League and Northwest League of Professional Baseball are pleased to jointly announce the scheduling of a 2015 PBL-NWL All-Star Game, hosted by the Spokane Indians in Spokane, Wash., at Avista Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. The historic game is the first-ever meeting between the two leagues in their long standing history of play in the region.

The All-Star Game will pit the top talent from the eight-team Pioneer League against the best players from the eight-team Northwest League. In all, 14 Major League Baseball franchises will be represented in the meeting between the two leagues.

The Pioneer League All-Stars will be comprised of players from Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, Grand Junction, Ogden, Idaho Falls and Orem. The Northwest League All-Stars will feature players from Spokane, Everett, Tri-City, Vancouver, Boise, Eugene, Hillsboro and Salem-Keizer.

Current Major League clubs with affiliates in the two leagues are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.

"The Northwest League and Pioneer League are two prominent short-season leagues in Minor League Baseball," said Pat O'Connor, president and CEO of Minor League Baseball. "To combine the two and showcase the talented individuals from 14 Major League farm systems is a win for everyone, especially the fans."

"When the Northwest League reintroduced the All-Star Game in 2013, I never thought we would take it to the next level so quickly," said Mike Ellis, president of the Northwest League. "It will be exciting to watch so many young future stars of Major League Baseball competing in Spokane next August."

"The All-Star Game between both leagues brings notoriety to all 16 teams and their affiliates," said Jim McCurdy, president of the PBL. "The game enables fans to gain a great view of the prospects during their early years in Minor League Baseball."