27-760: The Portland Pickles are a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat team based in Portland, Oregon . They play in the South Division of the West Coast League , a premier collegiate summer baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The Pickles play their home games at Walker Stadium in Portland's Lents Park . In 2010, the Portland Beavers minor league baseball club left Portland, leaving
54-557: A second season and that all of its games would be moved to Walker Stadium at Lents Park in southeast Portland, home of the Pickles, who returned to the WCL. The Knights were folded and both were replaced by the revived Portland Rosebuds (named for the former Negro league team from the 1940's) and Willamette Wild Bills . The Rosebuds won the 2nd WWWL Championship defeating the Wild Bills 6–4 in
81-501: A social media takeover. The image appeared to show the mascot exposing his genitalia. In February 2022, the mascot costume for Dillon T. Pickle was stolen after delivery in a case of package theft . The team had been playing in the Dominican Republic and the luggage containing the mascot costume was separated from the team. After being found by the airline, it was shipped to the wrong address in Portland and subsequently stolen off
108-570: The Medford Rogues in the semifinals. On October 24, 2017, the Pickles announced that they were leaving the GWL and joining the West Coast League . Prior to the 2018 season, Gresham GreyWolves head coach Justin Barchus replaced Lahti as manager. The Pickles won the South Division in the first half of the season with a 17–9 record, securing them a playoff spot in their first year. Portland went on to claim
135-649: The Portland Gherkins . The Pickles and Gherkins were joined by the previously independent Gresham GreyWolves and West Linn Knights and played the inaugural two-week season at Bob Brack Stadium in Aurora, Oregon , with all players, coaches and staffs having to follow the COVID-19 guidelines at the local, state and federal levels and limited fans in attendance. The league even grabbed the attention nationally of Forbes magazine. Play officially began on July 11, 2020, with
162-526: The West Coast League . The league features four teams and all games are played at Charles B. Walker Stadium at Lents Park in southeast Portland, home of the Pickles. The league was formed by the Portland Pickles in 2020 following the cancellation of the West Coast League 's regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Months prior, the Pickles also founded a developmental farm club of their own known as
189-755: The Pickles in the 2024 all star game in Bellingham. The Pickles qualified for the playoffs for the third straight season and clinched the South Division Second Half Championship. The Pickles swept the Elks 2-0 in the Divisional Series and upset the seven time defending WCL Champion Knights in Corvallis to win their first South Division Championship in franchise history. The Pickles hosted the AppleSox in
216-526: The Pickles in the championship series. After 2020, the Pickles returned to the West Coast League for the 2021 season. The Wild Wild West League continued and added the Portland Rosebuds and Willamette Wild Bills , two new teams that were also owned by Rose City Baseball. On June 8, 2021, the Pickles promoted manager Justin Barchus to Director of Player Personnel/Operations and made Mark Magdalena
243-465: The Pickles playing the Gherkins. On July 15, 2020, the league suspended play for at least seven days following positive COVID-19 tests from two players, just four days after the inaugural season started. The league would resume play eight days later. The Knights won the inaugural league championship, defeating the Pickles 8–7 in the championship game. The league was so successful that it announced
270-721: The Pickles swept the Ridgefield Raptors in the first round of the playoffs to face the Corvallis Knights in the Divisional Championship game. The Pickles lost the game 4–1 and were eliminated from the playoffs. In March 2024, Rose City Baseball opened the Portland Pickles Public House, a Portland Pickles-themed sports bar on Mississippi Avenue. On July 9th, Tanner Griffith, Patrick Keighran, Freddie Rodriguez, and Shay Timmer were selected to represent
297-507: The WCL Championship Game. Going into the bottom of the ninth inning of a close game, the Pickles found themselves down 4-5. After loading the bases, Diego Castellanos would be walked to bring in the tying run. On the very next pitch, Conner Stewart would hit a difficult to field ground ball that brought Tanner Griffith home to give the Pickles the walk off win and their first WCL Championship in franchise history. Commissioner Rob Neyer
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#1732844723040324-641: The West Coast League board of directors voted to cancel the 2020 season due to COVID-19 pandemic . The Pickles organization founded the Wild Wild West League in response, playing in Bob Brack Stadium at North Marion High School in Aurora, Oregon . The league consisted of four teams: the Pickles, Portland Gherkins , Gresham GreyWolves , and West Linn Knights . Though fans were not allowed to attend, games were broadcast on Facebook and YouTube. Games ran from July to August. The West Linn Knights beat
351-499: The best record in the WCL by going 37–17 overall, but could not get past the Corvallis Knights in the first round of playoffs. Justin Barchus went on to win WCL Coach of the Year along with Kelowna Falcons manager Bryan Donohue. In February 2019, Miller and Ryan took over full ownership of the team. On May 15, the Pickles announced a two-year partnership with CBD company Lazarus Naturals,
378-589: The city without a team. On March 11, 2015, it was announced that baseball would return to Portland with the establishment of a new collegiate wood-bat team. The as-yet-unnamed team would be owned and operated by Rose City Baseball LLC, in partnership with the city of Portland, and would play its games at Charles B. Walker Stadium in Lents Park . On April 21, 2015, team officials announced the team's name at Woodstock Elementary School in Southeast Portland. The name
405-486: The collegiate summer season. These draftees can remain with their collegiate summer team until they sign a professional contract. During the season, players are housed by volunteer host families and bussed to and from road games. The leagues vary greatly in their attendances, quality of play, and ability to attract scouts. The Alaska Baseball League (ABL) and the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) are considered
432-701: The common nickname of these leagues as "wood-bat leagues". Collegiate summer leagues allow college baseball players the ability to compete using professional rules and equipment, giving them experience and allowing professional scouts the opportunity to observe players under such conditions. To find a collegiate summer team, players work with their college coaches and prospective teams' general managers. They report to summer leagues after completing their spring collegiate season with their NCAA , NAIA , NJCAA , CCCAA , and NWAC teams. Some players arrive late due to their college team's postseason play, which sometimes runs into early June. In some cases, players are drafted during
459-594: The finals. The league announced expansion into Cleburne, Texas , with a newly-formed four-team Texas Division with all games being played at The Depot at Cleburne Station , also the home of the Cleburne Railroaders of the professional American Association . The four teams founded by the league included the Cleburne Eagles (named for the former Negro league team from the 1930's to 1960's), Joshua Trees, Burleson Boxers and Fort Worth Rodeo Cats. However,
486-405: The first of its kind in baseball history. Lazarus Naturals sponsored a concert series at the stadium and provided luxury box seating for selected veterans. In December, it was announced that Rose City Baseball would operate a farm team called the Portland Gherkins for the 2020 season. The Gherkins would play games against the Pickles, WCL opponents, and other independent teams. On June 5, 2020,
513-739: The front porch. It was eventually dropped off at Voodoo Doughnut by a person wishing to remain anonymous. The incident attracted the attention of some national media, who covered the saga in a bemused fashion. Collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operate from early June to early August. In contrast to college baseball , which allow aluminum or other composite baseball bats , players in these leagues use only wooden bats, hence
540-443: The lead up to the game, the Pickles held tryouts amongst fans in Portland for the chance to travel with the team to Mexico and play in the game. In September 2021, the Pickles returned to Mexico for another series against Venados de Mazatlan. USA Baseball's Kelcie Whitmore joined the Pickles and threw five scoreless innings in game two. In January 2022, Pickles mascot Dillon T. Pickle posted an inappropriate photo on Twitter during
567-588: The league announced that they would play a fourth season. On August 26, the Willamette Wild Bills won their first WWWL Championship by beating the defending champion Gherkins 9-8 to capture the title. One of the main attractions to the league is an automated strike zone, dubbed Picklebot 3000. Because of the Picklebot, only one field umpire is used for each game. It was introduced in 2021 and has been used ever since. The Wheel of Brine In certain games,
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#1732844723040594-589: The new manager. In November 2021, the Pickles opened The Pickle Jar, a retail store and community space in Downtown Portland. On July 18, 2022, intern Emily Paulson became the first woman to play for the Pickles. That year, the Pickles were crowned the Southern Division champions, ending a four-year playoff drought. The team was ultimately swept in the first round by the Ridgefield Raptors . In 2023,
621-590: The teams never played due to lack of interest. Therefore, the Texas Division teams and plans were scrapped by the league. The Oregon teams all returned for a third season and became known as the Portland Division with all games once again being played at Walker Stadium. The Portland Gherkins won the 2022 WWWL Championship defeating the Gresham GreyWolves 9–7 in the championship game. On April 13, 2023,
648-399: The two premier collegiate summer leagues. This list is organized by federation. Source: Chicago Suburban Baseball League Willamette Wild Bills The Wild Wild West League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league based out of Portland, Oregon . It serves as a developmental minor league and is owned and operated by the Portland Pickles collegiate baseball club of
675-483: Was announced that Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan and marketing entrepreneur Alan Miller would become part of the Pickles ownership group, along with members from Rose City Baseball LLC. Former Major League Baseball pitcher and Oregon-native Jeff Lahti took over the managerial role for the 2017 season, leading the Pickles to their first playoff berth. They were eliminated from the Great West League playoffs by
702-651: Was selected by online voting from six candidates. In order of vote, Pickles was followed by Mud Hounds, Red Dogs, Posse, Pliers, and Pixels. In August, J.J. Altobelli was named as the team's first manager. The team introduced its mascot, Dillon the pickle, in October. The Pickles were charter members of the Great West League , having been founded by GWL commissioner Ken Wilson . The Pickles (claimed to have) played before 16 sell-outs and to 99% of capacity in their inaugural 2016 season (announced figures). On April 5, 2017, it
729-501: Was unable to award the Pickles the trophy for a long period of time due to fans storming the field. The Portland Pickles have a special relationship with Venados de Mazatlan of the Mexican Pacific League . In June 2019, the Pickles held Venados Night, where the team wore Mazatlan jerseys. In October, the Pickles traveled to Mexico and played against Venados de Mazatlan in a friendly exhibition game in front of 16,000 people. In
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