In 2021, a new era in the two-plus-decade history of Missoula baseball began, with the PaddleHeads carrying past glory into the future. 

A member of the Pioneer League since the club's inception, Missoula remains a standard bearer for the league in its present and future direction as an independent. That continues a tradition built over two decades, with the PaddleHeads helping define the Pioneer League — regardless the nickname the Missoula club has used. 

Get to know more about the PaddleHeads with the following primer.

Team Overview 

Missoula emerged from the post-COVID landscape with independent designation for the first time in its 22 years of existence, but still a Pioneer League member as it had been from the jump. 

Originally a Rookie Advanced affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Missoula transitioned smoothly and quickly to the independent landscape.  

What Year Were The Missoula PaddleHeads Founded? 

Born of a relocated club from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Missoula began play in 1999. 

The club spent two decades as an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate, launching just one year after the Major League franchise played its inaugural season. 

The first year was an immediately historic one for Missoula, when vice president Judy Ellis earned Woman Executive of the Year after the 1999 Winter Meetings. The Ellis family remains active in the organization. 

Who Owns The Missoula PaddleHeads?

In autumn 2018, Big Sky Professional Baseball bought the Missoula club. Peter Davis and Susan Crampton Davis headed the group. 

What Is The History Of The Missoula PaddleHeads Team Name And Mascot?

In the winter of 1999, before its inaugural season, Missoula adopted the nickname Osprey and maintained the moniker for 20 years. 

In November 2019, club president Matt Ellis announced in a press release that the organization was rebranding as the PaddleHeads, "a new brand Missoula would be proud of." 

The nickname pays homage to the unique wildlife of Montana, the moose — and, to that end, Paxson The PaddleHead became the club's mascot. 

Have the Missoula PaddleHeads Ever Won A Pioneer League Championship?

Missoula is a five-time Pioneer League champion, the first claimed in the franchise's inaugural campaign. 

The 1999 Osprey clinched a spot in the league championship series with a comeback from down 6-0 in the semifinal series, then dispatched Billings for the title. 

Missoula added Pioneer championships in 2006, 2012, 2015 and in the first year of the independent era, 2021. 

The 2021 PaddleHeads beat Boise for the crown, but fell short of a repeat with a loss to Grand Junction in the 2022 Pioneer League championship. 

Where Do The Missoula PaddleHeads Play?

Nearly 100 years after the first organized baseball team in Missoula folded, the Highlanders, the city opened a new ballpark. 

June 2004 marked the debut of Civic Stadium, since renamed Ogren Park at Allegiance Field. 

Missoula PaddleHeads Notable Alumni

A variety of Arizona Diamondbacks spent time in Missoula, including three-time All-Star closer Jose Valverde. 

Adam Eaton, a key contributor to the 2019 Washington Nationals World Series run, also played in Missoula during the Osprey years. 

Most recently, breakout superstar Jazz Chisholm Jr. made a successful transition from Missoula to Miami (with some stops in between). 

Missoula PaddleHeads Schedule

Check out the Missoula PaddleHeads schedule here.

How To Watch The Missoula PaddleHeads

Atlantic, Frontier, Pioneer and the Coastal Summer Plain League, as well as the Florida Collegiate Summer League, all are streaming on FloBaseball and the FloSports app. 

Replays, highlights and more news can be found on the site.