The tumultuous tenure of the Northern Colorado Owlz, a team in the MLB Partner Pioneer League, officially came to an end today. The Pioneer League announced in a press release that it had accepted the Owlz’s resignation, and that the team would be replaced with a new iteration of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the erstwhile Triple-A team that moved to Texas to become the San Antonio Missions in 2019.
The Owlz began playing in Windsor, Colorado, in 2022, after moving from Orem, Utah, but their long-awaited new ballpark never materialized. The team played in temporary accommodations while construction delays rendered their permanent home an unrealized dream.
The new Sky Sox team will share a ballpark with their Pioneer League rival, the Rocky Mountain Vibes, who play in Colorado Springs. It’s likely that the new Pioneer League team is playing as the Sky Sox as a matter of convenience—needing a new identity in a hurry, the team will likely wear throwback Sky Sox uniforms that the Rocky Mountain Vibes have been wearing for select games since 2023.
The history of the Sky Sox dates back to the 1950s, when they were a Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox for nine seasons. The team was reborn in 1988 and played as the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, and Milwaukee Brewers for three decades. The next phase of the Sky Sox begins tomorrow, when the independent franchise plays on the road against the Grand Junction Jackalopes.
The Northern Colorado Owlz franchise debuted in 2001 as the Provo Angels before becoming the Orem Owlz from 2005 through 2020. They took a season off in 2021 before beginning play in Colorado in 2022.
