Jim McCurdy Inducted Into Pioneer League Hall of Fame

In a ceremony prior to the Oakland Ballers vs. Ogden Raptors playoff game at Raimondi Park in Oakland, the Pioneer Baseball League, an MLB Partner League, inducted longtime baseball executive and former league president Jim McCurdy into the PBL Hall Of Fame.

McCurdy, a longtime minor league executive and former President of the Pioneer League, was recognized for his decades of outstanding service, dedication, and passion for the promotion and development of the PBL and the game of baseball.

"It is my great honor and privilege to recognize all that Jim McCurdy has accomplished in his long and distinguished career", said current PBL President Mike Shapiro.  "Jim is not only a very dear friend, but also a mentor and trusted advisor.  I am so pleased to have him inducted as a member of the Pioneer League's Hall of Fame." 

A Distinguished Career in Baseball

McCurdy has been a fixture in professional baseball since 1985. He was a co-owner of both the Butte Copper Kings and Yakima Bears before becoming a member of the inaugural Minor League Baseball Board of Trustees in 1992.

In 1994, McCurdy was named President of the PBL, a position he held until 2020. Under his leadership, the league experienced record growth in attendance, the construction and improvement of several ballparks, and the strengthening of the league's relationship with Major League Baseball. McCurdy played a critical role in guiding the league through its transition to a Major League Baseball Partner League.

A Leader in Sports Law and Governance

In addition to his work as a baseball executive, McCurdy is an internationally recognized expert in sports law. He authored the first nationally distributed Sports Law casebook, now in its ninth edition, and served as Professor Emeritus at Gonzaga University School of Law. He has lectured extensively on legal and economic issues in sports, including stadium financing and league governance, and his publications have contributed to shaping the understanding of professional sports leagues.

McCurdy's influence extended beyond the PBL, as he served on the Professional Baseball Executive Council, chaired by then-Commissioner Bud Selig, and represented Minor League Baseball during significant structural reforms in the early 1990s.