In 1949, however, the Wranglers blew the league away with an 88-38 record and easily claimed the pennant, with attendance climbing to over 1,000 per contest. Due to budget cuts, there were no playoffs that year, and the '49 Wranglers had claimed Las Vegas' first pro sports championship (and last one for 37 years, until the Las Vegas Stars won the PCL crown in 1986). After a third-place finish in 1950, the top teams in the Sunset League merged with the Arizona–Mexico League to form the new Southwest International League in 1951.
However, in 1949, the Wranglers made a remarkable impact on the league, achieving an outstanding 88-38 record and securing the championship title. As a result, attendance soared over 1,000 fans per contest. Unfortunately, due to financial limitations, there were no postseason games that year. The '49 Wranglers went on to win Las Vegas' first-ever professional sports trophy (and would not do so again for 37 years) until the Las Vegas Stars claimed the PCL title in 1986. After finishing third in 1950, the top teams from the Sunset League joined forces with the Arizona–Mexico League to create the new Southwest International League in 1951.