Idaho Falls Spuds

Last updated
Idaho Falls Spuds
Minor league affiliations
Class Class C (1926–1928)
League Utah-Idaho League (1926–1928)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1926
  • 1927
Wild card berths (1)1927
Team data
NameIdaho Falls Spuds (1926–1928)
BallparkHighland Park (1926–1928)

The Idaho Falls Spuds were the first minor league baseball team based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Playing from 1926 to 1928, the Spuds played as members of the Class C level Utah-Idaho League, winning league championships in 1926 and 1927 and hosting home games at Highland Park.

Contents

The Idaho Falls Spuds were followed by the Idaho Falls Russets, who joined the Pioneer League in 1940. Today, the Idaho Falls Chukars franchise continues play in the Pioneer League.

History

Minor League baseball began in Idaho Falls in 1926, when the Idaho Falls Spuds became charter members of the newly formed Utah-Idaho League. The Idaho Falls Spuds joined the Logan Collegians, Ogden Gunners, Pocatello Bannocks, Salt Lake City Bees and Twin Falls Bruins in the new six–team league. [1] [2]

The 1926 Idaho Falls Spuds won the 1926 Utah–Idaho League Championship. The Spuds ended the season with a 75–39 record, finishing 11.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Twin Falls Bruins. Idaho Falls was managed by Bill Leard and Danny Collins. The league did not have playoffs in 1926. [3] Idaho Falls pitcher Robert Hurst led the league with 22 wins, while teammate Guy Morrison had a 2.83 ERA to lead the league. [1]

In 1927, the Spuds repeated as Utah-Idaho League Champions. On June 28, 1927, Idaho Falls pitcher Charles Newbill pitched a no–hitter in a 4–0 win against the Twin Falls Bruins. [4] [5] The Spuds finished the season with a record of 52–47 to place 3rd in the Utah-Idaho League regular season standings, playing under manager Dan O'Leary. In the 1927 Utah-Idaho League Playoffs, the Idaho Falls Spuds defeated the Pocatello Bannocks 4 games to 3 to claim their second consecutive Utah–Idaho League Championship. [6] [1]

In 1928, the Idaho Falls Spuds were playing under manager Pete Maloney, with a record of 17–38, when the franchise disbanded on July 5, 1928. The Twin Falls Bruins franchise folded on the same day. The Utah–Idaho League finished the 1928 season with the four remaining teams, but folded permanently after the season. [7] [8] [1]

Idaho Falls minor league baseball resumed in 1940, when the Idaho Falls Russets became a member franchise of the Pioneer League, a league still playing as a Rookie League today with the Idaho Falls Chukars as a member. [9] [1]

The ballpark

The Idaho Falls Spuds minor league teams played home games at Highland Park. The ballpark sat within Highland Park. All Idaho Falls teams since have played in ballparks at the same site. The Highland Park ballpark had a capacity of 3,000 (1927), with dimensions (Left, Center, Right) of 350–400–350 (1927). The Highland Park ballpark was located at 500 West Elva, Idaho Falls, Idaho. [10] [11]

Today, Highland Park contains Melaleuca Field, which hosts the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League. Melaleuca Field is located at 568 West Elva, Idaho Falls, Idaho. [8] [12]

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1926–19283Idaho Falls Spuds Class C Utah-Idaho League

Year-by-year records

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
192675–391stBill Leard / Danny CollinsLeague champions
192752–473rdDan O'Learydefeated Pocatello Bannocks 4–3
League champions
192817–386thPete MaloneyTeam disbanded July 5

Notable alumni

See also

Idaho Falls Spuds players

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Falls Chukars</span> Minor league baseball team

The Idaho Falls Chukars are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and play their home games at Melaleuca Field.

The Salt Lake City Bees was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams, based in Salt Lake City, Utah between 1911 and 1970 under various names. After minor league baseball first began in Salt Lake City in 1900, the Bees were long-time members of both the Pacific Coast League and Pioneer League. The Salt Lake Bees played their home games at Derks Field.

Melaleuca Field is a stadium in the western United States, located in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Primarily a baseball park, it is the home field of the Idaho Falls Chukars independent Minor League Baseball team and was built during the Pioneer League 2006–07 offseason. American Legion and local high school games are also played at the field.

The Utah–Idaho League was a minor league baseball organization founded in 1926. Playing as a six–team, Class C level league for its duration, the Utah–Idaho League franchises were based exclusively in Idaho and Utah as the name indicates.

The Rock Island Islanders was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Rock Island, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities, between 1892 and 1937. Rock Island teams played as members of the Illinois–Iowa League (1892), Western Association (1894), Eastern Iowa League (1895), Western Association (1898–1899), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1911), Central Association (1914), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Mississippi Valley League (1922–1933) and Western League (1934–1937).

The Corpus Christi Clippers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Corpus Christi, Texas between 1910 and 1959. Corpus Christi teams played as members of the Southwest Texas League (1910–1911), Gulf Coast League (1926), Texas Valley League (1927–1928), Rio Grande Valley League (1931), Texas Valley League (1938), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950), Gulf Coast League (1951–1953), Big State League (1954–1957), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950) and Texas League (1958–1959).

The Wichita Indians were a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The "Indians" played as members of the Class A level Western League from 1950 to 1955, winning the 1955 league Championship. The Wichita Indians were an affiliate of the 1950 St. Louis Browns in 1950, Cleveland Indians from 1951 to 1952, St. Louis Browns in 1953 and Baltimore Orioles in 1954 and 1955.

The Ogden Gunners was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Ogden, Utah between 1900 and 1928. The Ogden Gunners played the 1926 to 1928 seasons in the Class C level Utah–Idaho League. The Gunners were preceded by Ogden teams in the 1901 Inter-Mountain League, 1902 Utah State League, 1905 Pacific National League, Union Association (1912–1914) and the 1921 Northern Utah League, winning three championships and a league pennant.

The Twin Falls Bruins were the first minor league baseball team based in Twin Falls, Idaho. From 1926 to 1928, the Twin Falls Bruins played exclusively as members the Class C level Utah-Idaho League, hosting home games at Athletic Park.

The Vicksburg Hill Billies was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Vicksburg, Mississippi between 1893 and 1955. Vicksburg teams played as a member of the Mississippi State League (1893–1894), Cotton States League, Southeastern League (1946–1950) and Cotton States League (1955).

The Cumberland Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Cumberland, Maryland between 1916 and 1932. The Cumberland Giants of the Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League in 1906 and the 1907 Cumberland Rooters of the Western Pennsylvania League preceded the Colts. The Colts played as members of the 1916 Potomac League, the Blue Ridge League from 1917 to 1918 and Middle Atlantic League from 1925 to 1932. The Colts were a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees in 1931 and 1932. With the Colts winning league championships in 1918, 1927 and 1931, Cumberland played home games at South End Park and then Community Park.

The Logan Collegians were a minor league baseball team based in Logan, Utah. Between 1902 and 1927, Logan teams played as members of the 1902 Utah State League, 1921 Class D level Northern Utah League and Class C level Utah-Idaho League in 1926 and 1927.

The Lynn Papooses were a minor league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts. The "Papooses" teams played as members of the New England League from 1926 to 1930, winning the 1927 and 1928 league championships and finishing in second place the other three seasons.

The Corsicana Oilers was the primary nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Corsicana, Texas. In the seasons between 1902 and 1928, Corsicana teams played as members of the Texas League (1902–1905), North Texas League (1907), Central Texas League, Texas-Oklahoma League (1922), Texas Association (1923–1926) and Lone Star League (1927–1928), winning five league championships. Corsicana hosted minor league home games at Oil City Park and Athletic Park.

The Lewiston Twins were the final minor league baseball team based in Lewiston, Maine. Between 1891 and 1930, Lewiston teams played under various nicknames as long time members of the New England League and also in the 1907 Maine State League and 1908 Atlantic Association, winning the 1919 league championship. Lewiston hosted home minor league games at A.A.A. Park from through 1919 and the Lewiston Athletic Park from 1926 to 1930.

The Crisfield Crabbers were a minor league baseball team based in Crisfield, Maryland. The Crisfield Crabbers teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League from 1922 to 1928 and in 1937, winning the 1926 league championship. Crisfield hosted home minor league games at the Crisfield Ball Park and their final season at Clarke Park. The 1937 Crisfield Crabbers were a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants.

The Northampton Red Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Cape Charles, Virginia, which lies within Northampton County, Virginia. In 1927 and 1928, the Northampton Red Sox played exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League, winning the 1928 league championship. The Red Sox hosted minor league home games at Patton Field. The team nickname was in reference to their uniforms.

The Gulfport Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Gulfport teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Cotton States League. The Gulfport "Crabs" teams played in the league from 1906 to 1908, with the Tarpons playing from 1926 to 1928. The Tarpons hosted home minor league games at the Fair Grounds.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Easton, Maryland between 1924 and 1949. Easton teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League from 1924 to 1928, 1937 to 1941 and 1946 to 1949.

The Springfield–Charlestown Hyphens were a minor league baseball team representing the partner cities of Springfield, Vermont and Charlestown, New Hampshire. In, 1911, the Hyphens played as charter members of the Class D level Twin States League and placed fourth in the league's only season of minor league play.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  2. ↑ "Utah-Idaho League (C) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ↑ "1926 Idaho Falls Spuds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ↑ "Searching for missing Minors no-hitters". MiLB.com.
  5. ↑ "Minor League No Hitters". Google Docs.
  6. ↑ "1927 Idaho Falls Spuds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ↑ "1928 Idaho Falls Spuds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. 1 2 "History of Melaleuca Field". Melaleuca Field.
  9. ↑ "Idaho Falls, Idaho sports teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. ↑ "Highland Park in Idaho Falls, ID history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ↑ SUPPE, RYAN. "Opening day: Minor league baseball gets underway in Idaho Falls". Idaho State Journal.
  12. ↑ "Melaleuca, The Reason Baseball is Still Here". Melaleuca Field.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.