Idaho Falls Spuds

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.

Idaho Falls Spuds
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass C (1926–1928)
LeagueUtah-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 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][4]

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. 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.[5][4][6]

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][4]

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]

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, 83406.[8][12]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1926–19283Idaho Falls SpudsClass CUtah-Idaho League

Year-by-year record
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

References
  1. "Utah-Idaho League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Utah-Idaho League (C) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1926 Idaho Falls Spuds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Idaho Falls Spuds - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "1927 Idaho Falls Spuds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "Minor League No-Hitters 1920-1929 - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  7. "1928 Idaho Falls Spuds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "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. rsuppe@postregister.com, By RYAN SUPPE. "Opening day: Minor league baseball gets underway in Idaho Falls". Idaho State Journal.
  12. "Melaleuca, The Reason Baseball is Still Here". Melaleuca Field.
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