Idaho Falls Spuds

The Idaho Falls Spuds were the first minor league baseball team based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, playing from from 1926 to 1928. The Spuds played as members of the Class C level Utah-Idaho League.

Idaho Falls Spuds
1926–1928
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass C (1926–1928)
Previous leagues
Utah-Idaho League (1926–1928)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles 2 1926, 1927
Team data
Previous names
Idaho Falls Spuds (1926–1928)
Previous parks
Highland 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, with a 75–39 record, 11.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Twin Falls Bruins. 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 52–47 to place 3rd in the Utah-Idaho League regular season standings. 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 17–38, when the franchise disbanded on July 5, 1928. The Twin Falls Bruins 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 played at Highland Park. The ballpark sat within Highland Park. All Idaho Falls teams since have played in ballparks at the same location. Highland Park had a capacity of 3,000 (1927), with dimensions (Left, Center, Right) of 350–400–350 (1927). 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

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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