Magic Valley Cowboys

Magic Valley Cowboys
Minor league affiliations
Class
LeaguePioneer League
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1955
Team data
BallparkJaycee Field

The Magic Valley Cowboys were a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League for a total of 17 seasons between 1952 and 1971. The team was based in Twin Falls, Idaho — the largest city within the Magic Valley region — and succeeded the Twin Falls Cowboys. The team played at Jaycee Field, located in the northeast corner of the city's Harmon Park.[1][2]

History

The Magic Valley Cowboys competed at the Class C level (1952–58, 1961–62), the Class A level (1963), and the Rookie level (1964–66, 1968–71).[3] At different times, they were affiliated with four National League teams; the Chicago Cubs (1954–58), the Philadelphia Phillies (1961–63), the San Francisco Giants (1964–66), and the Atlanta Braves (1968–70).[citation needed]

Magic Valley's one league championship came in 1955,[4] when the Cowboys finished the regular season in fourth place, then defeated the Boise Braves and the Pocatello Bannocks in the playoffs.[5]

Season records

Season Class Affiliation Record Win % Finish Playoffs Ref
1952 C none 55–77 .417 7th (tie) [6]
1953 48–83 .366 7th [7]
1954 Chicago Cubs 67–65 .508 5th [8]
1955 64–67 .489 4th champions [9][5]
1956 69–63 .523 4th (tie) [10]
1957 60–66 .476 6th [11]
1958 58–74 .439 6th [12]
1959 no team
1960
1961 C Philadelphia Phillies 64–66 .492 4th [13]
1962 64–65 .496 3rd [14]
1963 A 84–44 .656 1st lost in first round [15][16]
1964 Rookie San Francisco Giants 33–32 .508 2nd [17]
1965 33–33 .500 2nd (tie) [18]
1966 28–38 .424 4th [19]
1967 no team
1968 Rookie Atlanta Braves 30–31 .492 4th [20]
1969 39–33 .542 3rd [21]
1970 41–29 .586 3rd [22]
1971 none 36–34 .514 3rd (tie) [23]

All-stars

Season[24][25] Name & Position
1954 Charles Jorgenson, P
1955 Daniel Lobitz, 1B
Bob Shaffer, P
1956 Robert Pascal, 1B
Duane Hermon, OF
Samual Mauney, C
John Buzhardt, P
1961 Costen Shockley, 1B
Bobby Sanders, OF
Victor Baron, C
Joel Gibson, P
1962 Harold "Hank" Allen, 1B
Adolfo Phillips, OF
Ferdinand Walters, C
Jack Phillips, Mgr.
1963 Alex Johnson, OF
Gene Kerns, OF
Nolen Campbell, IF
George Bechtold, P
1966 Jay Reed, OF
John Harrell, C
Don DeSousa, Util.
Robert "Bob" Reynolds, P
1968 Larry LeGarde, OF
Curtis Moore, Util.
1969 Mickey Rivers, OF
1970 Marc Meno, 3B
1971 Dominic Gaudioso, C

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ Matthews, Mychel (January 28, 2016). "Hidden History: Twin Falls' 1st Baseball Team, the Irrigatiors". magicvalley.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  2. ^ Matthews, Mychel (March 23, 2017). "Hidden History: The Cowboys baseball team". magicvalley.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  3. ^ "Magic Valley, Idaho". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  4. ^ "Pioneer League Champions". milb.com. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Magic Valley Wins Pioneer Loop Playoff Series". Independent Record. Helena, Montana. AP. September 14, 1955. Retrieved August 11, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "1952 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  7. ^ "1953 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  8. ^ "1954 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "1955 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  10. ^ "1956 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "1957 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "1958 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  13. ^ "1961 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  14. ^ "1962 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "1963 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  16. ^ "Yanks, Ponies Gain Finals In PL Playoffs". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. AP. September 5, 1963. Retrieved August 11, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "1964 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "1965 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  19. ^ "1966 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  20. ^ "1968 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  21. ^ "1969 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  22. ^ "1970 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  23. ^ "1971 Magic Valley Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  24. ^ "All-Star Teams 1939-1963". milb.com. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  25. ^ "All-Star Teams 1966-1979". milb.com. Retrieved August 13, 2017.

Further reading