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

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