Magic Valley Cowboys

Magic Valley Cowboys
(1952–1958, 1961–1966, 1968–1971) Twin Falls, Idaho
Minor league affiliations
Class	Class C (1952–1958, 1961–1962) Class A (1963) Rookie (1964–1966, 1968–1971)
League	Pioneer League
Major league affiliations
Team	Chicago Cubs (1954–1958) Philadelphia Phillies (1961–1963) San Francisco Giants (1964–1966) Atlanta Braves (1968–1970)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)	1955
Team data
Ballpark	Jaycee 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

• Dick Allen
• Larvell Blanks
• Ron Bryant
• Ken Henderson
• Alex Johnson
• Grady Little
• Mike Marshall
• Jerry Remy
• Mickey Rivers
• Al Zarilla

See also

• Magic Valley Cowboys players

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. "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

• Crump, Steve (June 18, 2010). "Twin Falls' all-time baseball team? You might be surprised". magicvalley.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.