Idaho Falls Angels
Former Los Angeles Angels affiliate in the Pioneer League.
Last updated
The Idaho Falls Angels were a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Pioneer League. The franchise has been in continuous operation in Idaho Falls since 1940, longer than any other team in the league except the Missoula PaddleHeads. The team played its home games at Melaleuca Field, which opened in 2007. The Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent MLB Partner League in 2021, with Idaho Falls continuing as members under the name Chukars.
Franchise history
The franchise first fielded a team in Idaho Falls from 1926 to 1928 as the Spuds in the Utah–Idaho League. It restarted in 1940 as the Russets in the Pioneer League and has played each season since, except for three years the league suspended operations during World War II.
The team has operated under various major league affiliations and nicknames. Many notable players, including Billy Martin, Joe Maddon, Jose Canseco, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, and Billy Butler, began their professional careers with the Idaho Falls club. Over one million fans have attended home games since the team moved into Melaleuca Field in 2007.
Did You Know?
- The Idaho Falls Chukars adopted their name following a fan vote when the major league affiliation changed after the 2003 season.
- A chukar is a game bird found in the region.
- John Balginy has been the 'Voice of the Chukars' since 1985.
More in Los Angeles Angels Minor League Affiliates
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Idaho Falls Chukars (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced