The Caldwell Cubs were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Pioneer League. The Caldwell Cubs were located in the

western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

, in the town of Caldwell, Idaho, west of

Boise Boise (, , ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho and is the county seat of Ada County. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, it is east of the Oregon border and north of the Nevada border. The downtown area' ...

History

rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...

league affiliate of the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

, the team played in the Pioneer League from 1964 through 1971, and their home field was

Simplot Stadium Simplot Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in the western United States, located in Caldwell, Idaho. It is primarily used for football and soccer, with a seating capacity of 4,826. The College of Idaho Coyotes men's soccer team used i ...

in Caldwell. During their first three seasons, they were known as the

Treasure Valley The Treasure Valley is a valley in the western United States, primarily in southwestern Idaho, where the Payette, Boise, Weiser, Malheur, Owyhee, and Burnt rivers drain into the Snake River. It includes all the lowland areas from Vale in rur ...

Cubs as nearby Boise had lost its minor league team after the 1963 season. The Treasure Valley Cubs were champions of the Pioneer League in their first two seasons, and were runners-up in 1966. Lack of attendance was cited as the reason for the club's demise in January 1972; they drew only 11,000 at home during the 1971 season, an average of 315 per game.

Ballpark

The Caldwell Cubs played at

, at 2415 Blaine Street in Caldwell. Part of the Canyon County Fairgrounds, the venue is still in use today by the teams of the

College of Idaho The College of Idaho (C of I) is a private liberal arts college in Caldwell, Idaho. Founded in 1891, it is the state's oldest private liberal arts college and has an enrollment of over 1,000 students. The college's alumni include eight Rh ...

Notable alumni

Joe Decker George Henry Decker, Jr. (June 16, 1947 – March 2, 2003) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1969–72), Minnesota Twins (1973–76) and Seattle Mariners (1979). He was born in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was traded ...

(1965) *

Oscar Gamble Oscar Charles Gamble (December 20, 1949 – January 31, 2018) was an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons, from to , for seven teams: the Chicago White Sox and ...

(1968) *

Ken Holtzman Kenneth Dale Holtzman (born November 3, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from through , most notably as a member of the Chicago Cubs for whom he pitche ...

(1965) 2x MLB All-Star *

Pete LaCock Ralph Pierre "Pete" LaCock Jr. (born January 17, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder. He batted and threw left-handed. In 1975, LaCock hit the only grand slam of his career in the final appearance of St. Louis Cardina ...

(1970) *

Dennis Lamp Dennis Patrick Lamp (born September 23, 1952) is a former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1977 through 1992, the breaking ball specialist played for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athle ...

(1971) *

Joe Niekro Joseph Franklin Niekro ( ; November 7, 1944 – October 27, 2006) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. Niekr ...

(1966) MLB All-Star *

Billy North William Alex North (born May 15, 1948) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1971 to 1981, he played for the Chicago Cubs (1971–72), Oakland Athletics (1973–78), Los Angeles Dodgers (1978) and San Francisco Giants (1979– ...

(1969) 2x AL Stolen Base Leader *

Frank Reberger Frank Beall Reberger (born June 7, 1944) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants from 1968 to 1972. Early life and amateur ...

(1966) Caldwell Native * Ken Rudolph (1965) *

Bill Stoneman William Hambly Stoneman III (born April 7, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player and executive who, during his eight-year (–) pitching career in Major League Baseball, threw two no-hitters; then, as general manager of the Ana ...

(1966) MLB All-Star

References

External links

Baseball Reference
– Caldwell teams Defunct Pioneer League (baseball) teams Professional baseball teams in Idaho Caldwell, Idaho Baseball teams established in 1964 1964 establishments in Idaho 1971 disestablishments in Idaho Baseball teams disestablished in 1971 Defunct baseball teams in Idaho Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates {{Idaho-baseball-team-stub