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The Boise Hawks are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. Home games are played at Memorial Stadium in unincorporated Ada County, Idaho, near Boise.
From their establishment in 1987 through 2020, the Hawks were members of the Class A Short Season Northwest League. In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the team shifted to the Pioneer League, which was converted from an MLB-affiliated rookie league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League.
Their debut game was on the road and drew over 7,100 at Spokane Indians, aided by the appearance of Hank Aaron. Continuing as an independent for their first three seasons in Boise, they joined the California Angels organization in 1990; the Angels were previously affiliated with the Bend Bucks for two seasons. The Hawks made the playoffs that first season under the Angels and then won the league title four times in the next five years.
After eleven seasons with the Angels, the Hawks moved their affiliation in 2001 to the Chicago Cubs, who were with the Eugene Emeralds for the two previous seasons. Under the Cubs, the Hawks won two league titles and were runners-up three times. After fourteen years with Chicago, the Hawks switched in 2015 to the Colorado Rockies, who were previously affiliated with the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco for fourteen seasons.
The Boise Hawks had the “Dream Team” in 2012. This team had future big leaguers: Dan Vogelbach, Willson Contreras, Albert Almora Jr., Feliz Pena, Stephen Bruno, Marco Hernández, Trey Martin, Yasiel Balancourt, and Pierce Johnson. They also had the MILB Nickname Champ: Rock Shoulders
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire 2020 season for the minor leagues was cancelled. The following winter, as part the reorganization of minor league baseball, the Northwest League was elevated to the classification of High Single-A and renamed High-A West. The league was contracted to six teams and the Hawks were not extended an invitation to continue as a franchise affiliated with a major league organization. The franchise announced they will continue as members of the independent Pioneer League, an MLB Partner League.
Prior to the cancelation of the 2020 season and subsequent minor league reorganization, the team was slated to appear as the "Boise Papas Fritas" in six 2020 home games as part of the "Copa de Diversion" program.
A proposal to build Boise Sports Park, a new ballpark that could also be used by a minor-league soccer team, was announced by the Hawks ownership group in 2017. The original proposed site for the stadium drew opposition from local residents and was replaced by a new location in the West End neighborhood. In 2018, Boise voters approved an ordinance that would require a citywide election on any sports stadium with public funding, which included the Sports Park proposal. The ordinance and other financial issues led to the project being shelved in December 2019.
Boise had been a longtime member of the Pioneer League, then in Class C. The teams were originally known as the Boise Pilots, then as the Boise Yankees (1952, 1953). The club reverted to the Pilots moniker in 1954. Upon signing a player development contract with the Milwaukee Braves, Boise became the Boise Braves and continued the relationship until 1963. Renowned broadcaster Bob Uecker played catcher for the league champion Boise Braves in 1956 and 1958. The Pioneer League teams played at Airway Park, later known as Braves Field, about a half mile (0.8 km) east of Bronco Stadium, in Municipal Park in east Boise, now the site of the headquarters of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
World Series champions
Ballparks
The Hawks play their home games at Memorial Stadium in Garden City, north of the Western Idaho Fairgrounds. The facility on the banks of the Boise River has a seating capacity of 3,500; it opened in 1989 for the Hawks' third season, its last without an affiliation. The stadium was privately built by an investor group led by Bill Pereira and son Cord Pereira. For their first two seasons, the Hawks played their home games at Bill Wigle Field on the campus of Borah High School.
Previous Boise teams
Prior to the Hawks, Boise hosted two Northwest League franchises in the 1970s. The Boise A's played two seasons (1975, 1976), then relocated to Canada at Medicine Hat, Alberta. In 1978, the Boise Buckskins played just one season, went bankrupt, and ceased operations. Both clubs played at Borah Field (now Bill Wigle Field).
Ownership and media
The Boise Hawks are owned by Agon Sports & Entertainment LLC, and the company president is Jeff Eisemann.
Season-by-season record
Boise Hawks 1987 — North 4th 26 50 .342 Mal Fichman 71,344 1988 — North 3rd 30 46 .395 Mal Fichman 67,524 1989 — North 2nd 35 40 .467 Mal Fichman 127,594 1990 CAL South 1st 53 23 .697 Lost to Spokane Indians in championship series 1-2 Tom Kotchman 124,270 1991 CAL South 1st 50 26 .658 Defeated Yakima Bears in championship series 2-0 Tom Kotchman 132,611 1992 CAL South 2nd 40 36 .526 Tom Kotchman 145,138 1993 CAL South 1st 41 35 .539 Defeated Bellingham in championship series 2-0 Tom Kotchman 151,080 1994 CAL South 1st 44 32 .579 Defeated Yakima Bears in championship series 2-1 Tom Kotchman 156,950 1995 CAL South 1st 48 27 .640 Defeated Bellingham in championship series 2-1 Tom Kotchman 165,255 1996 CAL South 2nd 43 33 .566 Tom Kotchman 148,282 1997 ANA North 1st 51 25 .671 Lost to Portland Rockies in championship series 2-3 Tom Kotchman 154,819 1998 ANA North 1st 47 29 .618 Defeated Spokane Indians in division play-off 1-0
Lost to Salem-Keizer in championship series 0-2Tom Kotchman 152,496 1999 ANA North 2nd 43 33 .566 Tom Kotchman 132,885 2000 ANA East 2nd 41 35 .539 Tom Kotchman 133,715 Boise Hawks 2001 CHC East 1st 52 23 .693 Lost to Salem-Keizer in championship series 0-3 Steve McFarland 99,840 2002 CHC East 1st 49 27 .645 Defeated Everett AquaSox in championship series 3-0 Steve McFarland 109,646 2003 CHC East 4th 27 49 .355 Steve McFarland 104,156 2004 CHC East 1st 42 34 .553 Defeated Vancouver in championship series 3-0 Tom Beyers 107,936 2005 CHC East 3rd 34 42 .447 Trey Forkerway 109,746 2006 CHC East 1st 44 32 .579 Lost to Salem-Keizer in championship series 1-3 Steve McFarland 108,876 Boise Hawks 2007 CHC East 2nd 37 39 .487 Tom Beyers 102,878 2008 CHC East 2nd 43 33 .566 Tom Beyers 109,802 2009 CHC East 3rd 34 42 .447 Casey Kopitzke 103,783 2010 CHC East 3rd 34 42 .453 Jody Davis 105,671 2011 CHC East 2nd 36 40 .474 Lost to Tri-City division series 0-2 Mark Johnson 98,860 2012 CHC East 1st 37 39 .487 Defeated Yakima Bears in division series 2-1
Lost to Vancouver in championship series 1-2Mark Johnson 91,167 2013 CHC South 2nd 41 35 .539 Defeated Salem-Keizer in division series 2-0
Lost Vancouver in championship series 1-2Gary Van Tol 91,324 2014 CHC South 2nd 41 35 .539 Lost to Hillsboro Hops in division series 0-2 Gary Van Tol 87,519 2015 COL South 4th 30 46 .395 Frank Gonzalez 109,945 2016 COL South 3rd 33 44 .434 Andy González 114,476 2017 COL South 3rd 37 39 .487 Scott Little 121,455 2018 COL South 3rd 35 41 .461 Scott Little 126,192 2019 COL South 4th 27 49 .355 Steve Soliz 129,805 Division winner League champions
Roster
Notable alumni
See also
Notes
External links
Categories: Official Website, Baseball Teams Established In 1987, Hawks, Professional Baseball Teams In Idaho, Los Angeles Angels Minor League Affiliates, Chicago Cubs Minor League Affiliates, Colorado Rockies Minor League Affiliates, 1987 Establishments In Idaho, Pioneer League Teams, Northwest League Teams
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