Idaho Falls Chukars Professional Baseball

Baseball has been played in Idaho Falls since the early 1900’s. In fact, an Idaho Falls club belonged to the short-lived Utah-Idaho League between the years of 1926-1928. It wasn’t until 1940 that the Idaho Russets joined the relatively new Pioneer League. The Russets replaced one of the inaugural teams of the Pioneer League, the Lewiston Indians. Two years later, play was suspended for just about all of Minor League Baseball for World War II. Baseball officially started again in 1946. In 1955, the Idaho Falls Russets became a “Farm Club” for the first time; no longer being locally owned. An invention from baseball’s infamous Branch Rickey, the farm system would allow Major League teams to partially own, or support financially, several minor league teams. In return, those minor league teams would develop and train players for that particular Major League club. Idaho Falls became a “farm club” for the Detroit Tigers, which whom they would remain with until 1959. Highland Park was the home of Professional Baseball in Idaho Falls until 1975, when fire damage completely destroyed the main grandstand. Rebuilding at the same location, McDermott Field was built and ready for the start of the 1976 season. Between Highland Park and McDermott Field, the longest continual member of the Pioneer League has belonged to the city of Idaho Falls. After many years of name changes due to different Major League affiliations, the Idaho Falls Padres became the Idaho Falls Chukars in 2004. In that same year, the Chukars also became the new proud affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Two years later, the Chukars would play their last season at McDermott Field. On Monday, October 30th of 2006, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place to honor McDermott Field, and to break ground for Idaho Falls’ new ballpark, Melaleuca Field.