Boise Hawks
Founded in1987 Boise, Idaho
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Independent (from 2021)
Previous classes	Class A Short Season (1987–2020)
League	Pioneer League (from 2021)
Previous leagues	Northwest League (1987–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Independent (from 2021)
Previous teams	Colorado Rockies (2015–2020) Chicago Cubs (2001–2014) California/Anaheim Angels (1990–2000) Independent (1987–1989)
Minor league titles
League titles(6)	1991 1993 1994 1995 2002 2004
Division titles(10)	1991 1993 1994 1995 1997 2001 2002 2004 2006 2012 2021
Team data
Name	Boise Hawks (1987–present)
Colors	City of trees green, deep brick red, sunshine orange, muted-yellow corn silk, white[1]
Mascot	Humphrey the Hawk[2]
Ballpark	Memorial Stadium (1989–present)
Previous parks	Bill Wigle Field (1987–1988)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Boise Baseball, LLC
General manager	Mike Van Hise[3]
Manager	Gary Van Tol

TheBoise Hawks are an independent baseball team of thePioneer League, which is not affiliated withMajor League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. Home games are played atMemorial Stadium in unincorporatedAda County,Idaho, nearBoise.^[a]

From their establishment in 1987 through 2020, the Hawks were members of theClass A Short SeasonNorthwest League. In conjunction with a contraction ofMinor League Baseball in 2021, the team shifted to the Pioneer League, which was converted from an MLB-affiliatedrookie league to anindependent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League.

Prior to moving to the Boise area, the team was theTri-Cities Triplets, who played inRichland, Washington, for four seasons after moving over fromWalla Walla in 1983.^[5] An affiliate of theTexas Rangers for the first two seasons in Richland, they operated as an independent in 1985 and 1986. The Triplets were sold in the fall of 1986 to Diamond Sports and moved to Idaho for the 1987 season.^[6][7] Diamond Sports was headed by the Triplets' general managerMal Fichman.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}

Their debut game was on the road and drew over 7,100 atSpokane, aided by the appearance ofHank Aaron.^[7][14] Continuing as an independent for their first three seasons in Boise, they joined theCalifornia Angels organization in1990; the Angels were previously affiliated with the Bend Bucks for two seasons.^[15] 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 theChicago Cubs, who were with theEugene Emeralds for the two previous seasons.^[16][17] 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 theRockies, who were previously affiliated with theTri-City Dust Devils inPasco for fourteen seasons.^[18]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 renamedHigh-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 independentPioneer League, an MLB Partner League.^[19]

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.^[20]

The Hawks play their home games atMemorial Stadium in Garden City, north of theWestern Idaho Fairgrounds.^[21] The facility on the banks of theBoise River has aseating capacity of 3,500; it opened in1989 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 ofBorah High School.^[10][21]

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.^[22][23]

Prior to the Hawks, Boise hosted two Northwest League franchises in the 1970s. TheBoise A's played two seasons (1975, 1976), then relocated to Canada atMedicine Hat,Alberta. In 1978, theBoise Buckskins played just one season, went bankrupt, and ceased operations. Both clubs played at Borah Field (now Bill Wigle Field).

Boise had been a longtime member of thePioneer League, then inClass C. The teams were originally known as thePilots, then as theYankees (1952, 1953). The club reverted to the Pilots moniker in 1954. Upon signing a player development contract with theMilwaukee Braves, Boise became theBraves and continued the relationship until 1963. Renowned broadcasterBob Uecker played catcher for the league champion Boise Braves in 1956 and 1958.^[24] The Pioneer League teams played atAirway Park, later known as Braves Field, about a half mile (0.8 km) east ofBronco Stadium, inMunicipal Park in east Boise, now the site of the headquarters of theIdaho Department of Fish and Game.

The Boise Hawks are owned by Agon Sports & Entertainment LLC, and the company president is Jeff Eisemann.

• Official website
• Stats Crew Boise Hawks
• 1950s ballpark aerial photo

• Baseball teams established in 1987
• Sports in Boise, Idaho
• 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 (baseball) teams
• Northwest League teams

• Use mdy dates from November 2022
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata