# Utah–Idaho League

The Utah–Idaho League was a minor league baseball organization founded in 1926. Playing as a six–team, Class C level league for its duration, the Utah–Idaho League franchises were based exclusively in Idaho and Utah as the name indicates.

## History

Fred M. Nye served as president of the Utah–Idaho League for its duration. The Pacific Coast League used the Utah-Idaho for player development. Travel costs in the mountainous territory plagued the league and it permanently folded following the 1928 season. Baseball Hall of Fame members Lefty Gomez, 1928 Salt Lake City Bees and Ernie Lombardi, 1927 Ogden Gunners played in the Utah–Idaho League.

## 1926–1928 Utah–Idaho League teams

| Team name | City represented | Ballpark | Year(s) active |
| Boise Senators | Boise, Idaho | Public School Field | 1928 |
| Idaho Falls Spuds | Idaho Falls, Idaho | Highland Park | 1926 to 1928 |
| Logan Collegians | Logan, Utah | Crimson Field | 1926 to 1927 |
| Ogden Gunners | Ogden, Utah | Lorin Farr Park | 1926 to 1928 |
| Pocatello Bannocks | Pocatello, Idaho | Overland Park | 1926 to 1928 |
| Salt Lake City Bees | Salt Lake City, Utah | Bonneville Park /Derks Field | 1926 to 1928 |
| Twin Falls Bruins | Twin Falls, Idaho | Athletic Park | 1926 to 1928 |

## Standings & statistics

1926 Utah–Idaho League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Manager |
| Idaho Falls Spuds | 75 | 39 | .658 | – | Bill Leard / Danny Collins |
| Twin Falls Bruins | 63 | 50 | .558 | 11.5 | Carl Zamlock |
| Pocatello Bannocks | 58 | 53 | .523 | 15.5 | Al Bonner / Bert McIvor / Doug Taitt |
| Logan Collegians | 48 | 65 | .425 | 26.5 | Harry Wolter / Nick Williams / Nate Shandling |
| Salt Lake City Bees | 52 | 70 | .426 | 27.0 | Bud Orr / Bert Whaling / Chet Chadbourne |
| Ogden Gunners | 46 | 65 | .414 | 27.5 | Ray Bates / Dad Gimlin / Guy Cooper |
No playoffs scheduled.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Charles King | Logan | BA | .402 | Robert Hurst | Idaho Falls | W | 22 |
| Roy Johnson | Idaho Falls | Runs | 133 | Bruce Cunningham | Pocatello | SO | 140 |
| Eddie Rose | Idaho Falls | Hits | 177 | Guy Morrison | Idaho Falls | ERA | 2.83 |
| Larman Cox | Ogden | HR | 20 |
1927 Utah–Idaho League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Manager |
| Ogden Gunners | 58 | 45 | .563 | – | Art Murphy / Del Baker |
| Salt Lake City Bees | 59 | 50 | .541 | 2.0 | Harry O'Neill |
| Idaho Falls Spuds | 52 | 47 | .525 | 4.0 | Dan O'Leary |
| Logan Collegians | 49 | 51 | .490 | 7.5 | Harry Wolter |
| Pocatello Bannocks | 48 | 50 | .490 | 7.5 | Ivy Olson |
| Twin Falls Bruins | 40 | 63 | .388 | 18.0 | Curly Gardiner / Bill Leard |
Playoff: Idaho Falls 4 games, Pocatello 3.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Wally Berger | Pocatello | BA | .385 | George Hollerson | Salt Lake City | W | 18 |
| John Schinski | Logan | Runs | 93 | Dave Salazar | Pocatello | SO | 129 |
| R. Dennis Gearron | Logan | Runs | 93 | George Hollerson | Salt Lake City | ERA | 2.52 |
| Ira Caffey | Salt Lake City | Hits | 152 |
| Wally Berger | Pocatello | HR | 24 |
1928 Utah–Idaho League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Manager |
| Salt Lake City Bees | 68 | 49 | .581 | – | Bobby Coltrin |
| Boise Senators | 60 | 55 | .522 | 7.0 | Harry O'Neill |
| Pocatello Bannocks | 57 | 58 | .496 | 10.0 | Jack Roche |
| Ogden Gunners | 57 | 59 | .491 | 10.5 | Del Baker |
| Twin Falls Bruins | 29 | 29 | .500 | NA | Bill Leard |
| Idaho Falls Spuds | 17 | 38 | .309 | NA | Pete Maloney |
Twin Falls & Idaho Falls disbanded July 5 Playoff: Salt Lake City 4 games, Boise 1.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Ed Coleman | Boise/Twin | BA | .385 | Val Glynn | Salt Lake City | W | 16 |
| Arthur Parker | Pocatello | Runs | 111 | Curt Davis | Salt Lake City | W | 16 |
| Ed Coleman | Boise/Twin | Hits | 167 | George Hollerson | Boise | W | 16 |
| Ed Coleman | Boise/Twin | HR | 26 | Lefty Gomez | Salt Lake City | SO | 172 |
| George Hollerson | Boise | ERA | 3.34 |

## Sources

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Second Edition.