Iowa Cubs

Iowa Cubs
Founded in 1969
Des Moines, Iowa
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Triple-A (1969–present)
Minor league affiliations
League Pacific Coast League (1998–present)
Conference American Conference
Division Northern Division
Previous leagues
 American Association (1969–1997)
Major league affiliations
Current Chicago Cubs (1981–present)
Previous Chicago White Sox (1976–1980)
Houston Astros (1975)
Chicago White Sox (1973–1974)
Oakland Athletics (1969–1973)
Minor league titles
League titles (1) 1993
Conference titles (1) 2004
Division titles (7)
  • 1973
  • 1993
  • 1997
  • 1998
  • 2001
  • 2004
  • 2008
Team data
Nickname Iowa Cubs (1982–present)
Previous names
 Iowa Oaks (1969–1981)
Colors Blue, red, and white
              
Mascot Cubbie Bear
Ballpark Principal Park (1992–present)
Previous parks
 Sec Taylor Stadium (1969–1991)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Raccoon Baseball, Inc.
Manager Marty Pevey
General Manager Sam Bernabe

The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.

Franchise history

Iowa Oaks logo from when team was a White Sox affiliate

Triple-A baseball came to Iowa's capital city in 1969, as the Iowa Oaks of the American Association began play. The Oaks were affiliates of the Oakland Athletics (1969–1973), the Chicago White Sox (1973–1974 and 1976–1980), and the Houston Astros (1975). In 1981, the team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and adopted the nickname of the parent team, although it is often shortened to "I-Cubs" by fans and media to avoid confusion with the major league team. The team became part of the Pacific Coast League in 1998 after the dissolution of the American Association. The current Player Development Contract (PDC) with the Chicago Cubs runs through 2016. The Iowa Cubs are one of only four Triple-A (baseball) clubs who bear the name of their parent club. Most minor league teams have moved towards a nickname representative of their local community in order to provide consistent marketing regardless of what major league club their PDC is with.

Their home ballpark is Principal Park (formerly Sec Taylor Stadium), located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The franchise attendance record of 576,310 was set in 2007. As of 2008, the I-Cubs are owned by Raccoon Baseball, Inc., an ownership group led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Gartner. Sam Bernabe serves as the team's president and general manager.

The mascot of the Iowa Cubs is "Cubbie Bear," a brown bear, who is often the Iowa Cubs' unofficial ambassador to schools and charitable events throughout central Iowa.[1]

Notable former players/broadcasters

Many future Cubs stars have played in Des Moines before they were called up to Wrigley Field. Some notable I-Cubs alumni include Greg Maddux, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark Grace, Doug Glanville, Joe Carter, Corey Patterson, Carlos Zambrano, Kyle Farnsworth, Kerry Wood, Steve Trachsel, Tuffy Rhodes, Bruce Kimm, Shawon Dunston, Héctor Villanueva, Mark Prior, Sam Fuld, John Grabow, and Rod Beck. Wood and Prior both made rehabilitation starts for the I-Cubs in 2004 and 2005 before returning to the Chicago Cubs' active roster, and many Cubs players such as Derrek Lee, Daryle Ward, Alfonso Soriano, and Ryan Dempster have also made stops in Des Moines for rehab purposes. Even today many Cubs stars such as Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Javier Baez made stops in Iowa. The Iowa Oaks hosted many future Major League Baseball stars such as sluggers Bill McNulty, Harold Baines, Pat Tabler, and 1971 Cy Young and MVP Award winning left-handed pitcher Vida Blue.[2]

Rod Beck gained national attention while pitching for Iowa during his comeback for living in a mobile home behind the team's Sec Taylor Stadium (now Principal Park) in Des Moines. Beck warmly welcomed fans to drop by and visit, use his restroom, and have some Coors Light from his refrigerator.[3]

In 1993, Tuffy Rhodes hit an extra-inning home run to win the American Association championship for the Iowa Cubs. After failing to latch on to a major league team, in 1995, Rhodes went on to a successful career playing in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, where he currently is the career NPB home run leader by a non-Japanese player with 430 home runs.[4]

In addition to these players, Mike Quade, a former manager of the Chicago Cubs, managed the Iowa Cubs from 2003 to 2006. Another former Chicago Cubs manager Bruce Kimm is an Iowa native who managed the Iowa Cubs from 2001 to 2002. In 2010, the I-Cubs had one of their best seasons ever with manager Ryne Sandberg named Pacific Coast League 2010 Manager of the Year. Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa managed the Iowa Oaks in 1979 prior to becoming manager for the Chicago White Sox. In May 2014, Manny Ramirez signed a contract as a part-time player/coach for the I-Cubs.

Former Iowa Cubs broadcasters include: Vince Cotroneo (Oakland A's broadcaster) Brett Dolan (Houston Astros broadcaster) Dave Raymond (Houston Astros broadcaster)

Season-by-season record

Triple-A Champions
(1969–1975)
(1983)
(1988–1991)
(1998–2000)
(2006–present)		 League Champions
(1969–present)		 Division Champions
(1970–1983)
(1985–1986)
(1988–1993)
(1996–present)
Season Team League Division Regular season Post-Season Awards
Finish Wins Losses Win% GB
Iowa Oaks
1969 1969 AA - T–4th 62 78 .443 23 Out of playoffs
1970 1970 AA East 2nd 70 68 .507 3 Out of playoffs
1971 1971 AA East 2nd 71 69 .507 13.5 Out of playoffs
1972 1972 AA East 3rd 62 78 .443 21 Out of playoffs
1973 1973 AA East 1st 83 53 .610 - Lost Championship vs. Tulsa Oilers, 3–4
1974 1974 AA East 2nd 74 62 .544 4.5 Out of playoffs
1975 1975 AA East 4th 56 79 .415 20.5 Out of playoffs
1976 1976 AA East 2nd 68 68 .500 10 Out of playoffs
1977 1977 AA East 4th 61 75 .449 15.5 Out of playoffs
1978 1978 AA East 4th 66 70 .485 12.5 Out of playoffs
1979 1979 AA East 3rd 69 67 .507 9 Out of playoffs
1980 1980 AA East 3rd 59 77 .434 16 Out of playoffs
1981 1981 AA East 4th 53 82 .393 19.5 Out of playoffs
Iowa Cubs
1982 1982 AA East T–2nd 73 62 .541 1.5 Out of playoffs
1983 1983 AA East 2nd 71 65 .522 7.5 Lost Semi-Finals vs. Denver Bears, 1–3
1984 1984 AA - 2nd 80 74 .519 11 Lost Semi-Finals vs. Denver Zephyrs, 1–3
1985 1985 AA West 4th 66 75 .468 12.5 Out of playoffs
1986 1986 AA West 2nd 74 68 .521 2 Out of playoffs
1987 1987 AA - 6th 64 74 .464 14 Out of playoffs
1988 1988 AA West 2nd 78 64 .549 3 Out of playoffs
1989 1989 AA West 3rd 62 82 .431 11 Out of playoffs
1990 1990 AA West 2nd 72 74 .493 14 Out of playoffs
1991 1991 AA West 2nd 78 66 .542 1 Out of playoffs
1992 1992 AA West 4th 51 92 .357 22.5 Out of playoffs
1993 1993 AA West 1st 85 59 .590 - Won Championship vs. Nashville Sounds, 4-3 Eduardo Zambrano (AA MVP)
1994 1994 AA - 5th 69 74 .483 17 Out of playoffs
1995 1995 AA - 5th 69 74 .483 18.5 Out of playoffs
1996 1996 AA West 3rd 64 78 .451 14 Out of playoffs
1997 1997 AA West 1st 74 69 .517 - Won Semi-Finals vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, 3–0
Lost Finals vs. Buffalo Bisons, 0–3
1998 1998 PCL American Central 1st 85 59 .590 - Lost Semi-Finals vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, 1–2
1999 1999 PCL American Midwest 4th 65 76 .461 16 Not in playoffs
2000 2000 PCL American Central 4th 57 87 .396 29 Not in playoffs
2001 2001 PCL American Central 1st 83 60 .580 - Lost Semi-Finals vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, 0–3
2002 2002 PCL American Central 3rd 71 73 .493 7 Not in playoffs
2003 2003 PCL American Central 3rd 70 72 .493 3 Not in playoffs
2004 2004 PCL American Central 1st 79 64 .552 - Won Semi-Finals vs. Oklahoma RedHawks, 3–2
Lost Finals vs. Sacramento River Cats, 0–3
2005 2005 PCL American North 4th 64 75 .460 8.5 Out of playoffs
2006 2006 PCL American North T–1st 76 68 .528 - Out of playoffs
2007 2007 PCL American North 2nd 76 65 .549 10 Out of playoffs Geovany Soto (PCL MVP)
2008 2008 PCL American North 1st 83 57 .593 - Lost Semi-Finals vs. Oklahoma RedHawks, 2–3
2009 2009 PCL American North 3rd 72 72 .500 5 Out of playoffs
2010 2010 PCL American North T–1st 82 62 .569 - Out of playoffs
2011 2011 PCL American North 4th 66 77 .462 13.5 Out of playoffs Bryan LaHair (PCL MVP)
2012 2012 PCL American North 4th 53 87 .379 28 Out of playoffs
2013 2013 PCL American North 3rd 65 75 .464 2 Out of Playoffs
2014 2014 PCL American North T–2nd 74 70 .514 2.5 Out of Playoffs
2015 2015 PCL American North T–2nd 80 64 .556 6 Out of Playoffs
Totals Wins Losses Win % Championships
American Association Regular season 1984 2076 .489
Pacific Coast League Regular season 1238 1187 .511
Post-season[5] 18 29 .383
All-Time Regular and Post-season Record 3240 3292 .496

Current roster

Cubbie Bear, the Iowa Cubs mascot
Iowa Cubs roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches

60-day disabled list

  • -- Frank Batista

7-day disabled list
* On Chicago Cubs 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated May 6, 2016
Transactions
→ More MiLB rosters
→ Chicago Cubs minor league players

Team affiliations

Level Team League Location
Major League Chicago Cubs National League Chicago, Illinois
AAA Iowa Cubs Pacific Coast League Des Moines, Iowa
AA Tennessee Smokies Southern League Sevierville, Tennessee
Advanced A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Carolina League Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
A South Bend Cubs Midwest League South Bend, Indiana
Short Season A Eugene Emeralds Northwest League Eugene, Oregon
Rookie AZL Cubs Arizona League Mesa, Arizona

References

  1. ↑ http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/fans/page.jsp?ymd=20070912&content_id=302481&vkey=fans_t451&fext=.jsp&sid=t451
  2. ↑ Des Moines Register.
  3. ↑ Drehs, Wayne. "The place to go where no one knows your name." ESPN. May 16, 2003. Retrieved on March 7, 2009.
  4. ↑ http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=905
  5. ↑ http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/team4/page.jsp?ymd=20070606&content_id=253698&vkey=team4_t451&fext=.jsp&sid=t451

External links

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