Boise Hawks

Starting in 1939, Boise was a longtime member of the Pioneer League, then in Class C. The teams were originally known as the Pilots (unaffiliated), then Yankees (New York affiliation, 1952–53), back to Pilots (1954),[17] and then Braves (Milwaukee affiliation, 1955–63).[18] They 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. Noted broadcaster Bob Uecker played catcher for the league champion Boise Braves in 1956[19] and 1958.[20] The Pioneer League was moved to Class A for one season in 1963, and it was the last for the Boise Braves; the city went 11 summers without minor league baseball. The Pioneer League, now a rookie league, shifted west in the Treasure Valley to Caldwell with the Cubs, who played at Simplot Stadium from 1964 through 1971.

Boise's original team in the Northwest League was the Boise A's, who debuted in 1975. The new franchise was awarded in 1974 to begin play in 1975, but in the meantime, two NWL teams folded after the 1974 season, New Westminster in British Columbia, and Lewiston in north central Idaho.[21][22] The Lewiston Broncs were an affiliate of the Oakland A's, who shifted their players to Boise for 1975. The Boise A's played their home games at Borah Field and the manager was Tom Trebelhorn, a Bronc player the previous year.[23][24]

The home opener on June 18 drew 1,814 fans for the first pro game in Boise since 1963.[25] Fresh from high school, future hall of famer Rickey Henderson played in 46 games for Boise in 1976 and hit .336 as a 17-year-old.[26] Even with the exciting Henderson, attendance had fallen dramatically from an average of 800 per home game in 1975 to just 250 in 1976.[27] After just two seasons, the team left for Medicine Hat in eastern Alberta for the 1977 season, where they joined the Pioneer League, a rookie league since 1964, as the Medicine Hat A's.[28] The A's went without an affiliate in the NWL in 1977; in 1978 it was the Bend Timber Hawks,[29] who moved south in 1979 and became the Medford A's.[30]

After a summer without pro ball, the independent Boise Buckskins debuted in the Northwest League in 1978 at Borah Field,[27] owned by the former female general manager of the Portland Mavericks, 27-year-old Lanny Moss.[31] Despite starting with an 11-3 win over Salem in their debut,[32] the team never gained a foothold and quickly folded after a 23–49 (.319) season,[33] poor financial performance, low attendance, inability to meet payroll,[34][35] and the failure to garner an affiliation with a major league club. The Philadelphia Phillies chose to put their NWL team in Bend in 1979, rather than Boise or Salem.[36] Boise went without minor league baseball for eight summers until the Hawks arrived in 1987.

The manager was Gerry Craft, who made headlines early regarding divine guidance.[37][38] A notable Buckskin was Danny Thomas (1951–1980), the sixth overall pick in the 1972 draft who had played over 50 games with the Milwaukee Brewers in late 1976 and early 1977. Because of his religious beliefs, he played only six days per week.[35][39][40]

• 1990: Lost to Spokane 2-1 in finals.
• 1991: Defeated Yakima 2-0 to win championship.
• 1993: Defeated Bellingham 2-0 to win championship.
• 1994: Defeated Yakima 2-1 to win championship.
• 1995: Defeated Bellingham 2-1 to win championship.
• 1997: Lost to Portland 3-2 in finals.
• 1998: Lost to Salem-Keizer 3-0 in finals.
• 2001: Lost to Salem-Keizer 3-0 in finals.
• 2002: Defeated Everett 3-0 to win championship.
• 2004: Defeated Vancouver 3-0 in finals.
• 2006: Lost to Salem-Keizer 3-1 in finals.
• 2011: Lost to Tri-City 2-0 in semifinals.
• 2012: Defeated Yakima 2-1 in semifinals; lost to Vancouver 2-1 in finals.
• 2013: Defeated Salem-Keizer 2-0 in semifinals; lost to Vancouver 2-1 in finals.
• 2014: Lost to Hillsboro 2-0 in semifinals.