Iowa Cubs

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Iowa Cubs Founded in 1969 Des Moines, Iowa
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-Level
Triple-A
Minor League affiliations
Pacific Coast League (1998-Present) American Conference - North Division American Association (1969-1997)
Major League affiliations
Chicago Cubs (1981-Present) Chicago White Sox (1976-1980) Houston Astros (1975) Chicago White Sox (1973-1974) Oakland Athletics (1969-1973)
Name
Iowa Cubs (1982-Present) Iowa Oaks (1969-1981)
Ballpark
Principal Park
Minor League titles
League titles	1993
Conference titles	2004
Division titles	1973, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004
Owner(s)/Operated by: Raccoon Baseball, Inc.
Manager: Pat Listach
General Manager: Sam Bernabe

The Iowa Cubs are a Class AAA 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.

Contents 1 Franchise history 1.1 Notable Former Players 1.2 Franchise names 2 Season-by-season record 3 Current roster 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Franchise history

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 (1969-73), the Chicago White Sox (1973-74 and 1976-80), 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 the "I-Cubs" by fans and media to avoid confusion with its parent. The team became part of the Pacific Coast League in 1998 after the dissolution of the American Association. The current Player Development Contract with the Chicago Cubs runs through 2012, ensuring that the I-Cubs remain the AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs through that date. ^[1]

Their home park 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. One highlight of Iowa Cubs games is the "hot dog gun," where a driver in a golf cart shoots hot dogs out of an air compressed cannon into the hungry crowd in between innings. Often the hot dog will explode in mid air in to hundreds of pieces of meat and bun to the delight of fans. [1]^[2]

The I-Cubs are currently 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.

[edit] Notable Former Players

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, Kerry Wood, Steve Trachsel, Bruce Kimm, Shawon Dunston, Hector Villanueva, Mark Prior 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 and Ryan Dempster have also made stops in Des Moines for rehab purposes. The Iowa Oaks hosted many future Major League Baseball stars as well such as sluggers Bill McNulty, Harold Baines and Pat Tabler, and 1971 Cy Young award winning left-handed pitcher Vida Blue. [2]

While pitching for the team's AAA affiliate Iowa Cubs during his comeback, Rod Beck gained national attention 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 Coors Light from his refrigerator.[3]

Former Iowa Cubs pitcher Neal Cotts (currently on the Chicago Cubs 25 man roster) was the only relief pitcher to earn a win in the 2005 World Series when he pitched with the Chicago White Sox and was named "Setup Man of the Year Award" by Major League Baseball in 2005. Cotts pitched in all four games of the World Series and was the winning pitcher Game 2.

In addition to these players, Mike Quade, the current third base coach for the Chicago Cubs, managed the Iowa Cubs from 2003-2006. Former Chicago Cubs manager Bruce Kimm is an Iowa native who managed the Iowa Cubs from 2001-2002. Current St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa managed the Iowa Oaks in 1979 prior to becoming manager for the Chicago White Sox.

[edit] Franchise names

• Iowa Oaks : 1969-1981
• Iowa Cubs : 1982-present

[edit] Season-by-season record

Season	W	L	Win %	Finish	Playoffs
1969	62	78	.443	t-4th in AA	Out of Playoffs
1970	70	68	.507	2nd in East	Out of Playoffs
1971	71	61	.538	2nd in East	Out of Playoffs
1972	62	78	.443	3rd in East	Out of Playoffs
1973	83	53	.610	1st in East	Lost in Finals
1974	74	62	.544	2nd in East	Out of Playoffs
1975	56	79	.415	4th in East	Out of Playoffs
1976	68	68	.500	2nd in East	Out of Playoffs
1977	61	75	.449	4th in East	Out of Playoffs
1978	66	70	.485	4th in East	Out of Playoffs
1979	69	67	.507	3rd in East	Out of Playoffs
1980	59	77	.434	3rd in East	Out of Playoffs
1981	53	82	.392	4th in East	Out of Playoffs
Season	W	L	Win %	Finish	Playoffs
1982	73	62	.541	t-2nd in East	Out of Playoffs
1983	71	65	.522	2nd in East	Lost in Semis
1984	80	74	.520	2nd in AA	Lost in Semis
1985	66	75	.468	4th in West	Out of Playoffs
1986	74	68	.521	2nd in West	Out of Playoffs
1987	64	74	.464	6th in AA	Out of Playoffs
1988	78	64	.549	2nd in West	Out of Playoffs
1989	62	82	.431	3rd in West	Out of Playoffs
1990	72	74	.493	2nd in West	Out of Playoffs
1991	78	66	.542	2nd in West	Out of Playoffs
1992	51	92	.357	4th in West	Out of Playoffs
1993	85	59	.590	1st in West	American Association Champions
1994	68	76	.472	5th in AA	Out of Playoffs
1995	69	74	.483	5th in AA	Out of Playoffs
1996	64	78	.451	3rd in Western	Out of Playoffs
1997	74	69	.517	1st in Western	Lost in Finals
1998 1	85	59	.590	1st in Midwest	Lost in Semis
1999	65	76	.461	4th in Central	Out of Playoffs
2000	56	86	.394	4th in Central	Out of Playoffs
2001	83	60	.580	1st in Central	Lost in Semis
2002	71	73	.493	3rd in Central	Out of Playoffs
2003	70	72	.493	3rd in Central	Out of Playoffs
2004	79	64	.552	1st in Central	Lost in Finals
2005	64	75	.460	4th in American North	Out of Playoffs
2006	76	68	.528	2nd in American North	Out of Playoffs
2007	79	65	.549	2nd in American North	Out of Playoffs

¹ Joined PCL in 1998

[edit] Current roster

Iowa Cubs roster v • d • e
Players				Coaching staff
Pitchers 58 José Asacanio 35 Mike Burns 38 Andy Cavazos 48 Neal Cotts 36 Sean Gallagher 14 Mark Holliman 44 Geoffrey Jones 46 Randy Keisler 51 Juan Mateo 31 J. R. Mathes 63 Carmen Pignatiello 30 Les Walrond † disabled list ‡ temporary inactive list Roster updated 2008-04-11 Transactions		Catchers  7 J. D. Closser -- Jake Fox 23 Koyie Hill Infielders 13 Andrés Blanco 12 Luis Figueroa 24 Micah Hoffpauir  9 Casey McGehee  4 Eric Patterson Outfielders 27 Sam Fuld 21 Josh Kroeger -- Matt Murton 11 Bobby Scales 26 Andres Torres		Manager  4 Pat Listach Coaches 19 Von Joshua (hitting) 27 Mike Mason (pitching) -- Bob Grimes (trainer)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Iowa Cubs web site
• Iowa Cubs Roster, Splits, and Situational Stats
• Iowa Cubs Standings playoff history
• Iowa Cubs Year-by-year records
• Iowa Cubs single season records

v • d • e Chicago Cubs franchise
AAA	AA	A	Rookie
Iowa Cubs	Tennessee Smokies	Daytona Cubs Peoria Chiefs Boise Hawks	AZL Cubs VSL Cubs

v • d • e Pacific Coast League American Conference - North Division Iowa Cubs • Memphis Redbirds • Nashville Sounds • Omaha Royals American Conference - South Division Albuquerque Isotopes • New Orleans Zephyrs • Oklahoma RedHawks • Round Rock Express Pacific Conference - North Division Colorado Springs Sky Sox • Portland Beavers • Salt Lake Bees • Tacoma Rainiers Pacific Conference - South Division Fresno Grizzlies • Las Vegas 51s • Sacramento River Cats • Tucson Sidewinders

v • d • e Sports teams based in Iowa Baseball PCL: Iowa Cubs · MwL: Burlington Bees · Cedar Rapids Kernels · Clinton LumberKings · Quad Cities River Bandits · AA: Sioux City Explorers · NwL: Waterloo Bucks Basketball D-League: Iowa Energy Football af2: Iowa Barnstormers · UIF: Sioux City Bandits · APFL: Iowa Blackhawks Hockey AHL: Iowa Stars · USHL: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders · Des Moines Buccaneers · Omaha Lancers · Sioux City Musketeers · Waterloo Black Hawks · NAHL: North Iowa Outlaws Soccer PDL: Des Moines Menace NCAA Div. I college athletics Drake · Iowa · Iowa State · Northern Iowa

v • d • e Chicago Cubs Based in Chicago, Illinois The Franchise History • Seasons • Records • Players • Managers and Owners • Broadcasters Ballparks 23rd Street Grounds • Lakefront Park • West Side Park I • South Side Park • West Side Park II • Wrigley Field Culture Steve Bartman • Babe Ruth's called shot • Curse of the Billy Goat • Ex-Cubs Factor • Tinker to Evers to Chance • Rookie of the Year • Ronnie Woo Woo • Grant DePorter • Wrigley Rooftops • Wrigleyville Rivalries Brewers-Cubs rivalry • Cardinals-Cubs rivalry • White Sox-Cubs rivalry Important Figures William Wrigley Jr. • Joe Tinker • Johnny Evers • Pete Alexander • Mordecai Brown • Cap Anson • Frank Chance • Gabby Hartnett • Hack Wilson • Billy Herman • Ron Santo • Ernie Banks • Ferguson Jenkins • Ryne Sandberg • Billy Williams • Sammy Sosa • Harry Caray • Jack Brickhouse • Mark Grace • Greg Maddux • Andre Dawson Retired Numbers 10 • 14 • 23 • 26 • 42 Key Personnel Owner: Tribune Company • General Manager: Jim Hendry • Manager: Lou Piniella World Series Championships (2) 1907 • 1908 National League Championships (16) 1876 • 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1885 • 1886 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1910 • 1918 • 1929 • 1932 • 1935 • 1938 • 1945 Division Championships Eastern: 1984 • 1989 • Central: 2003 • 2007 • Wild Card: 1998 Minor League Affiliates Iowa Cubs (AAA) • Tennessee Smokies (AA) • Daytona Cubs (A) • Peoria Chiefs (A) • Boise Hawks (A) • Arizona League Cubs (Rookie) • VSL Cubs (Rookie) Other Assets Comcast SportsNet Chicago   Seasons (136) 1870s 1870 • 1871 • 1872 • 1873 • 1874 • 1875 • 1876 • 1877 • 1878 • 1879 1880s 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887 • 1888 • 1889 1890s 1890 • 1891 • 1892 • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • 1898 • 1899 1900s 1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909 1910s 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 1920s 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 1930s 1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 1940s 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 1950s 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 1960s 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 1970s 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 1980s 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 1990s 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 2000s 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008