Lehigh Valley IronPigs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lehigh Valley IronPigs Founded in 2008 Allentown, Pennsylvania
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	Triple-A (2008–present)
Minor league affiliations
League	International League (2008–present)
Division	East Division
Major league affiliations
Current	Philadelphia Phillies (2008–present)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)	None
Division titles (1)	2018
Wild card berths (3)	2011 2016 2017
Team data
Nickname	Lehigh Valley IronPigs (2008–present)
Colors	Furnace blue, brick red, steel, white
Mascots	Ferrous and FeFe
Ballpark	Coca-Cola Park (2008–present)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Joseph Finley and Craig Stein
Manager	Anthony Contreras
General Manager	Kurt Landes
Media	MiLB.TV and WTKZ AM 1320

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a professional baseball team. They play in Minor League Baseball, which is like a training ground for players hoping to join Major League Baseball. The IronPigs are the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies, meaning they are just one step below the Phillies.

The team is based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their name, "IronPigs," comes from the history of the Lehigh Valley region. This area was famous for making steel from something called pig iron. The IronPigs play their home games at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

The IronPigs started playing in 2008. Since then, they have made it to the International League playoffs four times. In 2018, they won their first division title. This was their best season ever, with a winning record of 84 wins and 56 losses. However, they have not yet won the overall International League championship.

Team History: How the IronPigs Started

Coca-Cola Park, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is the home field of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Baseball has been played in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for a very long time, going all the way back to 1884. Over the years, many different minor league teams played in the city. Some of these teams included the Allentown Cardinals and the Allentown Red Sox.

After 1960, Allentown had a few independent baseball teams. These teams were not connected to Major League Baseball teams. One of these was the Allentown Ambassadors. Another team, the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds, hoped to build a new stadium, but it never happened.

In 2003, two people named Joseph Finley and Craig Stein wanted to bring a team connected to Major League Baseball back to Allentown. They worked hard to make this happen. The Philadelphia Phillies were also looking for a new Triple-A team.

Finally, in 2008, the Ottawa Lynx team moved to Allentown and became the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. They also became the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies. A brand new stadium, Coca-Cola Park, was built for the IronPigs. It cost about $50 million and can hold up to 10,000 fans.

Playing in the International League (2008–2020)

In 2017, Rhys Hoskins won the International League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards while playing for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs playing at Coca-Cola Park on opening day 2011.

The IronPigs played their first game on April 3, 2008, but they lost. They actually lost their first 11 games! But on April 14, they won their first game at their new home, Coca-Cola Park. They finished their first season with a record of 55 wins and 89 losses.

In 2009, Justin Lehr became the first IronPigs player to win a major award. He was named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher. In 2010, Coca-Cola Park hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game, which was a big event for the team.

In 2011, Baseball Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg became the IronPigs' manager. He led the team to a great season, with 80 wins and 64 losses. This earned them a spot in the Governors' Cup playoffs for the league championship. They won their first playoff series but lost in the finals.

The IronPigs had more success from 2016 to 2018. They made the playoffs three years in a row. In 2016, they set a new team record with 85 wins. In 2017, a future Phillies star, Rhys Hoskins, was named the International League's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year while playing for the IronPigs.

In 2018, the IronPigs won their first Northern Division title. This was a huge achievement! They had their best winning percentage ever. Even though they lost in the playoffs again, it was a very successful year. Several IronPigs players and their manager won league awards that season.

The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New League, Same Great Team (2021–Present)

After the 2020 season, Major League Baseball took more control over Minor League Baseball. The IronPigs remained the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies. The International League changed its name to the Triple-A East for one year in 2021, but then it went back to being called the International League in 2022.

In August 2022, a famous Phillies player, Bryce Harper, played a few games with the IronPigs. This was part of his recovery after an injury. The games at Coca-Cola Park quickly sold out because everyone wanted to see him play! Harper even hit two home runs in one of those games.

Watching and Listening to the Games

Coca-Cola Park's home radio booth in April 2009.

It's pretty special for a minor league team, but the IronPigs broadcast all of their home games on TV! The local cable network, SEN, shows the games in the Lehigh Valley area and parts of New Jersey. Other cable companies also show the games. Plus, some Saturday night home games are shown on WFMZ-TV 69.

If you prefer to listen, all IronPigs games, both home and away, are broadcast on WEEX radio.

Radio Stations

• WEEX/1230 (Easton)

Television Channels

• Service Electric Network (Greater Lehigh Valley, including parts of Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey)
• Service Electric Cablevision (Birdsboro, Hazleton, Mahanoy City, and Sunbury and surrounding areas.
• Blue Ridge Cable TV13 (Palmerton)
• WYLN-CD/35 (Hazleton)
• WFMZ-TV/69 (Allentown)

Meet the Mascots: FeRROUS and FeFe

FeRROUS, one of two mascots for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, performs during the Seventh inning stretch at Coca-Cola Park, August 2018.

The IronPigs have two super fun mascots: FeRROUS and FeFe! They are furry, pig-like characters. Their names come from "ferrum," which is the Latin word for iron, and "Fe," which is the chemical symbol for iron.

FeRROUS has gray fur and wears an IronPigs jersey with the number 26. This number is special because 26 is the atomic number for iron. FeFe is also gray but has a tan face and pigtails. She wears a red jersey with the number 08, which reminds everyone that the team started in 2008.

Team Roster

Awards and Honors

Jake Thompson won the International League Most Valuable Pitcher Award in 2016.

Cody Asche was named to the 2013 International League post-season All-Star team.

César Hernández was named to the 2013 International League post-season All-Star team.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs team has won awards from Minor League Baseball for being a great organization. In 2019, they won the Larry MacPhail Award for having outstanding promotions at their games.

Many IronPigs players, managers, and even an executive have won special awards for their amazing performances in the International League.

Nine IronPigs players have also been chosen for the International League Postseason All-Star teams. This means they were recognized as some of the best players in the league for their positions.

Season Records Summary

The table below shows the overall performance of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs each season. It includes their wins, losses, and how they finished in their league and division.

See also

• Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania