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 the International League (IL). They are also the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies. This means they are one step below the major leagues.

The team is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their name, IronPigs, comes from pig iron. This material is used to make steel. The Lehigh Valley area is famous for its steel history. The IronPigs play their home games at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

The team started in 2008. They took over from the Ottawa Lynx. The IronPigs have made it to the International League playoffs four times. These were in 2011, 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2018, they won their first Northern Division title. They had a great record of 84 wins and 56 losses. This was their best winning percentage ever. However, they have not yet won an International League championship.

Team History

Baseball in Allentown

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

Baseball has a long history in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It goes all the way back to 1884. Many different Minor League Baseball teams played there until 1960. Some of these teams were the Allentown Cardinals and the Allentown Red Sox.

Later, two independent baseball teams played in the area. These were the Allentown Ambassadors and the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds. The Ambassadors played at Bicentennial Park. The Black Diamonds hoped to get a new stadium. But it was never built.

In 2003, Joseph Finley and Craig Stein wanted to bring a new team to Allentown. They worked hard to make this happen. The Philadelphia Phillies decided to move their Triple-A team to Allentown. This led to the building of Coca-Cola Park. The stadium can hold up to 10,000 people.

Playing in the International League (2008–2020)

In 2017, Rhys Hoskins won two big awards. He was the MVP and Rookie of the Year. He played for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

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

The Ottawa Lynx team moved to Allentown in 2008. They became the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. They were still the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies. The name "IronPigs" was chosen in a contest. It honors the region's history of making steel.

The IronPigs played their first game on April 3, 2008. They lost to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. They lost their first 11 games. On April 14, they won their first game at Coca-Cola Park. They beat the Richmond Braves 3-1. They finished their first season with 55 wins and 89 losses.

In 2009, Justin Lehr became the first IronPigs player to win a league award. He was named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher. In 2010, Coca-Cola Park hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game. All-Stars from the International League played against All-Stars from the Pacific Coast League.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Ryne Sandberg became the IronPigs manager in 2011. He led the team to a good record of 80 wins and 64 losses. They made it to the Governors' Cup playoffs. They won their first playoff series. But they lost in the championship finals. Tyler Cloyd was named Most Valuable Pitcher in 2012.

From 2016 to 2018, the IronPigs made the playoffs three years in a row. In 2016, they had their best season ever with 85 wins. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs. Jake Thompson was named the league's Most Valuable Pitcher that year. In 2017, they made the playoffs again. Rhys Hoskins was a star player. He won both the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards.

In 2018, the IronPigs won their first Northern Division title. They had a great record of 84 wins and 56 losses. But they lost in the playoff semifinals again. That year, the IronPigs won many league awards. Joey Meneses was MVP and Rookie of the Year. Cole Irvin was the top pitcher. Gary Jones was named Manager of the Year.

The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 13 seasons, the IronPigs had a record of 855 wins and 861 losses. They were very popular with fans. From 2008 to 2016, they had the highest average attendance in Minor League Baseball. In 2019, they won the Larry MacPhail Award. This award is for great minor league promotions.

Recent Seasons (2021–present)

After the 2020 season, Major League Baseball took more control of Minor League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies kept Lehigh Valley as their Triple-A team. The International League changed its name to the Triple-A East in 2021. The IronPigs finished fourth in their division that year. In 2022, the Triple-A East went back to being called the International League.

In August 2022, famous Phillies player Bryce Harper played for the IronPigs. This was part of his recovery from an injury. The games at Coca-Cola Park quickly sold out. Harper hit two home runs in one game with the IronPigs.

In 2023, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs had the highest average home attendance in Minor League Baseball. About 7,990 fans came to each game.

Broadcasts

This is the home radio booth at Coca-Cola Park in April 2009.

The IronPigs team broadcasts all of its home games on TV. This is not common for a minor league team. The local cable network SEN (The Service Electric Network) shows the games. This covers most of the Lehigh Valley area. SEN also sends the games to Blue Ridge Cable TV-13. This lets other areas in eastern Pennsylvania watch. Some Saturday night home games are also shown on WFMZ-TV 69. All IronPigs games, both home and away, are on the radio. You can hear them on WEEX, a FOX Sports Radio station.

Radio Stations

Television Channels

Team Mascots

FeRROUS is one of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs' mascots. He is performing during the Seventh inning stretch at Coca-Cola Park in August 2018.

The IronPigs have two furry pig mascots. Their names are FeRROUS and FeFe. Their names come from the Latin word for iron (ferrum). They also come from iron's chemical symbol (Fe).

FeRROUS has gray fur. He wears an IronPigs jersey with the number 26. This is the atomic number for iron. He also wears a team cap and shoes. FeFe is also gray. She has a tan face and brown pigtails. She wears a red jersey that looks like a skirt. Her jersey has the number 08. This is for the team's first season in 2008. She also wears a team cap and shoes.

Team Roster

Awards and Honors

Jake Thompson played for the IronPigs. He won the International League Most Valuable Pitcher Award in 2016. He was also on the 2016 International League All-Star team.

Cody Asche played for the IronPigs. He was chosen for the 2013 International League All-Star team.

César Hernández was on the 2013 International League All-Star team. He played with the IronPigs.

The IronPigs team has won awards from Minor League Baseball.

Several players, one manager, and one executive have won league awards for their time with the IronPigs.

Nine IronPigs players have been named to postseason all-star teams.

See also

• Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania