A couple of weeks ago I put together my own list of the all-time, all-Twin Falls baseball team. Dozens of readers responded, many with suggestions for an all-Idaho all-star team.
Here’s our collaborative effort. The criteria for the list are that a player must either have been from Idaho, played college baseball in the Gem State or have started his professional baseball career here.
• Catcher — Gus Triandos, Twin Falls Cowboys (Pioneer League), 1948.
Career stats: 13 major league seasons, .244 batting average, 167 home runs, 608 runs batted in. Three-time All-Star.
(Runner-up: Hal Smith, Twin Falls Cowboys, 1949)
• First base — Harmon Killebrew, Payette High School, 1950-53.
Career stats: 22 major league seasons, .254 batting average, 573 home runs and 1,584 RBI. Thirteen-time All-Star and 1969 American League Most Valuable Player. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984
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(Runner-up: Dick Allen, Magic Valley Cowboys, 1961)
• Second base — Gil McDougald, Twin Falls Cowboys (Pioneer League), 1948.
Career stats: 10 major league seasons, .276 batting average, 112 home runs and 576 RBI. Five-time All-Star.
(Runner-up: Woodie Held, Twin Falls Cowboys, 1951)
• Third base — Carney Lansford, Idaho Falls Angels (Pioneer League), 1975.
Career stats: 15 major league seasons, .290 batting average, 151 home runs and 874 RBI. Played in the 1988 All-Star game.
(Runner-up: Vance Law, born in Boise in 1956).
• Shortstop — Bert Campaneris, Lewiston Broncs (Northwest League), 1963.
Career stats: 19 major league seasons, .259 batting average with 649 stolen bases. Played in six All-Star games.
(Runner-up: Larvell Blanks, Magic Valley Cowboys, 1969)
• Left field — Ricky Henderson, Boise A’s (Northwest League), 1976.
Career stats: 25 major league seasons, .279 batting average with 279 home runs and 1,406 stolen bases (the all-time major league record). Ten-time All-Star and 1990 American League Most Valuable Player. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
(Runner-up: Garrett Anderson, Boise Hawks, 1990).
• Center field — Rick Monday, Lewiston Broncs (Northwest League), 1965. Career stats: 19 major league seasons, .264 batting average, 241 home runs and 775 RBI. Two-time All-Star.
(Runner-up: Mickey Rivers, Magic Valley Cowboys, 1969)
• Right field — Reggie Jackson, Lewiston Broncs (Northwest League), 1966.
Career stats: 21 major league seasons, .262 batting average, 563 home runs and 1,702 RBI. Fourteen-time All-Star and 1973 American League Most Valuable Player. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.
(Runner-up: Jose Canseco, Idaho Falls A’s, 1982)
• Right-handed pitcher — Walter Johnson, Weiser Kids (Idaho State League), 1907.
Career stats: 21 major league seasons, 417-279 record with a 2.17 earned run average and 3,509 strikeouts. American League Most Valuable Player in 1913 and 1924. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
(Runner-up: Troy Percival, Boise Hawks, 1991)
• Left-handed pitcher — Ken Holtzman, Treasure Valley Cubs (Pioneer League), 1965.
Career stats: 15 major league seasons, 174-150 record with a 3.49 ERA and 1,601 strikeouts. Two-time All-Star.
(Runner-up: Ron Bryant, Magic Valley Cowboys, 1965)
Steve Crump is the Times-News Opinion editor.
