Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs | |||||
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Minor league affiliations | |||||
Class | Triple-A (2008–present) | ||||
League | International League (2008–present) | ||||
Division | East Division | ||||
Major league affiliations | |||||
Team | Philadelphia Phillies (2008–present) | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (0) | None | ||||
Division titles (1) |
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Wild card berths (3) |
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Team data | |||||
Name | 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 | ||||
General manager | Kurt Landes | ||||
Manager | Anthony Contreras | ||||
Media | MiLB.TV and WTKZ AM 1320 |
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used in the manufacturing of steel, for which the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania is well known. The IronPigs play their home games at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
Following the 2007 season, the Ottawa Lynx relocated to Allentown as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the IronPigs were shifted to the Triple-A East, whose name was restored to the International League in 2022.
Since their 2008 inaugural season, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have made four appearances in the International League Governors' Cup playoffs (2011, 2016, 2017, and 2018). In 2018, the IronPigs won their first Northern Division title with an 84–56 record, the highest winning percentage (.600) in franchise history, but the team has not yet won an International League championship.[1]
History
[edit]Before the IronPigs
[edit]![A green baseball field](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Cokepark_allentown.jpg/220px-Cokepark_allentown.jpg)
Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, has a professional baseball history dating back to 1884 with the Allentown Dukes of the original Eastern League. Though the city went through several stretches without a team, various other Minor League Baseball teams hailed from Allentown through 1960. The last of these were the Allentown Cardinals (1944–1956) and Allentown Red Sox (1958–1960).[2] The Red Sox played at Breadon Field (later called Max Hess Stadium) at the site where the Lehigh Valley Mall was later built.[3]
These affiliated clubs were followed by two independent baseball teams: the Allentown Ambassadors of the Northeast League and the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Ambassadors played at Bicentennial Park in Allentown until the team was disbanded after the 2003 season.[2][3] The Black Diamonds moved from Newburgh, New York, in 1999 and were expected to move into a new ballpark near Easton called the Lehigh Valley Multi-Purpose Sport Complex, but the project never came to completion and ultimately was terminated. While the Black Diamonds waited for their new stadium, they played as a traveling team from 1999 to 2001.[4]
In 2003, Joseph Finley and Craig Stein began actively pursuing their interest in bringing affiliated baseball back to Allentown. Initially, the duo pursued a Class A franchise when the Ottawa Lynx, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles at the time, were rumored to be moving to Harrisburg. When the city of Harrisburg was unwilling to upgrade Commerce Bank Park to Triple-A standards, the Orioles shifted their interest to Allentown because of its proximity to the Mid-Atlantic. The Philadelphia Phillies also looked into moving their Triple-A operations to Allentown from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region. For the 2007 season, the Phillies shifted their Triple-A affiliate to Ottawa, leaving the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons after 18 seasons, while the Orioles affiliated with the Norfolk Tides. The Phillies signed a one-year Player Development Contract with the Lynx while the US$50.25-million Coca-Cola Park capable of seating up to 8,100 people with a total capacity of 10,000, was being constructed in Allentown.[5][6]
International League (2008–2020)
[edit]![A baseball player in a white uniform with red vertical pinstripes](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Rhys_Hoskins_9_15_18_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Rhys_Hoskins_9_15_18_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Moss_at_the_plate_%285613372345%29.jpg/220px-Moss_at_the_plate_%285613372345%29.jpg)
The Ottawa Lynx were relocated to Allentown in 2008 and continued as the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies in the International League (IL).[2] Known as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, their moniker, selected in a name-the-team contest, refers to the region's steelmaking history, in particular the refining of pig iron into steel. The other finalists were "Gobblers", "Crushers", "Phillies", "Phantastics", "Vulcans", "Keystones", and "Woodchucks".[5]
The IronPigs played their first Opening Day game on the road, losing to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 4–0, on April 3, 2008.[7] The team went on to lose their next 10 games. On April 14, Lehigh Valley broke the 11-game losing streak, defeating the Richmond Braves, 3–1, at their new home stadium, Coca-Cola Park.[7] They ended their inaugural season last of 14 teams in the IL at 55–89.[8] The next season, Justin Lehr became the first member of the team to win a league year-end award when he was selected as the International League's 2009 Most Valuable Pitcher.[9] On July 14, 2010, Coca-Cola Park hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game. In the event, which was broadcast nationally on MLB Network, a team of the IL's All-Stars defeated a team of the Pacific Coast League's All-Stars, 3–1.[10]
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ryne Sandberg became manager of the IronPigs in 2011. On April 7, they won their season opener against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at Coca-Cola Park, registering the first win–loss percentage above .500 in the team's history.[11] Sandberg led the club to an 80–64 record which, though not good enough to win the Northern Division title, gave them a wild card berth into the Governors' Cup playoffs for the International League championship. They won the semifinals over the Pawtucket Red Sox, 3–0, but lost the championship finals to the Columbus Clippers, 3–1.[12] Tyler Cloyd was selected as the Most Valuable Pitcher in 2012.[9]
From 2016 to 2018, Lehigh Valley made three consecutive appearances in the Governors' Cup playoffs. The 2016 wild-card winners set a season record for wins, with 85 against 58 losses, but were swept in three games by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[13] Jake Thompson was the circuit's Most Valuable Pitcher.[9] The 2017 team won another wild card berth but was eliminated again by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 3–1.[14] Phillies prospect Rhys Hoskins was selected as the IL's 2017 Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year.[9]
In 2018, the IronPigs won their first Northern Division title with an 84–56 record, the highest winning percentage (.600) in franchise history, but were knocked out of the semifinals for the third year in a row by the RailRiders, 3–1.[1] Nevertheless, the IronPigs swept the International League awards with Joey Meneses as MVP and Rookie of the Year, Cole Irvin as the top pitcher, and Gary Jones as the Manager of the Year winner.[9]
The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled on June 30.[15][16] Through 13 seasons in the International League, the IronPigs had a 855–861 record. They experienced more success at the turnstiles as their season attendance topped 500,000 people each season.[17] From 2008 to 2016, the team led Minor League Baseball with a per-game average attendance of 8,978.[18] In 2019, franchise was recognized with the Larry MacPhail Award for outstanding minor league promotions.[19]
Triple-A East / International League (2021–present)
[edit]Following the 2020 season, Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel. The Philadelphia Phillies retained Lehigh Valley as their Triple-A affiliate, but the International League disbanded, and the IronPigs followed the other IL teams into the Triple-A East.[20] Lehigh Valley ended the season in fourth place in the Northeastern Division with a 52–66 record.[21] No playoffs were held to determine a league champion; instead, the team with the best regular-season record was declared the winner.[22] However, 10 games that had been postponed from the start of the season were reinserted into the schedule as a postseason tournament called the Triple-A Final Stretch in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage.[22] The IronPigs finished the tournament in 30th place with a 1–9 record.[23] In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[24]
In August 2022, as Phillies' star right fielder Bryce Harper was designated to the IronPigs in a final step in his rehabilitation stint as part of his comeback from a fractured thumb, the IronPigs' games against the Gwinnett Stripers at Coca-Cola Park quickly sold out to the stadium's 10,100 capacity. In his August 23 appearance with the IronPigs, Harper homered twice against the Stripers.[25]
Broadcast coverage
[edit]![A radio booth overlooking a baseball field](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Iron_Pigs_radio_booth.jpg/220px-Iron_Pigs_radio_booth.jpg)
The IronPigs franchise broadcasts all of its home games on television, a rarity for a minor league team.[26] Local cable network SEN (The Service Electric Network) carries the IronPigs' games, covering most of the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania plus parts of Warren and Hunterdon Counties in northwestern New Jersey. In addition, SEN feeds the telecasts to Blue Ridge Cable TV-13 for broadcast to other areas in the eastern part of the state. In addition, select Saturday night home games are telecast on WFMZ-TV 69, which serves the Lehigh Valley as well as the northern Philadelphia market and western New Jersey. All IronPigs games, home and away, are also broadcast on WEEX, an Easton-based FOX Sports Radio affiliate.[27]
Radio
[edit]Television
[edit]- 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)
- W09DB/9: Berwick, Pennsylvania (WYLN-CD translator)
- W36EY/36: Williamsport, Pennsylvania (WYLN-CD translator)
- WFMZ-TV/69 (Allentown)
Mascots
[edit]![A person wearing a gray anthropomorphized furry pig costume dressed in a white baseball jersey dances on a baseball dugout.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/FeRROUS_mascot.jpg/220px-FeRROUS_mascot.jpg)
The IronPigs' mascots are a pair of furry anthropomorphic pigs, similar to Mangalicas, called FeRROUS and FeFe. Their names are derived from the Latin term for iron (ferrum) and the element's chemical symbol (Fe). FeRROUS, who has gray fur and a lighter gray face, wears an IronPigs jersey with the number 26 (the atomic number for iron), a team cap, and shoes. FeFe, who is also gray but with a tan face and brunette pigtails, wears a red jersey that extends into a skirt with the number 08, which commemorates the team's first season (2008), a team cap, and shoes.[28][29] The name "PorkChop" was originally chosen for FeRROUS, but it was changed the day after its selection because of complaints from local Puerto Rican residents alleging that Pork Chop was a derogatory term.[30]
Season-by-season records
[edit]League | The team's final position in the league standings |
---|---|
Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings |
GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season |
‡ | Class champions (2008–present) |
† | League champions (2008–present) |
* | Division champions (2008–present) |
^ | Postseason berth (2008–present) |
Season | League | Regular-season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | Ref. | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | ||||
2008 | IL | 55–89 | .382 | 14th | 6th | 33 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [8] |
2009 | IL | 71–73 | .493 | 8th | 3rd | 11+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [31] |
2010 | IL | 58–86 | .403 | 13th | 5th | 29+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [32] |
2011 ^ |
IL | 80–64 | .556 | 4th | 2nd | 2 | 4–3 | .571 | Won wild card berth Won semifnals vs. Pawtucket Red Sox, 3–0 Lost IL championship vs. Columbus Clippers, 3–1 |
Philadelphia Phillies | [12] |
2012 | IL | 75–68 | .524 | 5th | 3rd | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [33] |
2013 | IL | 72–72 | .500 | 7th | 4th | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [34] |
2014 | IL | 66–78 | .458 | 11th | 6th | 15+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [35] |
2015 | IL | 63–81 | .438 | 12th | 5th | 18 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [36] |
2016 ^ |
IL | 85–58 | .594 | 2nd | 2nd | 6 | 0–3 | .000 | Won wild card berth Lost semifnals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 3–0[13] |
Philadelphia Phillies | [37] |
2017 ^ |
IL | 80–62 | .563 | 3rd (tie) | 2nd (tie) | 6+1⁄2 | 1–3 | .250 | Won wild card berth Lost semifnals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 3–1[14] |
Philadelphia Phillies | [38] |
2018 * |
IL | 84–56 | .600 | 1st | 1st | — | 1–3 | .250 | Won Northern Division title Lost semifnals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 3–1[1] |
Philadelphia Phillies | [39] |
2019 | IL | 66–74 | .471 | 9th (tie) | 5th | 9+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [40] |
2020 | IL | Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[16] | Philadelphia Phillies | [41] | |||||||
2021 | AAAE | 52–66 | .441 | 14th | 4th | 19+1⁄2 | 1–9 | .100 | No playoffs held | Philadelphia Phillies | [21] |
2022 | IL | 76–72 | .514 | 7th (tie) | 4th (tie) | 9 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [42] |
2023 | IL | 80–66 | .548 | 6th | 3rd | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | Did not qualify | Philadelphia Phillies | [43] |
Totals | — | 1,063–1,065 | .500 | — | — | — | 7–21 | .250 | — | — | — |
Roster
[edit]Players | Coaches/Other | |||
Pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
60-day injured list
|
Awards
[edit]![A baseball player in a gray uniform](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Jake_Thompson_%2837123132525%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Jake_Thompson_%2837123132525%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![A baseball player in a gray jersey](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Cody_Asche_%2818874520932%29.jpg/220px-Cody_Asche_%2818874520932%29.jpg)
![A baseball player in a white uniform with red pinstripes](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Cesar_Hernandez_%2847110430664%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Cesar_Hernandez_%2847110430664%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
The franchise has been awarded the following honors by Minor League Baseball:[19]
Award | Season | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Larry MacPhail Award | 2019 | [19] |
Six players, one manager, and one executive have won league awards in recognition for their performance with Lehigh Valley.[9]
Award | Recipient | Season | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Most Valuable Player | Rhys Hoskins | 2017 | [9] |
Most Valuable Player | Joey Meneses | 2018 | [9] |
Most Valuable Pitcher | Justin Lehr | 2009 | [9] |
Most Valuable Pitcher | Tyler Cloyd | 2012 | [9] |
Most Valuable Pitcher | Jake Thompson | 2016 | [9] |
Most Valuable Pitcher | Cole Irvin | 2018 | [9] |
Rookie of the Year | Rhys Hoskins | 2017 | [9] |
Rookie of the Year | Joey Meneses | 2018 | [9] |
Manager of the Year | Gary Jones | 2018 | [9] |
Executive of the Year | Kurt Landes | 2009 | [9] |
Executive of the Year | Kurt Landes | 2010 | [9] |
Nine IronPigs have been named to postseason all-star teams.
Season | Player | Position | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Andy Tracy | Outfielder | [44] |
2012 | Tyler Cloyd | Starting pitcher | [45] |
2013 | Cody Asche | Third baseman | [46] |
2013 | César Hernández | Second baseman | [46] |
2015 | Brian Bogusevic | Outfielder | [47] |
2016 | Edward Mujica | Relief pitcher | [48] |
2016 | Jake Thompson | Starting pitcher | [48] |
2017 | Pedro Beato | Relief pitcher | [49] |
2018 | Pedro Beato | Relief pitcher | [50] |
2018 | Mitch Walding | Third baseman | [50] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "2018 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Allentown, Pennsylvania Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Sheehan, Dan; Hart, Jay (July 1, 2005). "Will Baseball Be Very, Very Good to the Valley With a AAA Team?". The Morning Call. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "Investors Step up to Plate in Diamonds Deal". Philadelphia Business Journal. February 4, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Sheehan, Dan (November 12, 2006). "It's the...IRONPIGS". The Morning Call. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Isherwood, Darryl R. (October 25, 2008). "Stadium's Final Cost Hits $50.25 Million". The Morning Call. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Lehigh Valley IronPigs History" (PDF). Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Minor League Baseball. 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ a b "2008 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "International League Award Winners". International League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (2008–2012)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- ^ Schuler, Jeff (April 8, 2011). "IronPigs Open Season, Make History". The Morning Call. Allentown. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "2011 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "2016 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "2017 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "International League Attendance". International League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "IronPigs Draw Over 600,000 Fans, Set Record". Ballpark Digest. September 14, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "2021 Triple-A East Standings". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "MiLB Announces 'Triple-A Final Stretch' for 2021". Minor League Baseball. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Triple-A Final Stretch Standings". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Lehigh Valley is embracing Bryce Harper for as long as he's there", Philly Voice, August 25, 2022
- ^ Bresswein, Kurt (February 18, 2021). "IronPigs Announce 2021 Games in Retooled League, but Can Fans Attend?". Lehigh Valley Live. Advance Local Media. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Baseball on Lehigh Valley Fox Sports". Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM & 1230 AM. May 5, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Ferrous and FeFe". Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "IronPigs Mascot Appearances". Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ ""PorkChop" Mascot Inflames Pa. Fans". CBS News. CBS/Associated Press. December 4, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2009 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2010 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2012 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2013 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2014 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2015 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2016 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2017 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2018 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2019 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ Wagaman, Andrew (June 30, 2020). "Minor League Baseball Season Officially Canceled; Ironpigs Promise 'Best Season Ever' in 2021". The Morning Call. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "2022 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "2023 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ Wild, Danny (September 1, 2009). "Duncan Named International League MVP". International League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Cloyd Honored as IL's Most Valuable Pitcher". Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Minor League Baseball. August 28, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Colabello Headlines IL All-Star Team". International League. Minor League Baseball. August 27, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Bisons' Hague leads 2015 IL All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. September 1, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "RailRiders' Gamel Leads 2016 IL All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. August 30, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "MVP Hoskins Headlines IL All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. August 30, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "MVP Meneses Headlines IL All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. August 28, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Twitter
- Statistics from Baseball-Reference
- The Morning Call, coverage about the IronPigs and Phillies