Pacific Northwest League

This article is about the defunct Minor League Baseball league. For the active Minor League Baseball league, see Northwest League.
Pacific Northwest League
Formerly New Pacific League
Sport Baseball
Founded 1890
Ceased 1903
Director

W.B. Bushnell, (1892) M.J. Roach, (1896)

William Henry Lucas, (1901-1902)
No. of teams 15
Country
Last
champion(s)
Most titles

The Pacific Northwest League was a professional Minor League Baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first professional baseball league ever in the region.

History

Founding

The Pacific Northwest League was founded in 1890. In January 1890, investors met in Portland, Oregon to discuss a four-to-six team league in the Pacific Northwest.[1] The league folded during the second half of the 1892 season because of a nationwide economic depression known as the "Panic of 1893." During its time, the league was known for its former Major League players such as Kid Baldwin and Ollie Beard.[2] In 1892 the league President was W. E. Rockwell and the Secretary was M. J. Roche.[3] The league was revived briefly in 1896, but only lasted until mid-June. The 1896 version was also known as the New Pacific League. Early rules for the league included salary caps of $1,000 per month but was later raised to $1,300 per month.[3][4] The league agreed to add a team from Walla Walla, Washington and either Wardner, Idaho or Wallace, Idaho in the beginning of 1892 and the league was also close to adding a team from Salem, Oregon but folded before anything was announced.[3][5][6] The league denied Olympia, Washington a baseball team in 1892.[5]

Second resurrection

The second Pacific Northwest League began play in 1901 as a four-team league, and was a six-team Class B circuit in 1902 when the minors were first classified. The next season it expanded with teams in Los Angeles, California and San Francisco, California and was renamed the Pacific National League, later known as the Pacific Coast League. The President of the league for the two years was William Henry Lucas.[7]

Teams

Pacific Northwest League: 1890 to 1892

Team name Town represented Stadium Year(s) active
Portland Webfeet Portland, Oregon Columbia Park 1890 to 1892
Seattle Hustlers Seattle, Washington Madison Park 1890 to 1892
Spokane Bunchgrassers Spokane, Washington Northwest League Grounds 1890 to 1892
Tacoma Daisies Tacoma, Washington Tacoma Baseball Park 1890 to 1892

New Pacific League: 1896

Team name Town represented Stadium Year(s) active
Portland Gladiators Portland, Oregon Vaughn Street Park 1896
Seattle Yannigans/Rainmakers Seattle, Washington Unknown 1896
Tacoma Rabbits/Colts Tacoma, Washington Unknown 1896
Victoria Chappies Victoria, British Columbia Unknown 1896

Pacific Northwest League: 1901 to 1902

Team name Town represented Stadium Year(s) active
Butte Miners Butte, Montana Unknown 1902
Helena Senators Helena, Montana Unknown 1902
Portland Webfoots Portland, Oregon Vaughn Street Park 1901 to 1902
Seattle Clamdiggers Seattle, Washington YMCA Field 1901 to 1902
Spokane Blue Stockings Spokane, Washington Unknown 1901
Spokane Smoke Eaters Spokane, Washington Natatorium Park 1902
Tacoma Tigers Tacoma, Washington Unknown 1901-1902

References

  1. ↑ "Base Ball in Oregon". Sporting Life. 14 (13): 1. 1 January 1890.
  2. ↑ "The Minor Leagues". The Weekly Argus News. July 23, 1892. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 "Spokane Will Play". The Spokane Review. March 3, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  4. ↑ "Base Ball". Spokane Falls Daily Chronicle. August 12, 1890. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  5. 1 2 "Spokane in the League". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  6. ↑ "Sports". Lewiston Evening Journal. February 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  7. ↑ "Pacific Northwest League: President Lucas Has Been Reelected for Next Year". The Spokesman-Review. October 16, 1901. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
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