Pacific Northwest League
FormerlyNew Pacific League
SportBaseball
Founded1890
Ceased1903
DirectorW.B. Bushnell, (1892)

M.J. Roach, (1896)

William Henry Lucas, (1901-1902)
No. of teams15
Country
Last
champion(s)
Most titles
Related
competitions		Pacific National League

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. The league competed with the California League, and eventually folded after the 1905 season. 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 South 11th Street Grounds 1890 to 1892

Pacific Northwest League, AKA 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 South 11th Street Grounds 1896
Victoria Chappies Victoria, British Columbia Unknown 1896

Pacific Northwest League: 1898

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 South 11th Street Grounds 1901-1902

Pacific National League: 1903 to 1905

See also: Pacific National League

Team name Town represented Stadium Year(s) active
Boise Fruit Pickers/Boise Infants Boise, Idaho Unknown 1904 to 1905
Butte Miners Butte, Montana Unknown 1903 to 1904
Helena Senators Helena, Montana Unknown 1903
Los Angeles Nationals Los Angeles, California Prager Park 1903
Ogden Lobsters Ogden, Utah Unknown 1905
Portland Green Gages Portland, Oregon Vaughn Street Park 1903
Salt Lake City Elders/Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers Salt Lake City, Utah Unknown 1903 to 1905
San Francisco Pirates San Francisco, California National Park (9th & Bryant) 1903
Seattle Chinooks Seattle, Washington YMCA Field 1903
Spokane Indians Spokane, Washington Unknown 1903-1905
Tacoma Tigers Tacoma, Washington South 11th Street Grounds 1903

Standings and statistics

1890 to 1892

1890 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Bunchgrassers 61 34 .642 - John Barnes
Tacoma Daisies 54 41 .568 7.0 William Lucas
Seattle Blues 48 46 .511 12.5 Elmer Rockwell
Portland Gladiators 25 67 .272 34.5 Richard Dwyer /
Henry Harris / William Hassamaer
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Piggy Ward Spokane BA .368 Jack Huston Spokane W 28
Piggy Ward Spokane Runs 97 Frank March Tacoma SO 197
Thomas Turner Spokane Hits 123 Kid Camp Seattle ERA 1.08
Thomas Turner Spokane HR 12 Jack Huston Spokane PCT .777 28-8
Al Mannassau Tacoma SB 57

1891 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Portland Gladiators 58 40 .592 - Bob Glenalvin
Spokane Bunchgrassers 57 43 .570 2.0 John Barnes
Seattle Blues 45 55 .450 14.0 Abner Powell
Tacoma Daisies 38 60 .388 20.0 Leech Maskrey
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jake Stenzel Spokane BA .351 Kid Camp Seattle W 31
Jake Stenzel Spokane Runs 135 George Borchers Spokane SO 220
Jake Stenzel Spokane Hits 149 John Huston Spokane PCT .688 22-10
Thomas Turner Spokane HR 13
Jake Stenzel Spokane SB 68

1892 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Tacoma Daisies 41 32 .562 - Bill Works
Portland Webfeet 41 34 .547 1.0 John Barnes
Seattle Blues 38 37 .507 4.0 Abner Powell / Gil Hatfield
Spokane Bunchgrassers 29 46 .387 13 Ollie Beard
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jake Stenzel Portland BA .339 Gus McGinnis Seattle W 19
Bill Goodenough Tacoma Runs 77 Gus McGinnis Seattle SO 169
Bill Works Tacoma Hits 101 Jack Leiper Portland Pct .700: 14-6
Ed Cartwright Tacoma HR 7

1896, 1898

1896 Pacific Northwest League a/k/a/ New Pacific League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Portland Gladiators 19 9 .679 - Bob Glenalvin
Tacoma Robbers /
Tacoma Colts		 16 17 .485 5.5 Charles Strobel
Victoria Chappies 13 16 .448 6.5 August Klopf / George Derby
Seattle Rainmakers 13 19 .406 8.0 Count Campau

The league disbanded June 15.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bob Glenalvin Portland BA .448 Ike Butler Seattle W 9
Count Campau Seattle Runs 55 George Derby Victoria SO 64
John Morrissey Tacoma Hits 57 George Borchers Portland Pct .875: 7-1
F.A. Whaling Victoria Hits 57
Count Campau Seattle HR 13
Billy Smith Tacoma SB 20

1898 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Clamdiggers 32 14 .696 - Dan Dugdale
Portland Webfoots 23 24 .489 9.5 George Borchers / Jack Page
Spokane Siwashes 19 26 .422 12.5 E.H. Hutchinson / Billy Connors
Tacoma Owls 19 27 .413 13.0 Bill Works

1901 to 1902

1901 Pacific Northwest League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Portland Webfoots 73 35 .675 - John J. Grim
Tacoma Tigers 57 51 .530 16.0 John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers 45 63 .417 28.0 Dan Dugdale
Spokane Blue Stockings 41 67 .379 32.0 Thomas Turner /
Joe Marshall / Maloney
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Charles McIntyre Tacoma BA .341 Clyde Engle Portland W 28
Joe McCarthy Tacoma Runs 98 Bill Salisbury Portland W 28
Charles McIntyre Tacoma Hits 149 Jim St. Vrain Tacoma SO 299
Joe Marshall Spokane HR 15 Clyde Engle Portland Pct .718; 28-11
Joe Tinker Portland SB 37
Joe McCarthy Tacoma SB 37

1902 Pacific Northwest League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Butte Miners 73 47 .608 - John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers 70 50 .583 3.0 Dan Dugdale
Helena Senators 65 54 .546 7.5 John Flannery
Portland Webfoots 58 62 .483 15.0 Sam Vigneux
Tacoma Tigers 48 72 .400 25.0 Jay Andrews
Spokane Smoke Eaters 46 75 .380 27.5 John J. Grim
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Piggy Ward Butte BA .332
Bill Kane Butte Runs 102
Piggy Ward Butte Hits 157
Joe Marshall Butte HR 6
Piggy Ward Butte SB 51

[8]

Hall of Fame alumni

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. ^ a b c "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. [dead link]
  5. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  8. ^ The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.((cite book)): CS1 maint: others (link)

External links

Baseball Reference

Teams in the Pacific Northwest League
Professional baseball leagues
Categories