Northwestern League (1905–1917)

Last updated

Northwestern League (1905–1917)
Classification Class B (1905–1917)
Sport Minor League Baseball
First season1905
Ceased1917
Replaced by Pacific Coast International League
PresidentWilliam Henry Lucas (1905–1910)
Robert Lindsay (1911)
Dan Dugdale (1911)
Fielder Jones (1912–1914)
E.H. Hughes (1914)
Bob Blewett (1915–1917)
No. of teams21
Country United States of America
Last
champion(s)		4
Vancouver

The Northwestern League was a professional sports league in minor league baseball that operated from 1905 to 1917. It was represented by teams based in British Columbia, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The league became the Pacific Coast International League in 1918.

Contents

Teams

21 teams played in the league throughout its existence. Those teams include the: Aberdeen Black Cats (1905, 1917), Bellingham Gillnetters (1905), Everett Smokestackers (1905), Spokane Indians (1905–1917), Vancouver Horse Doctors (1905, 1907), Victoria Legislators (1905), Butte Miners (1906–1908, 1916–1917), Grays Harbor Lumbermen (1906), Tacoma Tigers (1906–1917), Seattle Siwashes (1907–1908), Grays Harbor Grays (1908–1909), Vancouver Beavers (1908–1911, 1914, 1916–1917), Portland Colts (1909, 1912–1914), Seattle Turks (1909), Seattle Giants (1910–1917), Portland Pippins (1911), Victoria Bees (1911–1915), Vancouver Champions (1912, 1915), Vancouver Bees (1913), Ballard Pippins (1914), a Great Falls, Montana team (1916) and Great Falls Electrics (1917). [1]

League champions

For most of the league's history, there were no official playoffs following the regular season. The only season with a playoff was 1915. Therefore, the team that finished in first place was often the de facto league champion.

The Everett Smokestackers were the league's first champions, finishing in first place in the four team league in 1905. In 1906, the Tacoma Tigers finished in first place, and in 1907, the Aberdeen Black Cats took the crown. The Vancouver Beavers finished in first place in 1908 and again in 1911 and 1914. The Seattle Turks won in 1909 and the Spokane Indians in 1910. In 1912, the Seattle Giants were first, while in 1913 the Vancouver Bees finished on top. [1]

In 1915, the league played its only official playoff, which matched the first-place Seattle Giants against the second-place Tacoma Tigers. The Giants won the playoff three games to two, though it was presumably supposed to be at least a seven-game series - however, the playoff was abandoned during game six when a dispute broke out.

The Spokane Indians finished in first place in 1916 and the Great Falls Electrics finished in first place in 1917.

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1905 Northwestern League

schedule pt 1 - pt 2

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Everett Smokestackers 6037.619– Billy Hulen
Bellingham Yankees 4948.50511.0Kirby Drennen / Frederick Clarke
Vancouver Horse Doctors 4552.46415.0 John McCloskey
Victoria Legislators /
Spokane Indians 		4158.41420.0G.G. Howlett /
Ed Hutchinson / Charles McIntyre

Victoria (14–38) moved to Spokane July 11.
The season was shortened to September 11.
Playoffs: None. The first half finished in a tie and it was decided that if Everett won the second half, the championship would be awarded to Everett. Everett won the second half.

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Kirby DrennanBellinghamBA.320 Carl Druhot BellinghamW18
Billy Hulen EverettRuns85Hick BeltEverettW18
Ed Hutchinson Vict/SpokeHits107Ira HarmonVancouverSO194
Joe Marshall VancouverHR7John McInnisEverettPct.800; 12–3

1906 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Tacoma Tigers 5436.600– Mike Lynch
Butte Miners 4342.5068.5Charles McIntyre
Grays Harbor Grays 4147.46612.0 Robert Brown / Bill Hurley
Spokane Indians 3750.42515.5Bill Hurley / Matthew Stanley

Grays Harbor represented Aberdeen–Hoquiam, Washington.

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Mike Lynch TacomaBA.355 Ike Butler TacomaW20
Mike Lynch TacomaRuns76 Irv Higginbotham TacomaSO153
Mike Lynch TacomaHits130Oscar BandelinButtePct.733; 11–4
Mike Lynch TacomaHR7

1907 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Aberdeen Black Cats 8551.625– Robert Brown
Tacoma Tigers 9059.6041.5George Shreeder
Seattle Siwashes 8365.5618.0 Dan Dugdale
Butte Miners 7073.49018.5 Russ Hall
Spokane Indians 6876.47221.0E.E. Quinn
Vancouver Horse Doctors 34106.24353.0 Parke Wilson / Butch McIntyre /
James Evans /
Con Strothers / William Hurley
Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ed Householder AberdeenBA.347 Ike Butler TacomaW32
Hunky Shaw TacomaRuns105 Irv Higginbotham AberdeenSO295
Hunky Shaw TacomaHits174 Bill Brinker AberdeenPct.714; 15-6
John ClynesTacoma/VancouverHR10

1908 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Vancouver Beavers 8562.578–Richard Dickson
Tacoma Tigers 7466.5297.5 Mike Lynch
Aberdeen Grays 7369.5149.5 Robert Brown
Spokane Indians 7275.49013.0E.E. Quinn
Butte Miners 6373.46316.5 Russ Hall
Seattle Siwashes 6587.42822.5 Dan Dugdale
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Steamer Flanagan VancouverBA.352George EngelVancouverW22
Ham Hyatt VancouverRuns102Ed EricksonVancouverW22
Ham Hyatt VancouverHits185 Spec Harkness ButteW22
Ham Hyatt VancouverHR15 Gus Thompson Grays HarborSO263
George EngelVancouverPct.733; 22-8

1909 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Seattle Turks 10958.653– Mike Lynch [2]
Spokane Indians 10066.6028.5 Robert Brown
Aberdeen Grays 7881.49127.0 Pants Rowland
Portland Colts 7988.47330.0Perle Casey
Vancouver Beavers 7096.42238.5 Lou Nordyke
Tacoma Tigers 64111.36649.0 Russ Hall /
Jerry Hurley / Ike Butler
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pug Bennett SeattleBA.314 Gus Thompson SeattleW26
Pug Bennett SeattleRuns111 Jesse Baker Tacoma/SpokaneSO249
Pug Bennett SeattleHits201Frank AllenSeattlePct.769; 20-6
George Capron SeattleHR15

1910 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Spokane Indians 9665.596– Harry Ostdiek
Vancouver Beavers 8971.5566.5 Robert Brown
Tacoma Tigers 7384.46521 Cliff Blankenship
Seattle Giants 6199.38134.5 Mike Lynch / Fred Wood
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Lou Nordyke SpokaneBA.290 Jesse Baker SpokaneW28
Charles SwainVancouverRuns88 Jesse Baker SpokaneSO227
Lou Nordyke SpokaneHits163 Jesse Baker SpokanePct.737; 28-10
Charles SwainVancouverHR11

1911 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Vancouver Beavers 10361.628– Kitty Brashear
Spokane Indians 9671.5748.5 Harry Ostdiek
Seattle Giants 9077.53314.5 Jack Tighe / Frank Raymond
Portland Pippins 8477.52117.5Nick Williams
Tacoma Tigers 8184.49022.5 Mike Lynch
Victoria Bees 41125.24763.0T.S. McPherson
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Art Bues SeattleBA.352Ralph WillisSpokaneW23
Phil Cooney SpokaneRuns130George EngelVancouverPct.786; 22-6
Art Bues SeattleHits219
Art Bues SeattleHR27
Pug Bennett VancouverSB64

1912 Northwestern League

schedule

Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
Seattle Giants 9966.600– Jack Barry / Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 9572.5685.0 Harry Ostdiek
Vancouver Champions 9473.5636.0 Kitty Brashear
Portland Colts 7488.45723.5Nick Williams
Victoria Bees 7293.43627.0 Lou Nordyke
Tacoma Tigers 62104.37337.5 Mike Lynch
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jack MeekVictoriaBA.344Bill JamesSeattleW26
Hap Myers SpokaneRuns121Bill JamesSeattleSO201
Hap Myers SpokaneHits207Bill JamesSeattlePct.765; 26-8
Les Mann SeattleHR23
Hap Myers SpokaneSB116

1913 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Vancouver Bees 9966.600– Robert Brown
Portland Colts 8673.54110.0Nick Williams
Seattle Giants 8978.53311.0Frank Raymond
Victoria Bees 8190.47421.0 Mike Lynch / Del Delmas
Tacoma Tigers 7596.43927.0 Joe McGinnity
Spokane Indians 7097.41930.0 Harry Ostdiek /
Watt Powell / Mike Lynch
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jack MeekVictoriaBA.358 Erv Kantlehner VictoriaW23
Charles SwainVictoriaRuns112 Erv Kantlehner VictoriaSO253
Ed Kippert VancouverHits202Clyde HallVancouverPct.696; 16-7
Charles SwainVictoriaHR34

1914 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Vancouver Beavers 9656.632– Robert Brown
Seattle Giants 9561.6093.0Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 8468.55312.0 Mike Lynch
Victoria Bees 6487.42431.5Del Delmas
Tacoma Tigers 6493.40834.5 Joe McGinnity / Russ Hall
Portland Colts /
Ballard Pippins 		5896.37739.0Nick Williams

Portland (36–60) moved to Ballard July 20.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Emil Frisk Vancou/SpokaneBA.322 Wheezer Dell SeattleW21
Kid Butler SpokaneRuns95 Stan Coveleski SpokaneSO214
Emil Frisk Vancou/SpokaneHits178 Oscar Harstad VancouverPct.867; 13-2
Charles SwainSeattleHR12

1915 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Seattle Giants 8868.564–Frank Raymond
Tacoma Tigers 8672.5443.0 Russ Hall / Joe McGinnity
Spokane Indians 8174.5236.5 Bob Wicker
Vancouver Champions 7479.48412.5Hank Scharnweber
Aberdeen Black Cats #4662.426NA Charley Stis / Pug Bennett
Victoria Bees 4161.402NAMartin Nye

Victoria and Aberdeen withdrew with league permission, August 1.
Playoff: Seattle 3 games, Tacoma 2; abandoned when the sixth game broke up in a dispute.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ed Kippert Sea/Aber/TacomaBA.332Richard KaufmanTacomaW25
Jack SmithAberdeen/SeattleRuns99 Duster Mails SeattleSO250
Ted KaylorSpokane/VictoriaHits197 Chuck Rose SeattlePct.667; 20-10
Bill Brinker VancouverHR11

1916 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Spokane Indians 7948.622–Nick Williams
Butte Miners 6859.53511.0 Joe McGinnity
Tacoma Tigers 6361.50814.5 Russ Hall
Great Falls Electrics 6061.49616.0 Dick Hurley / Herb Hester
Seattle Giants 6072.45521.5Frank Raymond
Vancouver Beavers 5079.38830.0 Robert Brown
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ed Kippert ButteBA.358 Suds Sutherland TacomaW23
Roy Grover ButteRuns119 Rudy Kallio Great FallsSO190
Rod MurphyVancouverHits182 Suds Sutherland TacomaPct.767; 23-7
Dave Hillyard ButteHR17
Dave Hillyard ButteRBI101

1917 Northwestern League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Great Falls Electrics 4229.592–Herb Hester
Seattle Giants 4634.5750.5 Bill Leard / Rube Gardner
Tacoma Tigers 3835.5215.0Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 3641.4689.0Nick Williams
Butte Miners 3138.44910.0 Joe McGinnity / Cliff McCarl
Vancouver Beavers 3349.40214.5 Robert Brown

The season was shortened to July 15 with National Association approval.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Harry Harper TacomaBA.382 Herman Pillette TacomaW13
Charles Jackson SpokaneRuns74Jim ClarkGreat FallsW13
Harry Harper TacomaHits113 Harry Gardner Great Falls/TacomaSO108
Dave Hillyard ButteHR12Pat EastleySeattlePct.750; 9–3

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Northwestern League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ "'Throwback Day' Salutes 1909 Seattle Turks". Sportspress Northwest. June 29, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Joe McGinnity Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
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