Pacific National League

Last updated
Pacific National League
Formerly Pacific Northwest League
Classification Class A (1903)
Class B (1904–1905)
Sport Minor League Baseball
First season1903
Ceased1905
PresidentWilliam Henry Lucas (1903–1904)
William Rishel (1905)
No. of teams11
Country United States of America
Most titles2
Boise Fruit Pickers / Boise Infants
Related
competitions		 California League

The Pacific National League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1903 to 1905. The league evolved from its predecessor, the Pacific Northwest League and was a competitor of the newly formed Pacific Coast League. The league began play in 1903 as a Class A level league, the highest level of minor leagues in the era, before becoming a Class B level league in 1904 and 1905. Member teams were based in California, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah and Washington.

Contents

History

In 1903, the Pacific Northwest League changed its name to become the Pacific National League. This was a result of the independent California League deciding to expand north into Seattle and Portland and changing its name to the Pacific Coast League as a result. The Pacific Northwest League decided to oppose the move by placing franchises of its own in Los Angeles and San Francisco (San Francisco Pirates), with William Henry Lucas continuing as president of the newly named league. [1]

The Class A level Pacific National League began play on April 14, 1903, with eight teams. [2] The league had teams based in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland and San Francisco, which all also had teams in the Pacific Coast League; these were complemented by teams in the smaller cities of Butte, Helena, Spokane and Tacoma. Travel would prove to be a challenge and on July 1, 1903, the Portland franchise was replaced by a new team in Salt Lake City. On August 15, Helena left the league, and was soon followed by Tacoma, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as the remaining four teams finished out the season. [1] [3]

With four cities left in 1904, the league was downgraded to Class B level league. 1904 league franchises were based in Boise, Butte, Salt Lake City and Spokane. In 1905, Ogden replaced Butte as the league remained a four–team league. The 1905 Pacific National League permanently folded on June 20, 1905, when the Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers disbanded. The league was expelled from the National Association on February 20, 1906, and never reformed. [1] [3]

Pacific National League member teams

Team nameCity representedStadiumYear(s) active
Boise Fruit Pickers /
Boise Infants 		Boise, Idaho Riverside Park
(10th & Miller)		 1904 to 1905
Butte Miners Butte, Montana Columbia Gardens ballpark
(east of city)		 1903 to 1904
Helena Senators Helena, Montana Unknown 1903
Los Angeles Nationals Los Angeles, California Prager Park 1903
Ogden Lobsters Ogden, Utah Glenwood Park
(Madison, Monroe, & Canyon Road)		 1905
Portland Green Gages Portland, Oregon National Park
(8th & Hawthorne)		 1903
Salt Lake City Elders /
Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers 		Salt Lake City, Utah Walker's Field 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 Natatorium Park 1903 to 1905
Tacoma Tigers Tacoma, Washington South 11th Street Grounds 1903

Standings & statistics

1903 Pacific National League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Butte Miners 8562.578– Jerry Kane / Walt Wilmot
Spokane Indians 8268.5474.5W.V. Garrett / C.H. Williams
Seattle Chinooks 7871.5238.0 Dan Dugdale
Portland Green Gages /
Salt Lake City Elders 		5691.38129.0 John Grim / John McCloskey
Los Angeles Nationals 6542.607NA Charlie Reilly
San Francisco Pirates 5652.519NA John McCloskey
Tacoma Tigers 4660.434NAByron McKibben
Helena Senators 4062.392NAJohn Flannery / Fred Carish

Portland (21–42) moved to Salt Lake City July 2; Tacoma and Helena disbanded August 16; Los Angeles and San Francisco disbanded August 21.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Frank Huelsman SpokaneBA.392 Pete Dowling ButteW30
She Donahue Portland/Salt Lake CityRuns114 Pete Dowling ButteSO249
She Donahue Portland/Salt Lake CityHits192Ernest NicholsSpokanePct.833; 20–4
Joe Marshall San FranciscoHR25

1904 Pacific National League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Boise Fruit Pickers 8249.626– John McCloskey
Spokane Indians 7357.5628.5 Charlie Reilly
Butte Miners 5475.41927.0 Walt Wilmot
Salt Lake City Elders 5179.39230.5Dad Gimlin / Frederick Clarke
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill Carney SpokaneBA.366 Dan McFarlan BoiseW30
Ike Rockenfield SpokaneRuns113 Bill Hogg SpokaneSO259
Farmer Weaver BoiseHits188 Dan McFarlan BoisePct.698; 30–13
Ralph Frary SpokaneHR13

1905 Pacific National League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Boise Infants 2215.595–William Weaver / John McCloskey
Ogden Lobsters 2017.5412.0 Walt Wilmot
Spokane Indians 2019.5133.0 Charlie Reilly
Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers 1324.3519.0Frederick Clarke

The league disbanded June 20 when Salt Lake City withdrew.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles McIntyreBoiseBA.372 Dan McFarlan BoiseW8
Eddie HammondBoiseRuns34Charles SteztzBoiseSO70
Charles McIntyreBoiseHits54 Gus Thompson OgdenSO70
Hugh KellackyBoiseHR5 George Hodson BoisePCT.833 5–1

[1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  2. ↑ "1903 Pacific National League (PNL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. 1 2 "Pacific National League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
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