Pacific Northwest League

Last updated
Pacific Northwest League
FormerlyNew Pacific League
Sport Baseball
Founded 1890
Ceased 1903
DirectorW.B. Bushnell, (1892)

M.J. Roach, (1896)

William Henry Lucas, (1901-1902)
No. of teams15
Country
Last
champions
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.

Contents

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 due in part to poor weather. The 1896 version was also known as the New Pacific League. [4] [5] [6] Early rules for the league included salary caps of $1,000 per month, later raised to $1,300 per month. [3] [7] 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] [8] [9] The league denied Olympia, Washington a baseball team in 1892. [8]

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. [10]

Teams

Pacific Northwest League: 1890 to 1892

Team nameTown representedStadiumYear(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 nameTown representedStadiumYear(s) active
Portland Gladiators Portland, Oregon Vaughn Street Park 1896
Seattle Yannigans/Rainmakers Seattle, Washington YMCA Field 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 nameTown representedStadiumYear(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

Team nameTown representedStadiumYear(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 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 standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Spokane Bunchgrassers 6134.642-John Barnes
Tacoma Daisies 5441.5687William Lucas
Seattle Blues 4846.51112½Elmer Rockwell
Portland Gladiators 2567.27234½Richard Dwyer /
Henry Harris / William Hassamaer
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Piggy Ward SpokaneBA.368Jack HustonSpokaneW28
Piggy Ward SpokaneRuns97Frank MarchTacomaSO197
Thomas TurnerSpokaneHits123 Kid Camp SeattleERA1.08
Thomas TurnerSpokaneHR12Jack HustonSpokanePCT.777 28-8
Al Mannassau TacomaSB57

1891 Pacific Northwest League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portland Gladiators 5840.592- Bob Glenalvin
Spokane Bunchgrassers 5743.5702John Barnes
Seattle Blues 4555.45014 Abner Powell
Tacoma Daisies 3860.38820 Leech Maskrey
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jake Stenzel SpokaneBA.351 Kid Camp SeattleW31
Jake Stenzel SpokaneRuns135 George Borchers SpokaneSO220
Jake Stenzel SpokaneHits149John HustonSpokanePCT.688 22-10
Thomas TurnerSpokaneHR13
Jake Stenzel SpokaneSB68

1892 Pacific Northwest League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Tacoma Daisies 4132.562-Bill Works
Portland Webfeet 4134.5471John Barnes
Seattle Blues 3837.5074 Abner Powell / Gil Hatfield
Spokane Bunchgrassers 2946.38713 Ollie Beard
Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jake Stenzel PortlandBA.339 Gus McGinnis SeattleW19
Bill Goodenough TacomaRuns77 Gus McGinnis SeattleSO169
Bill WorksTacomaHits101 Jack Leiper PortlandPct.700: 14-6
Ed Cartwright TacomaHR7

1896, 1898

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

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portland Gladiators 199.679- Bob Glenalvin
Tacoma Robbers /
Tacoma Colts 		1617.4855½Charles Strobel
Victoria Chappies 1316.4486½August Klopf / George Derby
Seattle Rainmakers 1319.4068 Count Campau

The league disbanded June 15.

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bob Glenalvin PortlandBA.448 Ike Butler SeattleW9
Count Campau SeattleRuns55 George Derby VictoriaSO64
John MorrisseyTacomaHits57 George Borchers PortlandPct.875: 7-1
F.A. WhalingVictoriaHits57
Count Campau SeattleHR13
Billy SmithTacomaSB20

1898 Pacific Northwest League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Seattle Clamdiggers 3214.696- Dan Dugdale
Portland Webfoots 2324.4899½ George Borchers / Jack Page
Spokane Siwashes 1926.42212½E.H. Hutchinson / Billy Connors
Tacoma Owls 1927.41313Bill Works

1901 to 1902

1901 Pacific Northwest League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portland Webfoots 7335.675-John J. Grim
Tacoma Tigers 5751.53016 John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers 4563.41728 Dan Dugdale
Spokane Blue Stockings 4167.37932Thomas Turner /
Joe Marshall / Maloney
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles McIntyreTacomaBA.341 Clyde Engle PortlandW28
Joe McCarthyTacomaRuns98 Bill Salisbury PortlandW28
Charles McIntyreTacomaHits149 Jim St. Vrain TacomaSO299
Joe Marshall SpokaneHR15 Clyde Engle PortlandPct.718; 28-11
Joe Tinker PortlandSB37
Joe McCarthyTacomaSB37

1902 Pacific Northwest League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Butte Miners 7347.608- John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers 7050.5833 Dan Dugdale
Helena Senators 6554.5467½John Flannery
Portland Webfoots 5862.48315Sam Vigneux
Tacoma Tigers 4872.40025Jay Andrews
Spokane Smoke Eaters 4675.38027½John J. Grim
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTot
Piggy Ward ButteBA.332
Bill KaneButteRuns102
Piggy Ward ButteHits157
Joe Marshall ButteHR6
Piggy Ward ButteSB51

[11]

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. 1 2 3 "Spokane Will Play". The Spokane Review. March 3, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  4. ↑ "Baseball league broken". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer . 1896-06-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  5. ↑ "Ball league disbands". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. 1896-06-18. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  6. ↑ "Baseball tomorrow". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer . 1896-05-12. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. ↑ "Base Ball". Spokane Falls Daily Chronicle. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. August 12, 1890. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  8. 1 2 "Spokane in the League". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  9. ↑ "Sports". Lewiston Evening Journal. February 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
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