Pacific National 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.

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, with William Henry Lucas continuing as president of the newly named league.
The Class A level Pacific National League began play on April 14, 1903, with eight teams. 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.
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.

Standings & statistics

1903 Pacific National League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Butte Miners8562.578–Jerry Kane / Walt Wilmot
Spokane Indians8268.5474½W.V. Garrett / C.H. Williams
Seattle Chinooks7871.5238Dan Dugdale
Portland Green Gages /
Salt Lake City Elders		5691.38129John Grim / John McCloskey
Los Angeles Nationals6542.607NACharlie Reilly
San Francisco Pirates5652.519NAJohn McCloskey
Tacoma Tigers4660.434NAByron McKibben
Helena Senators4062.392NAJohn Flannery / Fred Carish
Portland moved to Salt Lake City July 2; Tacoma and Helena disbanded August 16; Los Angeles and San Francisco disbanded August 21.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Frank HuelsmanSpokaneBA.392Pete DowlingButteW30
She DonahuePortland/Salt Lake CityRuns114Pete DowlingButteSO249
She DonahuePortland/Salt Lake CityHits192Ernest NicholsSpokanePct.833; 20–4
Joe MarshallSan FranciscoHR25-----

1904 Pacific National League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Boise Fruit Pickers8249.626–John McCloskey
Spokane Indians7357.5628½Charlie Reilly
Butte Miners5475.41927Walt Wilmot
Salt Lake City Elders5179.39230½Dad Gimlin / Frederick Clarke

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill CarneySpokaneBA.366Dan McFarlanBoiseW30
Ike RockenfieldSpokaneRuns113Bill HoggSpokaneSO259
Farmer WeaverBoiseHits188Dan McFarlanBoisePct.698; 30–13
Ralph FrarySpokaneHR13-----

1905 Pacific National League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Boise Infants2215.595–John McCloskey / William Weaver
Ogden Lobsters2017.5412Walt Wilmot
Spokane Indians2019.5133Charlie Reilly
Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers1324.3519Frederick Clarke
The league disbanded June 20 when Salt Lake City withdrew.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles McIntyreBoiseBA.372Dan McFarlanBoiseW8
Eddie HammondBoiseRuns34Charles SteztzBoiseSO70
Charles McIntyreBoiseHits54Gus ThompsonOgdenSO70
Hugh KellackyBoiseHR5George HodsonBoisePCT.833 5–1