Pacific Northwest 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. The league folded during the second half of the 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. In 1892 the league President was W. E. Rockwell and the Secretary was M. J. Roche. The league was revived briefly in, but only lasted until mid-June due in part to poor weather. The 1896 version was also known as the New Pacific League. Early rules for the league included salary caps of $1,000 per month, later raised to $1,300 per month. 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. The league denied Olympia, Washington a baseball team in 1892.

Second resurrection

The second Pacific Northwest League began play in as a four-team league, and was a six-team Class B circuit in 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.

Teams

Pacific Northwest League: 1890 to 1892

Pacific Northwest League, AKA New Pacific League: 1896

Pacific Northwest League: 1898

Pacific National League: 1903 to 1905

Team nameTown representedStadiumYear active
Boise Fruit Pickers/'Boise InfantsBoise, IdahoUnknown to
Butte MinersButte, MontanaUnknown to
Helena SenatorsHelena, MontanaUnknown
Los Angeles NationalsLos Angeles, CaliforniaPrager Park
Ogden LobstersOgden, UtahUnknown
Portland Green GagesPortland, OregonVaughn Street Park
Salt Lake City Elders/Salt Lake City Fruit PickersSalt Lake City, UtahUnknown to
San Francisco PiratesSan Francisco, CaliforniaNational Park
Seattle ChinooksSeattle, WashingtonYMCA Field
Spokane Indians Spokane, WashingtonUnknown-
Tacoma Tigers'Tacoma, WashingtonSouth 11th Street Grounds

Standings and statistics

1890 to 1892

1890 Pacific Northwest League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Spokane Bunchgrassers6134.642-John Barnes
Tacoma Daisies5441.5687William Lucas
Seattle Blues4846.51112½Elmer Rockwell
Portland Gladiators2567.27234½Richard Dwyer /
Henry Harris / William Hassamaer

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Piggy WardSpokaneBA.368Jack HustonSpokaneW28
Piggy WardSpokaneRuns97Frank MarchTacomaSO197
Thomas TurnerSpokaneHits123Kid CampSeattleERA1.08
Thomas TurnerSpokaneHR12Jack HustonSpokanePCT.777 28-8
Al MannassauTacomaSB57-----

1891 Pacific Northwest League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portland Gladiators5840.592-Bob Glenalvin
Spokane Bunchgrassers5743.5702John Barnes
Seattle Blues4555.45014Abner Powell
Tacoma Daisies3860.38820Leech Maskrey

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jake StenzelSpokaneBA.351Kid CampSeattleW31
Jake StenzelSpokaneRuns135George BorchersSpokaneSO220
Jake StenzelSpokaneHits149John HustonSpokanePCT.688 22-10
Thomas TurnerSpokaneHR13-----
Jake StenzelSpokaneSB68-----

1892 Pacific Northwest League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Tacoma Daisies4132.562-Bill Works
Portland Webfeet4134.5471John Barnes
Seattle Blues3837.5074Abner Powell / Gil Hatfield
Spokane Bunchgrassers2946.38713Ollie Beard

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jake StenzelPortlandBA.339Gus McGinnisSeattleW19
Bill GoodenoughTacomaRuns77Gus McGinnisSeattleSO169
Bill WorksTacomaHits101Jack LeiperPortlandPct.700: 14-6
Ed CartwrightTacomaHR7-----

1896, 1898

1896 Pacific Northwest League a/k/a/ New Pacific League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portland Gladiators199.679-Bob Glenalvin
Tacoma Robbers /
Tacoma Colts		1617.4855½Charles Strobel
Victoria Chappies1316.4486½August Klopf / George Derby
Seattle Rainmakers1319.4068Count Campau
The league disbanded June 15.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bob GlenalvinPortlandBA.448Ike ButlerSeattleW9
Count CampauSeattleRuns55George DerbyVictoriaSO64
John MorrisseyTacomaHits57George BorchersPortlandPct.875: 7-1
F.A. WhalingVictoriaHits57-----
Count CampauSeattleHR13-----
Billy SmithTacomaSB20-----

1898 Pacific Northwest League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Seattle Clamdiggers3214.696-Dan Dugdale
Portland Webfoots2324.4899½George Borchers / Jack Page
Spokane Siwashes1926.42212½E.H. Hutchinson / Billy Connors
Tacoma Owls1927.41313Bill Works

1901 to 1902

1901 Pacific Northwest League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portland Webfoots7335.675-John J. Grim
Tacoma Tigers5751.53016John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers4563.41728Dan Dugdale
Spokane Blue Stockings4167.37932Thomas Turner /
Joe Marshall / Maloney

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles McIntyreTacomaBA.341Clyde EnglePortlandW28
Joe McCarthyTacomaRuns98Bill SalisburyPortlandW28
Charles McIntyreTacomaHits149Jim St. VrainTacomaSO299
Joe MarshallSpokaneHR15Clyde EnglePortlandPct.718; 28-11
Joe TinkerPortlandSB37-----
Joe McCarthyTacomaSB37-----

1902 Pacific Northwest League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Butte Miners7347.608-John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers7050.5833Dan Dugdale
Helena Senators6554.5467½John Flannery
Portland Webfoots5862.48315Sam Vigneux
Tacoma Tigers4872.40025Jay Andrews
Spokane Smoke Eaters4675.38027½John J. Grim

PlayerTeamStatTot
Piggy WardButteBA.332
Bill KaneButteRuns102
Piggy WardButteHits157
Joe MarshallButteHR6
Piggy WardButteSB51