Pacific Northwest League

Pacific Northwest League
Formerly	New Pacific League
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1890
Ceased	1903
Director	W.B. Bushnell, (1892) M.J. Roach, (1896) William Henry Lucas, (1901-1902)
No. of teams	15
Country	United States; Canada;
Last; champion(s)	1890 Spokane; 1891 Portland; 1892 Tacoma; 1896 Portland; 1901 Portland; 1902 Butte;
Most titles	Portland, 3;
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.

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

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.^[7]

Teams

Pacific Northwest League: 1890 to 1892

Team name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(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 name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(s) active
Portland Gladiators	Portland, Oregon	Vaughn Street Park	1896
Seattle Yannigans/Rainmakers	Seattle, Washington	Unknown	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 name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(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 name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(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 (9th & Bryant)	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 standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Spokane Bunchgrassers	61	34	.642	-	John Barnes
Tacoma Daisies	54	41	.568	7.0	William Lucas
Seattle Blues	48	46	.511	12.5	Elmer Rockwell
Portland Gladiators	25	67	.272	34.5	Richard Dwyer / Henry Harris / William Hassamaer

**Player statistics**
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Piggy Ward	Spokane	BA	.368	Jack Huston	Spokane	W	28
Piggy Ward	Spokane	Runs	97	Frank March	Tacoma	SO	197
Thomas Turner	Spokane	Hits	123	Kid Camp	Seattle	ERA	1.08
Thomas Turner	Spokane	HR	12	Jack Huston	Spokane	PCT	.777 28-8
Al Mannassau	Tacoma	SB	57

1891 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portland Gladiators	58	40	.592	-	Bob Glenalvin
Spokane Bunchgrassers	57	43	.570	2.0	John Barnes
Seattle Blues	45	55	.450	14.0	Abner Powell
Tacoma Daisies	38	60	.388	20.0	Leech Maskrey

**Player statistics**
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jake Stenzel	Spokane	BA	.351	Kid Camp	Seattle	W	31
Jake Stenzel	Spokane	Runs	135	George Borchers	Spokane	SO	220
Jake Stenzel	Spokane	Hits	149	John Huston	Spokane	PCT	.688 22-10
Thomas Turner	Spokane	HR	13
Jake Stenzel	Spokane	SB	68

1892 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tacoma Daisies	41	32	.562	-	Bill Works
Portland Webfeet	41	34	.547	1.0	John Barnes
Seattle Blues	38	37	.507	4.0	Abner Powell / Gil Hatfield
Spokane Bunchgrassers	29	46	.387	13	Ollie Beard

**Player Statistics**
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jake Stenzel	Portland	BA	.339	Gus McGinnis	Seattle	W	19
Bill Goodenough	Tacoma	Runs	77	Gus McGinnis	Seattle	SO	169
Bill Works	Tacoma	Hits	101	Jack Leiper	Portland	Pct	.700: 14-6
Ed Cartwright	Tacoma	HR	7

1896, 1898

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

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portland Gladiators	19	9	.679	-	Bob Glenalvin
Tacoma Robbers / Tacoma Colts	16	17	.485	5.5	Charles Strobel
Victoria Chappies	13	16	.448	6.5	August Klopf / George Derby
Seattle Rainmakers	13	19	.406	8.0	Count Campau

The league disbanded June 15.

**Player Statistics**
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bob Glenalvin	Portland	BA	.448	Ike Butler	Seattle	W	9
Count Campau	Seattle	Runs	55	George Derby	Victoria	SO	64
John Morrissey	Tacoma	Hits	57	George Borchers	Portland	Pct	.875: 7-1
F.A. Whaling	Victoria	Hits	57
Count Campau	Seattle	HR	13
Billy Smith	Tacoma	SB	20

1898 Pacific Northwest League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Seattle Clamdiggers	32	14	.696	-	Dan Dugdale
Portland Webfoots	23	24	.489	9.5	George Borchers / Jack Page
Spokane Siwashes	19	26	.422	12.5	E.H. Hutchinson / Billy Connors
Tacoma Owls	19	27	.413	13.0	Bill Works

1901 to 1902

1901 Pacific Northwest League
schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portland Webfoots	73	35	.675	-	John J. Grim
Tacoma Tigers	57	51	.530	16.0	John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers	45	63	.417	28.0	Dan Dugdale
Spokane Blue Stockings	41	67	.379	32.0	Thomas Turner / Joe Marshall / Maloney

**Player statistics**
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Charles McIntyre	Tacoma	BA	.341	Clyde Engle	Portland	W	28
Joe McCarthy	Tacoma	Runs	98	Bill Salisbury	Portland	W	28
Charles McIntyre	Tacoma	Hits	149	Jim St. Vrain	Tacoma	SO	299
Joe Marshall	Spokane	HR	15	Clyde Engle	Portland	Pct	.718; 28-11
Joe Tinker	Portland	SB	37
Joe McCarthy	Tacoma	SB	37

1902 Pacific Northwest League
schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Butte Miners	73	47	.608	-	John McCloskey
Seattle Clamdiggers	70	50	.583	3.0	Dan Dugdale
Helena Senators	65	54	.546	7.5	John Flannery
Portland Webfoots	58	62	.483	15.0	Sam Vigneux
Tacoma Tigers	48	72	.400	25.0	Jay Andrews
Spokane Smoke Eaters	46	75	.380	27.5	John J. Grim

**Player statistics**
Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Piggy Ward	Butte	BA	.332
Bill Kane	Butte	Runs	102
Piggy Ward	Butte	Hits	157
Joe Marshall	Butte	HR	6
Piggy Ward	Butte	SB	51

^[8]

Hall of Fame alumni

Clark Griffith, 1892 Tacoma Daisies
Joe Tinker, 1901 Portland Webfoots

References

^ "Base Ball in Oregon". Sporting Life. 14 (13): 1. 1 January 1890.
^ "The Minor Leagues". The Weekly Argus News. July 23, 1892. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Spokane Will Play". The Spokane Review. March 3, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ "Base Ball". Spokane Falls Daily Chronicle. August 12, 1890. Retrieved 2009-12-21. ^{[dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b "Spokane in the League". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ "Sports". Lewiston Evening Journal. February 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ "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.
^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.

External links

Baseball Reference

[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.

[Spokane-3] "Spokane Will Play". The Spokane Review. March 3, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.

[4] "Base Ball". Spokane Falls Daily Chronicle. August 12, 1890. Retrieved 2009-12-21. ^{[dead link‍]}

[new_clubs-5] "Spokane in the League". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.

[6] "Sports". Lewiston Evening Journal. February 29, 1892. Retrieved 2009-12-21.

[7] "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.

[encyc-8] Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.

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