Northwest League

Northwest League
Formerly	Western International League (WIL) (1937–1954)
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1955
President	Mike Ellis
No. of teams	8
Countries	Canada, United States
Most recent; champion(s)	Hillsboro Hops (2019)
Most titles	Spokane Indians (8); Yakima Bears (8)
Classification	Class A Short Season
Official website	northwestleague.com

The Northwest League of Professional Baseball (or simply the Northwest League or NWL) is a Class A Short Season minor league in the northwest United States and western Canada. The NWL's short season starts in mid-June, after major league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early September. All eight teams are affiliated with a major league team.

The Northwest League (or the Northwestern League) has existed in various forms since 1890, and has been in its current incarnation since 1955.[1] The current NWL is the descendant of the Western International League (WIL), a Class B league from 1937 to 1951 (with a stoppage during World War II) and Class A from 1952 to 1954. The league reformed as the Northwest League and dropped to Class B for the 1955 season.[2][3]

The WIL had ten teams in its final season, with four in Canada. In 1955, the Northwest League was formed, with seven charter teams: Salem Senators, Eugene Emeralds, Yakima Bears, Spokane Indians, Tri-City Braves, Wenatchee Chiefs, and Lewiston Broncs.[4][5] During its fiftieth season in 2004, five of the seven original cities were in the league. The Northwest League switched to the short season schedule in 1966,[6] with only four teams,[7][8] and expanded to six in 1970.[9][10]

Current teams

Current team locations:

North Division

South Division

Division	Team	MLB Affiliation	City	Stadium	Seating Capacity	Attendance (2017)[11]	Average (2017)[11]
North	Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	Everett, Washington	Funko Field	3,682	110,161	2,899
	Spokane Indians	Texas Rangers	Spokane, Washington	Avista Stadium	6,803	196,653	5,315
	Tri-City Dust Devils	San Diego Padres	Pasco, Washington	Gesa Stadium	3,654	86,461	2,275
	Vancouver Canadians	Toronto Blue Jays	Vancouver, British Columbia	Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium	6,500	239,527	6,303
South	Boise Hawks	Colorado Rockies	Boise, Idaho	Memorial Stadium	4,500	121,455	3,196
	Eugene Emeralds	Chicago Cubs	Eugene, Oregon	PK Park	4,000	125,297	3,297
	Hillsboro Hops	Arizona Diamondbacks	Hillsboro, Oregon	Ron Tonkin Field	4,500	128,416	3,379
	Salem-Keizer Volcanoes	San Francisco Giants	Keizer, Oregon	Volcanoes Stadium	4,250	81,011	2,132

Current team rosters

Champions

League champions have been determined by different means since the Northwest League's formation in 1955. Except for 1956, 1960, and from 1966 to 1973, all seasons have ended with playoffs to determine a league champion.[12]

The Spokane Indians and Yakima Bears have each won 8 championships, the most among all teams in the league, followed by the Boise Hawks and Eugene Emeralds (6).[12]

Former Northwest League teams (1955–)

Bellingham Dodgers – 1973–76
Bellingham Mariners – 1977–94
Bellingham Giants – 1995–96
Bend Rainbows – 1970–71
Bend Timber Hawks – 1978
Central Oregon Phillies (Bend) – 1979–80
Bend Phillies – 1981–86
Bend Bucks – 1987–91
Bend Rockies – 1992–94
Boise A's – 1975–76
Boise Buckskins – 1978
Everett Giants 1984–94
Grays Harbor Loggers – 1977–78, '80
Grays Harbor Mets – 1979
Grays Harbor Ports – 1976
Lewiston Broncs – 1955–74
Medford Giants – 1967–68
Medford Dodgers – 1969–71, later *Rogue Valley Dodgers- 1969–71
Medford A's – 1979–87 – later *Southern Oregon A's – 1988–95 and
Southern Oregon Timberjacks – 1996–99
New Westminster Frasers – 1974
North Bend-Coos Bay A's – 1970–73

Portland Mavericks – 1973–77
Portland Rockies – 1995–2000
Salem Senators – 1955–60, '77–81
Salem Dodgers – 1961–65,
Salem Dodgers – 1988–89
Salem Angels – 1982–87
Seattle Rainiers – 1972–76
Tri-City Braves – 1955–60
Tri-City Atoms – 1961, '65–68
Tri-City Angels – 1963–64
Tri-City A's – 1969
Tri-City Padres – 1970–72
Tri-City Ports – 1974
Tri-City Triplets – 1973, '83–86
Victoria Mussels – 1978–79
Victoria Blues – 1980
Walla Walla Phillies – 1969–71
Walla Walla Islanders – 1972
Walla Walla Padres – 1973–82
Walla Walla Blue Mountain Bears – 1983
Wenatchee Chiefs – 1955–65
Wenatchee Rapids
Yakima Bears (original) – 1955–1964
Yakima Bears - 1990–2012
Yakima Valley Braves – 1965–66

Cities that have hosted NWL teams

British Columbia

New Westminster: 1974 (1 season)
Vancouver: 2000– (18 seasons)
Victoria: 1978–80 (3 seasons)

Idaho

Boise: 1975–76, 1978, 1987– (34 seasons)
Lewiston: 1955–1974 (20 seasons)

Oregon

Bend: 1970–71, 1978–94 (19 seasons)
North Bend: 1970–72 (3 seasons)
Eugene: 1955–68, 1974– (59 seasons)
Hillsboro: 2013– (8 seasons)
Keizer: (Shared with Salem) 1997- (23 seasons)
Medford: 1967–71, 1979–99 (26 seasons)
Portland: 1973–77, 1995–2000 (11 seasons)
Salem: 1955–65, 1977–89, (shared with Keizer) 1997– (45 seasons)

Washington

Aberdeen: 1976–80 (5 seasons)
Bellingham: 1973–96 (24 seasons)
Everett: 1984– (34 seasons)
Seattle: 1972–76 (5 seasons)
Spokane: 1955–56, 1972, 1983– (38 seasons)
Tri-Cities: 1955–74, 1983–86, 2001– (41 seasons)
Walla Walla: 1969–83 (15 seasons)
Wenatchee: 1955–65 (11 seasons)
Yakima: 1955–66, 1990–2012 (35 seasons)

Eugene is the most-tenured city in the NWL, having fielded a team in all but five of the NWL's seasons (from 1969–73, they had a PCL franchise).

Hall of Fame alumni

Eight alumni of the Northwest League are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame:

Bobby Cox - Salem Dodgers, 1961–62; inducted in 2014
Ken Griffey, Jr. – Bellingham Mariners, 1987; inducted in 2016
Tony Gwynn – Walla Walla Padres, 1981; inducted in 2007
Rickey Henderson – Boise A's, 1976; inducted in 2009
Reggie Jackson – Lewiston Broncs, 1966; inducted in 1993
Edgar Martínez – Bellingham Mariners, 1983; inducted in 2019
Mike Piazza – Salem Dodgers, 1989; inducted in 2016
Ozzie Smith – Walla Walla Padres, 1977; inducted in 2002

Notable alumni

Sandy Alomar, Jr. – Spokane Indians, 1984

Garret Anderson – Boise Hawks, 1990

Kevin Appier – Eugene Emeralds, 1987

Pedro Astacio – Yakima Bears, 1990

Garrett Atkins – Portland Rockies, 2000

Jim Bouton – Portland Mavericks, 1973 & 1977

Jason Bartlett – Eugene Emeralds, 2001

Glenn Beckert - Wenatchee Chiefs, 1963

Dante Bichette – Salem Angels, 1984

Carlos Beltrán – Spokane Indians, 1996

Dallas Braden – Vancouver Canadians, 2004

Kris Bryant - Boise Hawks, 2013

Bert Campaneris - Lewiston Broncs, 1963

Tom Candiotti - Victoria Mussels, 1979

José Canseco – Medford A's, 1983

Rico Carty - Yakima Valley Braves, 1962

Ron Cey - Tri-City Atoms, 1968

Aaron Cook – Portland Rockies, 1998

Ron Coomer - Medford A's, 1987

Chris Davis - Spokane Indians, 2006

Eric Davis – Eugene Emeralds, 1980–81

Mark DeRosa – Eugene Emeralds, 1996

Dick Dietz – Eugene Emeralds, 1962

Josh Donaldson - Boise Hawks, 2007

Dave Duncan - Lewiston Broncs, 1965

Andre Ethier – Vancouver Canadians, 2003

Todd Field – Portland Mavericks batboy, 1976–77

Chone Figgins – Portland Rockies, 1998

Chuck Finley – Salem Angels, 1985

George Foster – Medford Giants, 1968

Matt Franco – Portland Mavericks batboy, 1977

Julio Franco – Central Oregon Phillies, 1979

Tom Gordon – Eugene Emeralds, 1987

Jason Giambi – Southern Oregon A's, 1992

Carlos González – Yakima Bears, 2004

Khalil Greene – Eugene Emeralds, 2002

Pedro Guerrero – Bellingham Dodgers, 1974

Bob Hamelin – Eugene Emeralds, 1988

Dave Henderson - Bellingham Mariners, 1977

Félix Hernández – Everett AquaSox, 2003

Ken Hubbs- Wenatchee Chiefs, 1961

Ender Inciarte - Yakima Bears, 2010

Ian Kinsler -- Spokane Indians, 2003

John Kruk – Walla Walla Padres, 1981

Paul Konerko – Yakima Bears, 1994

Adam Jones – Everett AquaSox, 2003

John Lackey – Boise Hawks, 1999

Mark Langston - Bellingham Mariners, 1981

Ted Lilly - Yakima Bears, 1996

Tim Lincecum – Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2006

Kirk McCaskill – Salem Angels, 1982

Denis Menke - Yakima Valley Braves, 1960

Wade Miley - Yakima Bears, 1996

Rick Monday – Lewiston Broncos, 1965

Bill Murray – Grays Harbor Loggers, 1978

Joe Nathan – Bellingham Giants, 1995; Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 1997

Claude Osteen - Wenatchee Chiefs, 1958

Troy Percival – Boise Hawks, 1991

Eduardo Pérez – Boise Hawks, 1991

Juan Pierre – Portland Rockies, 1998

Kevin Pillar - Vancouver Canadians, 2011

Buster Posey – Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2008

Mark Reynolds - Yakima Bears, 2004

Francisco Rodríguez – Boise Hawks, 1999

Kurt Russell – Bend Rainbows, Walla Walla Islanders, Portland Mavericks, 1971–73, 1977

Tim Salmon – Bend Bucks, 1989

Jeff Samardzija – Boise Hawks, 2006

Casey Sander – Seattle Rainiers, 1975

Pablo Sandoval – Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2005

Kyle Schwarber - Boise Hawks, 2014

Mike Scioscia – Bellingham Dodgers, 1976

Braden Shipley - Hillsboro Hops, 2014

Ted Sizemore - Tri-City Atoms, 1966

Marcus Stroman - Vancouver Canadians, 2012

Kurt Suzuki – Vancouver Canadians, 2004

Noah Syndergaard - Vancouver Canadians, 2011

Dansby Swanson - Hillsboro Hops, 2015

Mike Sweeney – Eugene Emeralds, 1992–93

Nick Swisher – Vancouver Canadians, 2002

Kevin Tapani - Medford A's, 1986

Miguel Tejada – Southern Oregon A's, 1995

Tom Treblehorn - Bend Rainbows, 1970

Trea Turner - Eugene Emeralds, 2014

Dan Uggla – Yakima Bears, 2001

Max Venable - Bellingham Dodgers, 1976

Shane Victorino – Yakima Bears, 2000

Omar Vizquel - Bellingham Mariners, 1985

Matt Williams - Everett Giants, 1986

Mitch Williams - Walla Walla Padres, 1982

Russell Wilson – Tri-City Dust Devils, 2010

Mike Zunino – Everett AquaSox, 2012

References

Missildine, Harry (April 20, 1972). "Northwest League goes back to 1890". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 22.
"Spokane gets berth in new ball league". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 8, 1954. p. 18.
"Indians "on first" in baseball plans". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 9, 1954. p. 14.
"Northwest loop begins to shape into a tight seven-team battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. June 11, 1955. p. 8.
Rodman, Bob (June 17, 1981). "29 years of minor league baseball". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1E.
"Northwest League assured for 1966". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. November 30, 1965. p. 3B.
Harvey, Paul, III (June 23, 1966). "4-team NWL slates 12th opener Friday". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 2D.
"Northwest League: final standings". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. September 6, 1966. p. 3B.
"NW League selects Bend". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. January 12, 1970. p. 8.
"Oregon dominates league". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 13, 1970. p. 11.
"Northwest League Attendance". Northwest League. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
"Northwest League Past Champions". Northwest League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

External links

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[hmsnwlben-1] Missildine, Harry (April 20, 1972). "Northwest League goes back to 1890". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 22.

[sgbinblg-2] "Spokane gets berth in new ball league". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 8, 1954. p. 18.

[iofibpp-3] "Indians "on first" in baseball plans". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 9, 1954. p. 14.

[nwlbegtosh-4] "Northwest loop begins to shape into a tight seven-team battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. June 11, 1955. p. 8.

[tnyomlbb-5] Rodman, Bob (June 17, 1981). "29 years of minor league baseball". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1E.

[nwlasd66-6] "Northwest League assured for 1966". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. November 30, 1965. p. 3B.

[twlopfr-7] Harvey, Paul, III (June 23, 1966). "4-team NWL slates 12th opener Friday". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 2D.

[fs66eerg-8] "Northwest League: final standings". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. September 6, 1966. p. 3B.

[selwsev-9] "NW League selects Bend". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. January 12, 1970. p. 8.

[oregdom-10] "Oregon dominates league". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 13, 1970. p. 11.

[attendance-11] "Northwest League Attendance". Northwest League. Retrieved May 24, 2017.

[champions-12] "Northwest League Past Champions". Northwest League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 10, 2017.