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American Football Database
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Northwest League
230
SportBaseball
Founded1955; 69 years ago (1955)
No. of teams8
Most recent champion(s)Eugene Emeralds (2018)
Most titlesSpokane Indians (8)
Yakima Bears (8)
Official websitenorthwestleague.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. The six U.S. cities plus Eugene were the seven charter teams of the Northwest League in 1955: 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]

Current teams[]

Northwest League is located in USA West
AquaSox
AquaSox
Indians
Indians
Dust Devils
Dust Devils
Canadians
Canadians
Hawks
Hawks
Emeralds
Emeralds
Hops
Hops
Volcanoes
Volcanoes
Current team locations:
  North Division
  South Division
Division Team MLB Affiliation City Stadium Seating
Capacity
Attendance
(2017)[9]
Average
(2017)[9]
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.[10]

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).[10]

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[citation needed]
  • 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– (58 seasons)
  • Hillsboro: 2013– (5 seasons)
  • Keizer: (Shared with Salem) 1997- (21 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 GwynnWalla Walla Padres, 1981; inducted in 2007
  • Rickey HendersonBoise A's, 1976; inducted in 2009
  • Reggie JacksonLewiston Broncs, 1966; inducted in 1993
  • Edgar MartínezBellingham Mariners, 1983; inducted in 2019
  • Mike PiazzaSalem Dodgers, 1989; inducted in 2016
  • Ozzie SmithWalla Walla Padres, 1977; inducted in 2002

Notable alumni[]

Sandy Alomar, Jr.Spokane Indians, 1984
Garret AndersonBoise Hawks, 1990
Kevin AppierEugene Emeralds, 1987
Pedro AstacioYakima Bears, 1990
Garrett AtkinsPortland Rockies, 2000
Jim BoutonPortland Mavericks, 1973 & 1977
Jason BartlettEugene Emeralds, 2001
Glenn Beckert - Wenatchee Chiefs, 1963
Dante BichetteSalem Angels, 1984
Carlos BeltránSpokane Indians, 1996
Dallas BradenVancouver Canadians, 2004
Kris Bryant - Boise Hawks, 2013
Bert Campaneris - Lewiston Broncs, 1963
Tom Candiotti - Victoria Mussels, 1979
José CansecoMedford A's, 1983
Rico Carty - Yakima Valley Braves, 1962
Ron Cey - Tri-City Atoms, 1968
Aaron CookPortland Rockies, 1998
Ron Coomer - Medford A's, 1987
Chris Davis - Spokane Indians, 2006
Eric DavisEugene Emeralds, 1980–81
Mark DeRosaEugene Emeralds, 1996
Dick DietzEugene Emeralds, 1962
Josh Donaldson - Boise Hawks, 2007
Dave Duncan - Lewiston Broncs, 1965
Andre EthierVancouver Canadians, 2003
Todd FieldPortland Mavericks batboy, 1976–77
Chone FigginsPortland Rockies, 1998
Chuck FinleySalem Angels, 1985
George FosterMedford Giants, 1968
Matt FrancoPortland Mavericks batboy, 1977
Julio FrancoCentral Oregon Phillies, 1979
Tom GordonEugene Emeralds, 1987
Jason GiambiSouthern Oregon A's, 1992
Carlos GonzálezYakima Bears, 2004
Khalil GreeneEugene Emeralds, 2002
Pedro GuerreroBellingham Dodgers, 1974
Bob HamelinEugene Emeralds, 1988
Dave Henderson - Bellingham Mariners, 1977
Félix HernándezEverett AquaSox, 2003
Ender Inciarte - Yakima Bears, 2010
Ian Kinsler -- Spokane Indians, 2003
John KrukWalla Walla Padres, 1981
Paul KonerkoYakima Bears, 1994
Adam JonesEverett AquaSox, 2003
John LackeyBoise Hawks, 1999
Mark Langston - Bellingham Mariners, 1981
Ted Lilly - Yakima Bears, 1996
Tim LincecumSalem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2006
Kirk McCaskillSalem Angels, 1982
Denis Menke - Yakima Valley Braves, 1960
Wade Miley - Yakima Bears, 1996
Rick MondayLewiston Broncos, 1965
Bill MurrayGrays Harbor Loggers, 1978
Joe NathanBellingham Giants, 1995; Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 1997
Claude Osteen - Wenatchee Chiefs, 1958
Troy PercivalBoise Hawks, 1991
Eduardo PérezBoise Hawks, 1991
Juan PierrePortland Rockies, 1998
Buster PoseySalem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2008
Mark Reynolds - Yakima Bears, 2004
Francisco RodríguezBoise Hawks, 1999
Kurt RussellBend Rainbows, Walla Walla Islanders, Portland Mavericks, 1971–73, 1977
Tim Salmon – Bend Bucks, 1989
Jeff SamardzijaBoise Hawks, 2006
Casey SanderSeattle Rainiers, 1975
Pablo SandovalSalem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2005
Kyle Schwarber - Boise Hawks, 2014
Mike SciosciaBellingham Dodgers, 1976
Braden Shipley - Hillsboro Hops, 2014
Ted Sizemore - Tri-City Atoms, 1966
Kurt SuzukiVancouver Canadians, 2004
Dansby Swanson - Hillsboro Hops, 2015
Mike SweeneyEugene Emeralds, 1992–93
Nick SwisherVancouver Canadians, 2002
Kevin Tapani - Medford A's, 1986
Miguel TejadaSouthern Oregon A's, 1995
Tom Treblehorn - Bend Rainbows, 1970
Trea Turner - Eugene Emeralds, 2014
Dan UgglaYakima Bears, 2001
Max Venable - Bellingham Dodgers, 1976
Shane VictorinoYakima Bears, 2000
Omar Vizquel - Bellingham Mariners, 1985
Matt Williams - Everett Giants, 1986
Mitch Williams - Walla Walla Padres, 1982
Russell WilsonTri-City Dust Devils, 2010
Mike ZuninoEverett AquaSox, 2012

See also[]

  • Sports league attendances

References[]

  1. Missildine, Harry (April 20, 1972). "Northwest League goes back to 1890". Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington): p. 22. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UhtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hOwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6934%2C1994658.
  2. "Spokane gets berth in new ball league". Spokane Daily Chronicle (Washington): p. 18. November 8, 1954. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bvNXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mfYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4188%2C2047436.
  3. "Indians "on first" in baseball plans". Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington): p. 14. November 9, 1954. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VKwnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4826%2C3131513.
  4. "Northwest loop begins to shape into a tight seven-team battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle (Washington): p. 8. June 11, 1955. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B_pXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qfYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4711%2C3368264.
  5. Rodman, Bob (June 17, 1981). "29 years of minor league baseball". Eugene Register-Guard (Oregon): p. 1E. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HfpVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4068%2C4925923.
  6. "Northwest League assured for 1966". Eugene Register-Guard (Oregon): p. 3B. November 30, 1965. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zv9VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4317%2C6416098.
  7. Harvey, Paul, III (June 23, 1966). "4-team NWL slates 12th opener Friday". Eugene Register-Guard (Oregon): p. 2D. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mqxVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6904%2C5231934.
  8. "Northwest League: final standings". Eugene Register-Guard (Oregon): p. 3B. September 6, 1966. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A-UQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5173%2C1101804.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Northwest League Attendance". http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2016&t=l_att&lid=126&sid=l126. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Northwest League Past Champions". Minor League Baseball. http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20131218&content_id=66060044&sid=l126&vkey=league3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

External links[]

Template:Northwest League

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