Northwestern League

From BR Bullpen

The first Northwestern League was a minor league in 1879, in 1883-1884, and again in 1886-1887. The first incarnation, one of the earliest minor leagues ever, lasted only one year. The second was located more in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, while the third was in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and St. Paul competed in 1884 and 1886-1887. Some of the names involved in the founding of this league in 1879, principally Tom Loftus, Ted Sullivan and Charlie Comiskey would go on to found the Western League, which then morphed into the American League. Thus some people consider that the first Northwestern League is a direct ancestor of today's major league, although the actual history is more convoluted.

The Northwestern League name was revived in 1905 as a class B league and ran through 1917 before changing names to the Pacific Coast International League. This version of the league was centered in an entirely different part of the country, namely in Washington, with teams in Oregon, Montana, and British Columbia competing as well.

Cities Represented 1879[edit]

Teams and Statistics 1879[edit]

1879 Northwestern League
President: James F. McKee

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Dubuque Red Stockings 19 5 .792 - Ted Sullivan
Rockford White Stockings 13 9 .591 5 James McKee
Omaha Green Stockings 5 13 .278 11 E Balch(6/17) George Mills
Davenport Brown Stockings 5 15 .250 12 J.W. Green
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Michael Moynhan Davenport BA .400 Lawrence Reis Dubuque W 16
William Redmon Rockford Runs 23 Lawrence Reis Dubuque PCT .762 16-5
Sleeper Sullivan Dubuque Runs 23
Old Hoss Radbourn Dubuque Hits 37
Six tied HR 2

Cities Represented 1883-1884[edit]

Teams and Statistics 1883-1884[edit]

1883 Northwestern League
President: Elias Matter

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Toledo Blue Stockings 56 28 .667 - William Voltz / Charles Morton
Saginaw Greys 54 30 .643 2 Art Whitney
Peoria Reds 49 35 .583 7 Charles Flynn / Charlie Levis / A.C. Harding
Grand Rapids 48 36 .571 8 Charlie Eden / Henry Jones
Springfield 37 47 .440 19 C.J. Frichtel / John Peters / John Crawford
Bay City 35 49 .417 21 Dave Foutz / William Montgomery / Chet Morgan
Fort Wayne Hoosiers 34 50 .405 22 Jack Remsen / Milt Scott
Quincy 23 61 .274 33 Charles Overrecker / Edward Hengle / Dickey Pearce
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Charlie Eden Grand Rapids BA .359
Charlie Eden Grand Rapids Hits 130
Henry Jones Grand Rapids Runs 87
Sam Barkley Toledo HR 2


1884 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Jonathan J. Just / W.D. Whitmore

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Grand Rapids ### 48 15 .762 - Horace Phillips
Saginaw Greys 47 21 .691 3.5 William Dyer
Quincy 45 23 .662 5.5 George Brackett
Peoria Reds 40 25 .615 9 James Whitfield (May 28) / Charles Flynn
Milwaukee Cream Citys 30 26 .536 10.5 Jim McKee (May 9) / Tom Loftus
Minneapolis Millers 30 42 .417 22.5 Benjamin Tuthill
Muskegon ### 23 40 .365 25 A.J. Bradford (June) / Charlie Cushman (Aug 5) / John Rainey
Fort Wayne Hoosiers 22 43 .338 27 John McDonough (June 23) / Harry Smith
St. Paul Apostles 24 48 .333 28.5 Robert Hunter (July 22) / Andrew Thompson
Stillwater 21 46 .313 29 Joe May (May 15) / Joe Miller (July 5) / Fred Gunkle (July 10) / John Peters
Terre Haute 15 50 .231 34 Al Buckenberger (July 5) / George Hammerstein
Evansville ## 4 1 .800 NA Stephen Hagan
Bay City # 39 16 .709 NA Bill Watkins

# Bay City disbanded July 22.
## Evansville Joined the league on July 30. Disbanded Aug 4.
### Grand Rapids disbanded Aug 5 and Muskegon disbanded August 7, forcing a second season.

Second Season Standings
Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Milwaukee Cream Citys 11 4 .733 -0 Tom Loftus
Minneapolis Millers # 7 4 .636 2 Benjamin Tuthill
St. Paul Apostles 7 7 .500 3.5 Andrew Thompson
Winona Clippers 1 11 .083 8.5 John Rainey

# Minneapolis disbanded September 2, ending the season.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jon Morrison Bay City BA .328 John Clarkson Saginaw W 34
Eddie Hogan Milwaukee Runs 83 John Clarkson Saginaw SO 388
Billy Reid Minneapolis Hits 95 Ed Cushman Milwaukee Pct 917; 22-2
Conny Doyle Quincy HR 4
Charlie Eden Grand Rapids HR 4

Cities Represented 1886-1887[edit]

Teams and Statistics 1886-1887[edit]

1886 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Ted Sullivan

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Duluth Jayhawks 46 33 .582 - William Henry Lucas
Eau Claire 43 36 .544 3 Abe Devine
Oshkosh 39 39 .500 6.5 William Harrington / William Roche/Walter Kinzie
St. Paul Freezers 37 43 .463 9.5 John Barnes
Minneapolis Millers 36 42 .462 9.5 Edward Whitcomb
Milwaukee Milwaukees 35 42 .455 10.5 Ted Sullivan
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Charles Ingram Oshkosh BA .313
John Doran Eau Claire Hits 95
Llewellyn Legg Duluth Hits 95
Billy Reid Duluth Runs 85


1887 Northwestern League - schedule
President: James Hart

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Oshkosh 76 41 .649 - Frank Selee
Milwaukee Milwaukees 78 43 .644 - Jim Hart
St. Paul Saints 75 45 .610 2.5 John Barnes
Des Moines Hawkeyes 73 47 .608 4.5 William Bryan(7/26) Charlie Morton
Minneapolis Millers 54 65 .453 23 Robert Foster
LaCrosse 45 78 .365 34 William Harrington(7/10) Frank Hatch
Duluth Freezers 42 76 .356 34.5 William Henry Lucas(8/18) Joe Quinn(9/28) J.W. Anderson
Eau Claire 38 85 .309 41 Abe Devine(6/15) Joe Quest
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Elmer Foster Minneapolis BA .415 Bill Sowders St. Paul W 34
Clarence Murphy St. Paul Runs 142 Bill Sowders St. Paul SO 266
Elmer Foster Minneapolis Hits 213 Tom Lovett Oshkosh Pct 909; 20-2
Elmer Foster Minneapolis HR 17 Tom Lovett Oshkosh ERA 1.48
Dummy Hoy Oshkosh 3B 18
Walt Wilmot St. Paul 3B 18
Bill Van Dyke Des Moines SB 108

Cities Represented 1891[edit]

Teams and Statistics 1891[edit]

1891 Northwestern League - schedule
President: W.H. Ketcham

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Evansville Hoosiers 44 29 .603 - Andy Sommers
Ft. Wayne 39 33 .542 4.5 Guy Hecker
Terre Haute Hottentots 28 41 .406 14 Billy Clingman/George Brackett
Grand Rapids Shamrocks 28 44 .389 15.5 John Murphy
Peoria Distillers @ 42 17 .712 NA George Brackett
Dayton @ 27 30 .474 NA Harry Fisher
Bay City # 12 17 .414 NA Fred Craves/John Whalen
Detroit Wolverines $ 10 19 .345 NA Rasty Wright

@ Peoria and Dayton disbanded July 16
# Bay City disbanded June 7
$ Detroit disbanded June 6
Peoria won the first and second halves, but Evansville won the third half-season

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Andy Sommers Evansville]] BA .331 Harley Payne Peoria W 18
Pat Wright Peoria/Terre Haute Runs 63 Harley Payne Peoria PCT .818 18-4
Joe Katz Grand Rapids Hits 93
Ed Breckinridge Grand Rapids HR 16
Frederick Jevne Evansville SB 37

Cities Represented 1905-1917[edit]

Teams and Statistics 1905-1917[edit]

1905 Northwestern League - schedule pt 1 - pt 2
President: William Henry Lucas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Everett Smokestackers 60 37 .619 - Billy Hulen
Bellingham Yankees 49 48 .505 11 Kirby Drennen / Frederick Clarke
Vancouver Horse Doctors 45 52 .464 15 John McCloskey
Victoria / Spokane # 41 58 .414 20 G.G. Howlett / Ed Hutchinson / Charles McIntyre

# Victoria (14-38) moved to Spokane July 11.
The season was shortened to September 11.
Playoffs: None; the first half finished in a tie and it was decided that if Everett won the second half, the pennant would be awarded to Everett.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Kirby Drennan Bellingham BA .320 Carl Druhot Bellingham W 18
Billy Hulen Everett Runs 85 Hick Belt Everett W 18
Ed Hutchinson Vict/Spoke Hits 107 Ira Harmon Vancouver SO 194
Joe Marshall Vancouver HR 7 John McInnis Everett Pct .800; 12-3


1906 Northwestern League - schedule
President: William Henry Lucas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Tacoma Tigers 54 36 .600 - Mike Lynch
Butte Miners 43 42 .506 8.5 Charles McIntyre
Grays Harbor Grays # 41 47 .466 12 Robert Brown /Bill Hurley
Spokane Indians 37 50 .425 15.5 Bill Hurley/Matthew Stanley

# Represented Aberdeen-Hoquiam, Washington.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Mike Lynch Tacoma BA .355 Ike Butler Tacoma W 20
Mike Lynch Tacoma Runs 76 Irv Higginbotham Tacoma SO 153
Mike Lynch Tacoma Hits 130 Oscar Bandelin Butte Pct .733; 11-4
Mike Lynch Tacoma HR 7


1907 Northwestern League - schedule
President: William Henry Lucas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Aberdeen Black Cats 85 51 .625 - Robert Brown
Tacoma Tigers 90 59 .604 1.5 George Shreeder
Seattle Siwashes 83 65 .561 8 Dan Dugdale
Butte Miners 70 73 .490 18.5 Russ Hall
Spokane Indians 68 76 .472 21 E.E. Quinn
Vancouver 34 106 .243 53 Wilson / McIntyre / Evans / Strothers / Hurley
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ed Householder Aberdeen BA .347 Ike Butler Tacoma W 32
Hunky Shaw Tacoma Runs 105 Irv Higginbotham Aberdeen SO 295
Hunky Shaw Tacoma Hits 174 Bill Brinker Aberdeen Pct .714; 15-6
John Clynes Tacoma/Vancouver HR 10


1908 Northwestern League - schedule
President: William Henry Lucas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Beavers 85 62 .578 - Richard Dickson
Tacoma Tigers 74 66 .529 7.5 Mike Lynch
Aberdeen Grays 73 69 .514 9.5 Robert Brown
Spokane Indians 72 75 .490 13 E.E. Quinn
Butte Miners 63 73 .463 16.5 Russ Hall
Seattle Siwashes 65 87 .428 22.5 Dan Dugdale
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Steamer Flanagan Vancouver BA .352 George Engel Vancouver W 22
Ham Hyatt Vancouver Runs 102 Ed Erickson Vancouver W 22
Ham Hyatt Vancouver Hits 185 Spec Harkness Butte W 22
Ham Hyatt Vancouver HR 15 Gus Thompson Grays Harbor SO 263
George Engel Vancouver Pct .733; 22-8


1909 Northwestern League - schedule
President: William Henry Lucas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Turks 109 58 .653 - Mike Lynch
Spokane Indians 100 66 .602 8.5 Robert Brown
Aberdeen Grays 78 81 .491 27 Pants Rowland
Portland Colts 79 88 .473 30 Perle Casey
Vancouver Beavers 70 96 .422 38.5 Lou Nordyke
Tacoma Tigers 64 111 .366 49 Russ Hall / Jerry Hurley / Ike Butler
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pug Bennett Seattle BA .314 Gus Thompson Seattle W 26
Pug Bennett Seattle Runs 111 Jesse Baker Tacoma/Spokane SO 249
Pug Bennett Seattle Hits 201 Frank Allen Seattle Pct .769; 20-6
George Capron Seattle HR 15


1910 Northwestern League - schedule
President: William Henry Lucas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Indians 96 65 .596 - Harry Ostdiek
Vancouver Beavers 89 71 .556 6.5 Robert Brown
Tacoma Tigers 73 84 .465 21 Cliff Blankenship
Seattle Giants 61 99 .381 34.5 Mike Lynch / Fred Wood
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lou Nordyke Spokane BA .290 Jesse Baker Spokane W 28
Charles Swain Vancouver Runs 88 Jesse Baker Spokane SO 227
Lou Nordyke Spokane Hits 163 Jesse Baker Spokane Pct .737; 28-10
Charles Swain Vancouver HR 11


1911 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Robert Lindsay / Dan Dugdale

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Beavers 103 61 .628 - Kitty Brashear
Spokane Indians 96 71 .574 8.5 Harry Ostdiek
Seattle Giants 90 77 .533 14.5 Jack Tighe / Frank Raymond
Portland Pippins 84 77 .521 17.5 Nick Williams
Tacoma Tigers 81 84 .490 22.5 Mike Lynch
Victoria Bees 41 125 .247 63 T.S. McPherson
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Art Bues Seattle BA .352 Ralph Willis Spokane W 23
Phil Cooney Spokane Runs 130 George Engel Vancouver Pct .786; 22-6
Art Bues Seattle Hits 219
Art Bues Seattle HR 27
Pug Bennett Vancouver SB 64


1912 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Fielder Jones

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Giants 99 66 .600 - Jack Barry / Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 95 72 .568 5 Harry Ostdiek
Vancouver Champions 94 73 .563 6 Kitty Brashear
Portland Colts 74 88 .457 23.5 Nick Williams
Victoria Bees 72 93 .436 27 Lou Nordyke
Tacoma Tigers 62 104 .373 37.5 Mike Lynch
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Meek Victoria BA .344 Bill James Seattle W 26
Hap Myers Spokane Runs 121 Bill James Seattle SO 201
Hap Myers Spokane Hits 207 Bill James Seattle Pct .765; 26-8
Les Mann Seattle HR 23
Hap Myers Spokane SB 116


1913 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Fielder Jones

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Bees 99 66 .600 - Robert Brown
Portland Colts 86 73 .541 10 Nick Williams
Seattle Giants 89 78 .533 11 Frank Raymond
Victoria Bees 81 90 .474 21 Mike Lynch / Del Delmas
Tacoma Tigers 75 96 .439 27 Joe McGinnity
Spokane Indians 70 97 .419 30 Harry Ostdiek / Watt Powell / Mike Lynch
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Meek Victoria BA .358 Erv Kantlehner Victoria W 23
Charles Swain Victoria Runs 112 Erv Kantlehner Victoria SO 253
Ed Kippert Vancouver Hits 202 Clyde Hall Vancouver Pct .696; 16-7
Charles Swain Victoria HR 34


1914 Northwestern League schedule
President: Fielder Jones / E.H. Hughes

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Beavers 96 56 .632 - Robert Brown
Seattle Giants 95 61 .609 3 Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 84 68 .553 12 Mike Lynch
Victoria Bees 64 87 .424 31.5 Del Delmas
Tacoma Tigers 64 93 .408 34.5 Joe McGinnity / Russ Hall
Portland Colts / Ballard Pippins # 58 96 .377 39 Nick Williams

#Portland (36-60) moved to Ballard July 20.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Emil Frisk Vancou/Spokane BA .322 Wheezer Dell Seattle W 21
Kid Butler Spokane Runs 95 Stan Coveleski Spokane SO 214
Emil Frisk Vancou/Spokane Hits 178 Oscar Harstad Vancouver Pct .867; 13-2
Charles Swain Seattle HR 12


1915 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Bob Blewett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Giants 88 68 .564 - Frank Raymond
Tacoma Tigers 86 72 .544 3 Russ Hall / Joe McGinnity
Spokane Indians 81 74 .523 6.5 Bob Wicker
Vancouver Champions 74 79 .484 12.5 Hank Scharnweber
Aberdeen Black Cats # 46 62 .426 NA Charley Stis / Pug Bennett
Victoria Bees # 41 61 .402 NA Martin Nye

# Victoria and Aberdeen withdrew with league permission, August 1.
Playoff: Seattle 3 games, Tacoma 2; abandoned when the sixth game broke up in a dispute.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ed Kippert Sea/Aber/Tacoma BA .332 Richard Kaufman Tacoma W 25
Jack Smith Aberdeen/Seattle Runs 99 Duster Mails Seattle SO 250
Ted Kaylor Spokane/Victoria Hits 197 Chuck Rose Seattle Pct .667; 20-10
Bill Brinker Vancouver HR 11


1916 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Bob Blewett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Indians 79 48 .622 - Nick Williams
Butte Miners 68 59 .535 11 Joe McGinnity
Tacoma Tigers 63 61 .508 14.5 Russ Hall
Great Falls Electrics 60 61 .496 16 Dick Hurley / Herb Hester
Seattle Giants 60 72 .455 21.5 Frank Raymond
Vancouver Beavers 50 79 .388 30 Robert Brown
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ed Kippert Butte BA .358 Suds Sutherland Tacoma W 23
Roy Grover Butte Runs 119 Rudy Kallio Great Falls SO 190
Rod Murphy Vancouver Hits 182 Suds Sutherland Tacoma Pct .767; 23-7
Dave Hillyard Butte HR 17
Dave Hillyard Butte RBI 101


1917 Northwestern League - schedule
President: Bob Blewett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Great Falls Electrics 42 29 .592 - Herb Hester
Seattle Giants 46 34 .575 .5 Bill Leard / Rube Gardner
Tacoma Tigers 38 35 .521 5 Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 36 41 .468 9 Nick Williams
Butte Miners 31 38 .449 10 Joe McGinnity / Cliff McCarl
Vancouver Beavers 33 49 .402 14.5 Robert Brown

The season was shortened to July 15 with National Association approval, but the league did not disband.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Harry Harper Tacoma BA .382 Herman Pillette Tacoma W 13
Charles Jackson Spokane Runs 74 Jim Clark Great Falls W 13
Harry Harper Tacoma Hits 113 Harry Gardner Great Falls/Tacoma SO 108
Dave Hillyard Butte HR 12 Pat Eastley Seattle Pct .750; 9-3

Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]

Sources and Further Reading[edit]

  • The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second and Third Editions.
  • Brian A. Podoll: The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers 1859-1952,McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2003.
  • John T. Pregler: "The Evolution of the American League", Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Volume 51, Number 2 (Fall 2022), pp. 89-97.

Related Sites[edit]

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