Western International League

From BR Bullpen

There briefly was a Western International League in 1922 (after a couple years as the Pacific Coast International League and the Northwest International League). The league was re-established in 1937 with Vancouver as the sole holdover from the 1922 league. After shutting down for 3 years during World War II, the league was again rebuilt in 1946. The league had operated as a Class B from 1922 through 1951 and the National Association promoted it to Class A in 1952. Spokane, WA and Vancouver, BC were represented in all 15 years of the second incarnation (1937-1954). The league changed its name to the Northwest League in 1955. Long-standing members of the various Western International Leagues were Yakima, Vancouver, Tacoma and Spokane; all but Tacoma are still a presence in the Northwest League.

Cities Represented[edit]

1922[edit]

Teams and Statistics[edit]

1922[edit]

1922 Western International League - schedule
President: Louis H. Burnett / Deacon White

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Calgary Bronchos 24 16 .600 0 Bill Rodgers
Edmonton Eskimos 23 16 .590 .5 Gus Gleichman
Vancouver Beavers 22 23 .489 4.5 Robert Brown
Tacoma Tigers 16 30 .343 11 Tealey Raymond

Playoff: Calgary 4 games, Edmonton 1.
Playoff took place after the league disbanded June 18.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Adolph Schinkel Calgary BA .354 Al Miller Edmonton W 7
John Kerr Calgary Runs 43 Ira Colwell Calgary W 7
Adolph Schinkel Calgary Hits 58 Al Miller Edmonton SO 48
Bob Snyder Tacoma HR 6 Al Miller Edmonton Pct .778; 7-2

Cities Represented[edit]

1937-1954[edit]

Teams and Statistics[edit]

1937-1942[edit]

1937 Western International League - schedule
President: Roger Peck

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Hawks 79 58 .577 0 Bernie DeViveiros
Yakima Pippins 80 61 .567 1 Ray Jacobs
Vancouver Maple Leafs 74 60 .552 3.5 John Kerr
Tacoma Tigers 75 63 .543 4.5 Ed Taylor / Sloppy Thurston
Wenatchee Chiefs 66 72 .478 13.5 Glenn Wright
Lewiston Broncs 38 98 .279 40.5 Don Rader / Babe Tomlinson / Wes Schulmerich

Total Attendance: 500,000
Playoff: Tacoma 4 games, Wenatchee 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Wes Schulmerich Lewiston BA .367 Oscar Miller Yakima W 24
Henry Bonetti Wenatchee Runs 121 Oscar Miller Yakima SO 2.34
Harvey Storey Tacoma Runs 121 Hank Hulvey Tacoma ERA 2.33
Henry Bonetti Wenatchee Hits 206 Wes Schulmerich Lewiston RBI 117
Wes Schulmerich Lewiston HR 28


1938 Western International League - schedule
President: F.H. Knickerbocker

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Yakima Pippins 77 55 .583 0 Ray Jacobs
Bellingham Chinooks 68 65 .511 9.5 Ken Penner
Wenatchee Chiefs 66 67 .496 11.5 Glenn Wright
Vancouver Maple Leafs 65 68 .489 12.5 John Kerr
Spokane Hawks 62 72 .463 16 Bernie DeViveiros
Tacoma Tigers 62 73 .459 16.5 Hack Wilson / Hal Rhyne

Attendance: Spokane 200,000
Playoffs: Yakima 3 games, Wenatchee 1; Bellingham 3 games, Vancouver 1;
Finals: Bellingham 4 games, Yakima 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
David Goodman Tacoma BA .337 Bill Fleming Bellingham W 20
William Lyman Yakima Runs 97 Floyd Isekite Tacoma SO 2.48
David Goodman Tacoma Hits 173 Bill Fleming Bellingham ERA 1.79
Wayne McCue Wenatchee/Vancouver RBI 85 Jim Tyack Bellingham HR 15


1939 Western International League - schedule
President: F.H. Knickerbocker

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Wenatchee Chiefs 86 57 .601 0 Glenn Wright
Tacoma Tigers 78 63 .553 7 Hal Rhyne
Vancouver Capilanos 76 63 .547 8 John Kerr
Spokane Hawks 75 69 .521 11.5 Bernie DeViveiros
Yakima Pippins 72 73 .497 15 Ray Jacobs
Bellingham Chinooks 40 102 .282 45.5 Ken Penner

Attendance: Spokane 222,106
Playoffs: Tacoma 3 games, Spokane 1; Wenatchee 3 games, Vancouver 0;
Finals: Tacoma 4 games, Wenatchee 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Skelley Wenatchee BA .366 Hub Kittle Yakima W 20
Bill Skelley Wenatchee Runs 133 Floyd Isekite Tacoma SO 2.19
Bill Skelley Wenatchee Hits 208 Floyd Isekite Tacoma ERA 3.29
Loyd Christopher Wenatchee RBI 131 Ray Medeghini Tacoma ERA 3.29
Morrison Abbott Tacoma HR 37


1940 Western International League - schedule
President: Stanley A. Webster

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Indians 84 59 .587 0 Eddie Leishman
Yakima Pippins 79 67 .541 6.5 Goldie Holt
Vancouver Capilanos 72 71 .503 12 Jimmie Crandall
Tacoma Tigers 72 72 .500 12.5 Hal Rhyne / Bob Garretson
Salem Senators 69 77 .473 16.5 John Griffiths
Wenatchee Chiefs 59 89 .399 27.5 John Kerr / Frank Morehouse

Playoffs: Spokane 2 games, Vancouver 0; Tacoma 2 games, Yakima 1;
Finals: Tacoma 3 games, Spokane 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Smead Jolley Spokane BA .373 George Windsor Spokane W 20
Ralph Samhammer Vancouver Runs 151 Bernard Brewer Salem W 20
Smead Jolley Spokane Hits 224 Floyd Isekite Tacoma SO 225
Smead Jolley Spokane RBI 181 Hub Kittle Yakima ERA 2.95
Tom Lloyd Vancouver HR 28


1941 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Indians 89 44 .603 0 Ray Jacobs
Vancouver Capilanos 73 64 .533 18 Don Osborn
Yakima Pippins 70 64 .522 19.5 Goldie Holt
Salem Senators 63 69 .477 25.5 John Griffiths
Tacoma Tigers 58 76 .433 31.5 Pip Koehler
Wenatchee Chiefs 51 87 .370 40.5 Ted Mayer

Playoffs: All-Stars 4 games, Spokane 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Smead Jolley Spokane/Vancouver BA .345 Robert Kinnaman Spokane W 22
Pete Hughes Spokane Runs 139 Charles Eisenmann Yakima SO 204
Levi McCormack Spokane Hits 191 Don Osborn Vancouver ERA 2.74
Smead Jolley Spokane/Vancouver RBI 128 Pete Hughes Spokane BB 156
Pete Hughes Spokane HR 34


1942 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Capilanos 82 56 .594 0 Don Osborn
Tacoma Tigers 77 64 .546 6.5 Pip Koehler
Salem Senators 60 74 .448 20 Charles Petersenn
Spokane Indians 58 83 .411 25.5 Ray Jacobs

Playoffs: None

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Richards Salem BA .351 Don Osborn Vancouver W 22
Art Lilly Tacoma Runs 100 Chet Johnson Tacoma SO 177
Clarence Maddern Vancouver Hits 178 Don Osborn Vancouver ERA 1.63
Vic Buccola Spokane RBI 97 Murray Abbott Vancouver HR 17


  • The league was inactive in 1943, 1944 and 1945 due to WW II.

1946-1951[edit]

1946 Western International League
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Wenatchee Chiefs 89 54 .622 0 Buddy Ryan
Salem Senators 79 63 .556 9.5 Leo Edwards
Bremerton Bluejackets 73 63 .537 12.5 Sam Gibson
Tacoma Tigers 76 67 .531 13 Luther Harvel
Yakima Stars 71 69 .507 16.5 Spencer Harris
Vancouver Capilanos 65 71 .478 20.5 Syl Johnson / Eddie Carnett
Spokane Indians 54 78 .409 29.5 Mel Cole / Ben Geraghty
Victoria Athletics 49 91 .350 38.5 Laurel Harney

Attendance: Salem, 103,000; Wenatchee, 94,471; Total 780,443.
Playoff: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Glenn Stetter Wenatchee BA .366 Clarence Federmeyer Bremerton W 21
William Barisoff Bremerton Runs 133 Robert Jansen Victoria SO 296
Bill Garbe Yakima Hits 191 Carl Gunnarson Salem ERA 3.31
William Barisoff Bremerton RBI 155 Dick Adams Wenatchee RBI 155
William Barisoff Bremerton HR 40


1947 Western International League
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Vancouver Capilanos 86 66 .566 0 119,303 Bill Brenner
Spokane Indians 87 67 .565 0 287,185 Ben Geraghty
Bremerton Bluejackets 86 68 .558 1 86,522 Alan Strange
Salem Senators 80 68 .541 4 98,247 Jack Wilson
Victoria Athletics 80 72 .526 6 129,862 Ted Norbert
Tacoma Tigers 72 81 .471 14.5 113,783 Luther Harvel
Wenatchee Chiefs 59 92 .391 26.5 72,487 Buddy Ryan
Yakima Stars 59 95 .383 28 86,004 Harlond Clift

Playoff: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Earl Kuper Tacoma BA .389 James Hedgecock Vancouver W 21
Art Lilly Yakima Runs 141 Bob Costello Spokane W 21
Leon Mohr Vancouver Hits 216 Bill Woop Victoria SO 252
Jack Harshman Victoria RBI 142 Joe Sullivan Bremerton ERA 2.68
Jack Harshman Victoria HR 36


1948 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Spokane Indians 102 64 .614 0 216,074 Buddy Ryan / Dolph Camilli
Bremerton Bluejackets 95 62 .605 2.5 75,195 Alan Strange
Victoria Athletics 93 68 .578 6.5 143,081 Ted Norbert
Tacoma Tigers 84 73 .535 13.5 96,200 Jim Brillheart / Earl Kuper
Vancouver Capilanos 67 80 .456 25.5 116,722 Bill Brenner
Salem Senators 73 88 .453 26.5 77,659 Jack Wilson
Wenatchee Chiefs 69 91 .431 30 81,880 Chuck Cronin
Yakima Packers 52 109 .323 47.5 73,600 Vernon Johnson / Hub Kittle

Playoff: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Archie Wilson Victoria BA .369 Joe Blankenship Victoria W 25
Archie Wilson Victoria Runs 137 Lloyd Hittle Bremerton SO 201
Archie Wilson Victoria Hits 244 Lloyd Hittle Bremerton ERA 2.29
Archie Wilson Victoria RBI 132 Archie Wilson Victoria TB 408
Bill Wilson Wenatchee HR 33


1949 Western International League
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Yakima Bears 99 51 .660 0 133,917 Joe Orengo
Vancouver Capilanos 91 57 .615 7 137,611 Bill Brenner
Spokane Indians 78 71 .523 20.5 186,648 Jim Brillheart
Wenatchee Chiefs 77 73 .513 22 68,668 Charles Petersen
Victoria Athletics 68 84 .447 32 114,544 Ted Norbert / Earl Bolyard
Salem Senators 64 87 .424 35.5 67,495 Bill Beard
Tacoma Tigers 63 88 .417 36.5 49,673 Bob Johnson
Bremerton Bluejackets 60 89 .403 38.5 35,440 Alan Strange

Playoffs: Yakima 3 games, Spokane 1; Vancouver 3 games, Wenatchee 1;
Finals: Vancouver 3 games, Yakima 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Clint Cameron Wenatchee BA .380 John Marshall Bremerton W 22
James Warner Wenatchee Runs 152 Robert Snyder Vancouver W 22
James Robinson Vancouver Hits 221 James Propst Victoria SO 192
Larry Barton Spokane RBI 132 Dewey Soriano Yakima ERA 2.30
James Warner Wenatchee HR 43


1950 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Yakima Bears 92 58 .613 0 117,790 Joe Orengo
Tacoma Tigers 90 58 .608 1 85,777 Jim Brillheart
Tri-City Braves # 83 66 .557 8.5 91,797 Charles Petersen
Wenatchee Chiefs 80 70 .533 12 105,501 Tommy Thompson
Victoria Athletics 66 84 .440 26 110,317 Marty Krug
Vancouver Capilanos 64 82 .438 26 97,276 Bill Brenner
Spokane Indians 63 85 .426 28 116,503 Alan Strange
Salem Senators 57 92 .383 34.5 56,935 Ad Liska

# Represented Kennewick, Richland and Pasco Washington.
No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Glenn Stetter Tacoma/Spokane BA .369 Robert Kerrigan Tacoma W 26
James Warner Tri-City Runs 143 Lloyd Dickey Yakima SO 224
Richard Greco Tacoma Hits 203 Thomas Kipp Tacoma ERA 2.76
Richard Greco Tacoma RBI 154 Richard Greco Tacoma HR 36


1951 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Spokane Indians 93 49 .655 0 145,739 Alan Strange
Vancouver Capilanos 94 51 .648 .5 164,026 Bill Schuster
Salem Senators 74 68 .521 19 109,976 Hugh Luby
Wenatchee Chiefs 68 75 .476 25.5 64,482 Tommy Thompson
Yakima Bears 63 80 .441 30.5 60,018 Bill Brenner
Tacoma Tigers 63 82 .434 31.5 42,463 Jim Brillheart
Victoria Athletics 62 83 .428 32.5 69,850 Dick Barrett / Bobby Sturgeon
Tri-City Braves # 58 87 .400 36.5 64,599 Charles Petersen

# Represented Kennewick, Richland and Pasco Washington.
No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Ritchey Vancouver BA .346 Robert Snyder Vancouver W 27
Edward Murphy Spokane Runs 124 Tom Breisinger Wenatchee SO 210
Edo Vanni Spokane Hits 195 Sol DeGeorge Salem ERA 2.57
James Wert Spokane RBI 122 Wilbert Hafey Wenatchee HR 24

1952-1954 A[edit]

1952 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Victoria Tyees 94 55 .631 0 105,948 Cecil Garriott
Spokane Indians 91 64 .587 6 104,500 Don Osborn
Vancouver Capilanos 72 69 .511 18 119,533 Bill Schuster / Edo Vanni
Salem Senators 74 78 .487 21.5 83,047 Hugh Luby
Yakima Bears 73 79 .480 22.5 64,044 Dario Lodigiani
Lewiston Broncs 71 82 .464 25 62,366 Bill Brenner
Tri-City Braves # 67 79 .459 25.5 54,022 Charlie Gassaway
Wenatchee Chiefs 58 94 .382 37.5 52,660 Dick Adams

# Represented Kennewick, Richland and Pasco Washington.
No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Walt Pocekay Wenatchee BA .352 Ben Lorino Victoria W 24
Milt Smith Lewiston Runs 126 Jay Heard Victoria SO 216
Walt Pocekay Wenatchee Hits 203 Cal McIrvin Victoria ERA 2.28
Granville Gladstone Victoria RBI 126 Cecil Garriott Victoria HR 17


1953 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Brown

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Lewiston Broncs 78 55 .586 0 81,914 Bill Brenner
Salem Senators 79 58 .577 1 81,305 Hugh Luby
Edmonton Eskimos 79 61 .564 2.5 92,758 Bobby Sturgeon
Vancouver Capilanos 77 64 .546 5 75,877 Harvey Storey
Spokane Indians 75 67 .528 7.5 80,873 Don Osborn
Yakima Bears 70 74 .486 13.5 59,100 Dario Lodigiani / Walt Novick
Calgary Stampeders 59 75 .440 19.5 40,106 Gene Lillard
Tri-City Braves # 59 77 .434 20.5 70,638 Edo Vanni
Wenatchee Chiefs 59 80 .424 22 64,036 Myron McCormick
Victoria Tyees 57 81 .413 23.5 55,352 Cecil Garriott

# Represented Kennewick, Richland and Pasco Washington.
Playoff: Spokane 4 games, Salem 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Warren Tri-City BA .354 John Conant Edmonton W 24
Charlie Mead Calgary Runs 124 John Maryhall Lewiston SO 165
Leonard Noren Yakima Hits 187 Pete Hernandez Vancouver ERA 3.06
Charlie Mead Calgary RBI 116 Charlie Mead Calgary HR 31


1954 Western International League - schedule
President: Robert Abel

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Vancouver Capilanos 74 49 .602 0 55,217 Bill Brenner
Yakima Bears 80 57 .584 1 66,571 Lou Stringer
Lewiston Broncs 77 61 .558 4.5 74,258 Larry Barton
Salem Senators 71 66 .518 10 48,438 Harvey Storey / Hugh Luby
Edmonton Eskimos 62 63 .496 13 67,746 Bobby Sturgeon
Tri-City Braves # 56 81 .409 25 57,625 Edo Vanni
Wenatchee Chiefs 54 80 .403 25.5 49,615 George Kelly
Spokane Indians ## 30 24 .556 NA 17,940 Don Osborn
Victoria Tyees ### 43 57 .430 NA 28,561 Don Pries
Calgary Stampeders ## 19 28 .404 NA 9,745 Gene Lillard

# Represented Kennewick, Richland and Pasco Washington.
##Spokane and Calgary disbanded June 21.
###Victoria disbanded August 2. The league named a special team to play the
clubs next scheduled to play Victoria. These games counted in the standings.
The special team went 1 and 8.
Playoff: Vancouver 4 games, Lewiston 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Marvin Williams Vancouver BA .360 Bill Brenner Vancouver W 21
Al Heist Lewiston Runs 136 Jonathan Briggs Salem SO 233
Byron Charlton Vancouver Hits 183 Jonathan Briggs Salem ERA 2.50
Bob Wellman Vancouver RBI 108 Bob Wellman Vancouver HR 21
Don Hunter Calgary/Lewiston HR 21

League Champions (1937-1954)[edit]

Source[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.

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