Western League

History

The Western League has been used many times in the history of baseball. The first such league was formed in 1885 as one of the first minor leagues - teams were based originally in Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Omaha and Toledo. Cleveland and Toledo didn't complete the season (no team played more than 35 games), but the league achieved history in beginning the career of Hall of Famer Sam Thompson and featuring two black players, Fleet Walker and Bud Fowler.

In 1886 founder Ted Sullivan gave up hopes of continuing the prior year's circuit; instead he revived the Northwestern League with teams in Denver, St. Joseph, Leadville, Topeka, Leavenworth and Lincoln playing an 80-game schedule. That league died off early in 1888 but not before Kid Nichols and Jake Beckley made appearances.

In 1892 another Western League formed, but lasted only till July 11. Once again, future big-league cities like Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee and Kansas City had entries.

Ban Johnson

1894 saw yet another revival - the best ever. Ban Johnson formed the league into one of the strongest minor-league circuits. In 1900 the league changed its name to the American League and a year later became a major league, achieving parity with the National League within a few seasons. Minor league legend Perry Werden had some of his best years in the Western League of the 1894-1899 era.

From 1900 to 1937 the Western League had its longest-living entry, with teams again stationed in the midwest in places like Sioux City, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids; Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha also had runs in the circuit. A couple of teams survived to join the Three-I League after economic woes ruined the class A league in 1937.

In 1939, the Nebraska State League changed its name to the now available Western moniker as the 6th Western League. A class D league, it was one of the weakest Westerns ever and only lasted 3 years, ending when World War II began, as was the case with many low-level minor leagues.

In 1947, with the explosion of the minors after the war, a new Western League was formed (for the third time, a Johnson played a key role in the league - this time Edwin C., a Colorado senator). The league again received a class A designation and saw lots of future big-leaguers pass through before it again collapsed in 1958 as the 1950s saw the death of many minor leagues. The most memorable season in this span was Dick Stuart's 66 homers in 1956 for Lincoln. When the league died, 4 of the 8 clubs joined the Three-I League and one joined the Texas League. The 1947-1958 league had a more westernly feel, with teams once again in Denver, but also in Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Albuquerque. Des Moines, IA was represented in every year of both major runs of the Western League (1900-1937) & (1947-1958).

In 1995, the Western League was re-established in the US as an independent league and lasted longer than many other independents. The league kept moving west, with entries in Washington, California and Oregon. This incarnation of the Western League was usually referred to as the Western Baseball League. It ceased operations in 2002.

The Western League is also one of two minor leagues in Japan.

Cities Represented 1885-1888

Teams and Statistics 1885-1888

1885 Western League
League President: Ted Sullivan

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Indianapolis Hoosiers %	27	4	.871	-	Bill Watkins
Milwaukee Milwaukees	22	13	.629	7	Tom Loftus
Kansas City	17	13	.567	9-	Ted Sullivan
Omaha / Keokuk #	7	27	.206	21-	George Hay / Bill Harrington
Cleveland Forest Citys $	13	16	.448	NA	Thomas Lawrence /Joe Battin / Doc Kennedy
Toledo Avengers @	8	21	.276	NA	Dan O'Leary

$ Cleveland disbanded June 6
# Omaha (4-22) was replaced by a team from Keokuk June 6
@ Toledo disbanded June 7
% Indianapolis disbanded June 15, selling its players to Detroit of the National League, causing the league to disband the same day.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Darby O'Brien	Kansas City	BA	.362		Lady Baldwin	Milwaukee	W	11
Emmett Seery	Kansas City	Runs	43		Larry McKeon	Indianapolis	W	11
Darby O'Brien	Kansas City	Hits	51		Len Stockwell	Milwaukee	SO	104
Jim Keenan	Indianapolis	HR	3		Cyclone Miller	Indianapolis	PCT	1.000 6-0

1886 Western League - schedule
League Presidents: Edward Murphy / William M. McClintock

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Denver Mountain Lions	54	26	.675	-	W. Welday Wallace
St. Joseph Reds	50	30	.625	4	Nin Alexander
Leadville Blues	39	41	.488	15	D. W. Morgan
Topeka Capitals	35	45	.438	19	W. J. Sheard / Henry Strong / Hiram Dillon / W. Welday Wallace / John Fogarty
Leavenworth Soldiers	31	49	.388	23	Michael Hurley /Charlie Hall
Lincoln Tree Planters	31	49	.388	23	Harry Durfee /? Partington

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Darby O'Brien	Denver	BA	.352
Jake Beckley	Leavenworth	Hits	113
Charlie Hall	Leavenworth	Runs	96
Perry Werden	Lincoln	HR	11

1887 Western League - schedule
League President: J. H. Threw

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Topeka Golden Giants	90	25	.783	-	Walt Goldsby
Lincoln Tree Planters	71	36	.664	15	Dave Rowe
Kansas City Cowboys	58	54	.518	30-	Joe Ellick(5/18) Bradley Patterson
Denver Mountaineers	55	55	.500	32-	Robert McClintock
Omaha Omahogs	41	66	.383	45	Frank Bandle(5/20) J. J. Philbin
Hastings	36	65	.356	47	Fred Corey(5/12) Ulysses Rohrer(6/22) Ed Hengel(7/2) Fergy Malone / Charlie Reynolds??
Leavenworth Soldiers #	27	27	.500	NA	John Brandon
Emporia ###	6	12	.333	NA	Benjamin F. Sullivan
St. Joseph Reds #	21	48	.304	NA	Nin Alexander
Wichita Braves ##	7	24	.226	NA	George Mold / John Griffin co-managers

# Leavenworth disbanded July 8th and St. Joseph disbanded on July 28.
## Wichita disbanded on September 5.
### Emporia disbanded on September 9.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jimmy Macullar	Topeka	BA	.464		Tom Sullivan	Topeka	W	36
Ecky Stearns	Topeka	Runs	189		Park Swartzel	Lincoln/Leavenworth	SO	205
Ecky Stearns	Topeka	Hits	265		John McCarty	Emporia/Kansas City	ERA	2.51
Bug Holliday	Topeka	HR	16		Bill Hart	Lincoln	PCT	.824 28-6
Jake Beckley	Leavenworth/Lincoln	HR	16

1888 Western League - schedule
League President:William Bryan

Teams	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Denver Mountaineers	18	6	.750	-	William McClintock
Leavenworth Soldiers	7	7	.500	6	L. M. Cretors
Hutchison	9	10	.474	6-	William Bryan / Ed Dugan
Newton #	3	5	.375	NA	Dick Juvenal
Lincoln Tree Planters #	2	11	.154	NA	James Keith

# Lincoln disbanded June 6 and Newton entered June 11
The league disbanded June 23

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Thomas McAndrews	Denver	BA	.371		William Avery	Denver	W	9
Charles Faatz	Hutchinson	Runs	33		William Avery	Denver	PCT	1.000 9-0
Charles Faatz	Hutchinson	Hits	35

The Western League would not play again until 1892

Cities Represented 1892

Columbus, OH: Columbus Reds
Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Cowboys
Omaha, NE: Omaha Omahogs
Toledo, OH: Toledo Black Pirates
Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis (MN) Minnies
Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Hoosiers
Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Brewers
St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Saints
Fort Wayne, IN: Fort Wayne

Teams and Statistics 1892

1892 Western League - schedule
League President: James A. Williams

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Columbus Reds @	46	20	.697	-	Gus Schmelz
Kansas City Cowboys	33	33	.500	13	Jim Manning
Toledo Black Pirates	25	24	.510	11-	Ed MacGregor
Omaha Omahogs	31	31	.500	13	? Stout / Dave Rowe
Minneapolis Minnies @	22	24	.478	14	Charlie Morton
Indianapolis Hoosiers	15	39	.278	25	Bill Harrington / Bill Sharsig
Milwaukee Brewers $	32	21	.604	NA	Charlie Cushman
St. Paul Saints / Fort Wayne #	20	31	.392	NA	Arthur Thompson / Billy Alvord

# St. Paul transferred to Ft. Wayne May 25
$ Ft. Wayne and Milwaukee disbanded July 7
@ Columbus and Minneapolis disbanded July 15
The league disbanded July 17
First season 4/16-6/30; second 7/2-7/7; exhibitions 7/8-7/10; new season 7/11-7/17

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Charlie Newman	Indianapolis	BA	.347		Ben Stephens	Columbus	W	18
Jim Manning	Kansas City	Runs	76		Jim Hughey	Kansas City	SO	111
Jim Manning	Kansas City	Hits	83		Fritz Clausen	Columbus	PCT	.773 17-5
Ed Breckinridge	Columbus	HR	18
Piggy Ward	Milwaukee	SB	39

1894 Western League - schedule
League President: Ban Johnson 1894-1899

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Sioux City Cornhuskers	74	51	.592	-	Bill Watkins
Toledo White Stockings	67	55	.549	5.5	Denny Long
Kansas City Blues	68	58	.535	6.5	Jim Manning
Minneapolis Millers	63	62	.504	10	John Barnes
Grand Rapids Rippers	62	64	.492	12.5	Rasty Wright
Indianapolis Hoosiers	60	64	.484	13.5	Bill Sharsig
Detroit Creams	56	69	.448	18	Bob Glenalvin
Milwaukee Brewers	50	74	.403	24.5	Charlie Cushman

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hunkey Hines	Minneapolis	BA	.427		Pete Daniels	Kansas City	W	36
Rasty Wright	Grand Rapids	Runs	217		Frank Foreman	Toledo	SO	190
Hunkey Hines	Minneapolis	Hits	250		Pete Daniels	Kansas City	PCT	.735 36-13
Perry Werden	Minneapolis	HR	43
George Hogreiver	Sioux City	SB	93

1895 Western League - schedule
League President: Ban Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Indianapolis Hoosiers	78	43	.645	-	Bill Watkins
St. Paul Apostles	74	50	.597	5.5	Charlie Comiskey
Kansas City Blues	73	52	.584	7	Jim Manning
Minneapolis Millers	64	59	.520	15	John Barnes (minors01) / Ed Murphy
Detroit Tigers	59	66	.472	21	Con Strothers / George Vanderbeck
Milwaukee Brewers	57	67	.460	22.5	Larry Twitchell
Toledo Swamp Angels/Terre Haute Hottentots #	52	72	.419	27.5	Denny Long / W. Schneider
Grand Rapids Gold Bugs	38	86	.306	41.5	George Ellis

# Toledo (23-28) transferred to Toledo June 30.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Perry Werden	Minneapolis	BA	.428		Chauncey Fisher	Indianapolis	W	36
Dan Lally	Minneapolis	Runs	205		Tony Mullane	St. Paul	ERA	2.30
Perry Werden	Minneapolis	Hits	241		Chauncey Fisher	Indianapolis	PCT	.818 36-8
Bill George	Grand Rapids/St. Paul	Hits	241
Perry Werden	Minneapolis	HR	45
Marty Hogan	Indianapolis	SB	73

1896 Western League - schedule
League President: Ban Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Minneapolis Millers	89	47	.654	-	Walt Wilmot
Indianapolis Indians	78	54	.591	9	Bill Watkins
Detroit Tigers	80	58	.580	10	George Stallings
St. Paul Apostles/St. Paul Saints	73	63	.537	16	Jack Glasscock / Charles Comiskey
Kansas City Blues	69	66	.511	19.5	Jim Manning
Milwaukee Brewers	62	78	.443	29	Larry Twitchell / Bob Glenalvin
Columbus Buckeyes	52	88	.371	39	W. Schneider / Tom Loftus
Grand Rapids Gold Bugs	45	94	.324	45.5	George Ellis / John Carney

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jack Glasscock	St. Paul	BA	.431		Bill Hutchison	Minneapolis	W	38
Jack Glasscock	St. Paul	Runs	172		Roger Denzer	St. Paul	SO	200
Jack Glasscock	St. Paul	Hits	263		Bill Dammann	Indianapolis	ERA	2.25
Perry Werden	Minneapolis	HR	18		Bill Hutchison	Minneapolis	PCT	.731 38-14
William Schriver	Minneapolis	HR	18

1897 Western League - schedule
League President: Ban Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Indianapolis Indians	98	37	.726	-	140,000	Bill Watkins
Columbus Senators	89	47	.654	9.5	110,000	Tom Loftus / George Tebeau
St. Paul Saints	86	51	.628	13	120,000	Charles Comiskey
Milwaukee Brewers	85	51	.625	13	160,000	Connie Mack
Detroit Tigers	70	66	.515	28.5	110,000	Bob Allen / Frank Graves
Minneapolis Millers	43	95	.312	56.5	90,000	Walt Wilmot / Doggie Miller
Kansas City Blues	40	99	.288	60	100,000	John Carney replaced by Jim Manning on July 7.
Grand Rapids Gold Bugs	34	100	.254	63.5	75,000	Bob Glenalvin / Art Twineham

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Algie McBride	St. Paul	BA	.387		Frank Foreman	Indianapolis	W	30
Algie McBride	St. Paul	Runs	166		Tom Thomas	Detroit	SO	147
Bill George	St. Paul	Hits	207		Jot Goar	Indianapolis	ERA	1.30
Bill Gray	Indianapolis	HR	19		Frank Foreman	Indianapolis	PCT	.769 30-9

1898 Western League - schedule
League President: Ban Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Kansas City Blues	85	51	.633	-	180,000	Jim Manning
Indianapolis Hoosiers	84	50	.627	1.5	120,000	Bill Watkins / Bob Allen
Milwaukee Brewers	82	57	.590	6	160,000	Connie Mack
St. Paul Apostles/St. Paul Saints	81	58	.583	7	90,000	Charles Comiskey
Columbus Senators	73	60	.549	12	60,000	Tom Loftus / George Tebeau
Detroit Tigers	50	87	.365	37	85,000	Graves / Beard / Mullane / Stallings
Minneapolis Millers	48	92	.343	40.5	40,000	Gus Schmelz / Charlie Reilly/ Walt Wilmot
Omaha/St. Joseph #	42	93	.311	44	50,000	Pa Rourke / Tommy Tucker / Chauncey Fisher

# Omaha (22-39) transferred to St. Joseph after July 7.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jimmy Slagle	Kansas City	BA	.378		Roger Denzer	St. Paul	W	33
Jimmy Slagle	Kansas City	Runs	137		Roger Denzer	St. Paul	SO	152
Jimmy Slagle	Kansas City	Hits	206		Bill Phillips	Indianapolis	PCT	.784 29-8
Frank Shugart	St. Paul	HR	12
Count Campau	Minneapolis/St. Paul/Kansas City	SB	60

1899 Western League - schedule
League President: Ban Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Indianapolis Hoosiers	75	47	.615	-	Bob Allen
Minneapolis Millers	76	50	.613	1	Walt Wilmot
Detroit Tigers	64	60	.516	12	George Stallings
Columbus# / Grand Rapids	63	62	.504	13.5	Tom Loftus / George Tebeau
St. Paul Saints	57	69	.452	20	Charles Comiskey
Milwaukee Brewers	55	68	.447	20.5	Connie Mack
Kansas City Blues	53	70	.431	22.5	Jim Manning
Buffalo Bisons	53	70	.431	22.5	Nash / Franklin / Shannon

# Columbus (36-35) exchanged franchises with Grand Rapids of the Inter-State League July 17; first game July 18

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Sam Dungan	Detroit	BA	.347		Rube Waddell	Columbus/ Grand Rapids	W	26
Lefty Davis	Minneapolis	Runs	126		Jack Cronin	Detroit	W	26
Lefty Davis	Minneapolis	Hits	176		Rube Waddell	Columbus/Grand Rapids	SO	200
Bob Stafford	Milwaukee	HR	8		Jock Menefee	Minneapolis	PCT	.781 25-7

1900-1937

Presidents

Thomas J. Hickey 1900-1901

Michael H. Sexton 1902-1904

Norris O'Neill 1905-1916

F.C. Zehrung 1917

Emerson W. Dickerson 1917-1918

Albert R. Tearney 1919-1925

Dale D. Gear 1926-1935

Dr. A.J. McLaughlin 1936-1937

• Amarillo, TX: Amarillo Texans 1927-1928
• Bartlesville, OK: Bartlesville Bronchos 1933
• Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids Raiders 1934-1937, moved to Three-I League 1938-1942
• Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado Springs Millionaires 1901-1905; Colorado Springs Millionaires 1916
• Council Bluffs, IA: Council Bluffs Rails 1935
• Davenport, IA: Davenport Blue Sox 1934-1937, moved from Mississippi Valley League 1929-1933
• Denver, CO: Denver Bears 1900; Denver Grizzlies 1901-1912; Denver Bears 1913-1917; Denver Bears 1922-1932
• Des Moines, IA: Des Moines Hawkeyes 1900; Des Moines Millers 1901; Des Moines Midgets 1902; Des Moines Undertakers 1903; Des Moines Prohibitionists 1904; Des Moines Underwriters 1905; Des Moines Champions 1906; Des Moines Champs 1907; Des Moines Boosters 1908-1924; Des Moines Demons 1925-1937
• Hutchinson, KS: Hutchinson Wheatshockers 1917-1918; Hutchinson Salt Packers 1918 (In 1918 Hutchinson moved to Oklahoma City on June 2, while Topeka moved to Hutchinson on same day); Hutchinson Wheatshockers 1933
• Joplin, MO: Joplin Miners 1917-1921; Joplin Miners 1933
• Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Blues 1901; Kansas City Cowboys 1902-1903
• Keokuk, IA: Keokuk Indians 1935
• Lincoln, NE: Lincoln Ducklings 1906; Lincoln Treeplanters 1907; Lincoln Greenbackers 1908-1909; Lincoln Railsplitters 1910-1912; Lincoln Greenbackers 1913; Lincoln Tigers 1914-1916; Lincoln Links 1917; Lincoln Links 1924-1927, moved from Nebraska State League 1922-1923
• Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Creams 1902-1903
• Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Millers 1901
• Muskogee, OK: Muskogee Oilers 1933
• Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma City Indians 1918-1932, moved to Texas League 1933-1957
• Omaha, NE: Omaha Omahogs 1900-1901; Omaha Indians 1902-1903; Omaha Rangers 1904; Omaha Rourkes 1905-1920; Omaha Buffaloes 1921-1927; Omaha Crickets 1928-1929; Omaha Packers 1930-1935; Omaha Robin Hoods 1936
• Peoria, IL: Peoria Distillers 1902-1903
• Pueblo, CO: Pueblo Indians 1900; Pueblo Indians 1905-1909; Pueblo Indians 1911; Pueblo Steelworkers 1928-1929; Pueblo Braves 1930-1932
• Rock Island, IL: Rock Island Islanders 1934-1935; Rock Island Rocks 1936; Rock Island Islanders 1937
• St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Saints 1901
• St. Joseph, MO: St. Joseph Saints 1900-1905; St. Joseph Drummers 1910-1917; St. Jospeh Drummers 1917; St. Joseph Saints 1918-1926; St. Joseph Saints 1930-1935
• Sioux City, IA: Sioux City Cornhuskers 1900; Sioux City Soos 1904; Sioux City Packers 1905-1907; Sioux City Soos 1908-1909; Sioux City Packers 1910-1913; Sioux City Indians 1914-1917; Sioux City Indians 1918-1919; Sioux City Packers 1920-1923; Sioux City Cowboys 1934-1937, moved to Nebraska State League 1938
• Springfield, MO: Springfield Cardinals 1933
• Topeka, KS: Topeka Jayhawks 1909-1910; Topeka Kaws 1911; Topeka Jayhawks 1912-1915; Topeka Savages 1916; Topeka Kaw-nees 1918; Topeka Jayhawks 1929; Topeka Senators 1930-1931; Topeka Senators 1933-1934
• Tulsa, OK: Tulsa Oilers 1919-1929; Tulsa Oilers 1932, moved to Texas League 1933-1965
• Waterloo, IA: Waterloo Hawks 1936; Waterloo Reds 1937
• Wichita, KS: Wichita Jobbers 1909-1911; Wichita Witches 1912-1917; Wichita Jobbers 1918-1920; Wichita Witches 1921-1922; Wichita Izzies 1923-1926; Wichita Larks 1927-1928; Wichita Aviators 1929-1932; Wichita Oilers 1933

1900 Western League - schedule
League President: Thomas Hickey

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Denver Grizzlies	61	44	.581	-	George Tebeau
Des Moines Hawkeyes	59	45	.567	1.5	Belden Hill
Sioux City Cornhuskers	49	48	.505	8	A.B. Deal / Hi Ebright / Jack Glasscock
Omaha Omahogs	51	53	.490	9.5	Pa Rourke
St. Joseph Saints	51	58	.468	12	Byron McKibben
Pueblo Indians	41	64	.390	20.5	Billy Hulen

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hunkey Hines	Omaha/Des Moines	BA	.337		Harry Maupin	St. Joseph	W	23
Sammy Strang	St. Joseph	Runs	103		Elwood Eyler	Denver	W	23
Joe Schrall	St. Joseph	Hits	149		Tom Hughes	Omaha	SO	219
Tom Parrott	Denver/Pueblo	HR
Sammy Strang	St. Joseph	SB	52

1901 Western League - schedule
League President: Thomas Hickey

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Kansas City Blues	79	44	.642	-	George Tebeau
St. Paul Saints	69	54	.561	10	Jimmy Ryan
St. Joseph Saints	69	58	.543	12	Byron McKibben
Denver Grizzlies	60	59	.504	17	Farmer Weaver / Tom Brown / Bill Everitt
Omaha Omahogs	61	62	.496	18	Pa Rourke
Minneapolis Millers	56	62	.475	20.5	Jack Glasscock / John Beall
Des Moines Hawkeyes	48	75	.390	31	Mike Kelley
Colorado Springs Millionaires	45	73	.381	31.5	Billy Hulen

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Frank Hemphill	Colorado Springs	BA	.332		Harry Maupin	St. Joseph	W	31
Bill Hartmann	Kansas City	Runs	101		Fred Glade	Des Moines	SO	196
Dusty Miller	Kansas City	Hits	153		Bob Ewing	Kansas City	PCT	.808 21-5
Dave Brain	St. Paul	HR	13

1902 Western League - schedule
League President: Michael Sexton

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Kansas City Blue Stockings	82	54	.603	-	Kid Nichols
Omaha Indians	84	56	.600	0	Pa Rourke
Milwaukee Creams	80	54	.597	1	Hugh Duffy
Denver Grizzlies	81	57	.587	2	Parke Wilson
St. Joseph Saints	71	68	.511	12.5	Byron McKibben
Colorado Springs Millionaires	63	75	.465	20	Bill Everitt
Des Moines Midgets	54	83	.394	28.5	Joe Quinn
Peoria Distillers	35	103	.254	48	Bill Hart

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Emil Frisk	Denver	BA	.373		Kid Nichols	Kansas City	W	27
Jack O'Brien	Milwaukee	Runs	125		Jake Weimer	Kansas City	SO	209
George Stone	Peoria / Omaha	Hits	198		Kid Nichols	Kansas City	PCT	.794 27-7
Emil Frisk	Denver	HR	14

1903 Western League - schedule
League President: Michael Sexton

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Milwaukee Creams	83	43	.659	-	Hugh Duffy
Colorado Springs Millionaires	76	52	.594	8	Bill Everitt
Kansas City Blue Stockings	65	61	.516	18	Kid Nichols
St. Joseph Saints	62	59	.512	20.5	George Rohe
Denver Grizzlies	61	70	.466	24.5	Elwood Eyler
Peoria Distillers	57	69	.452	26	Bill Wilson
Des Moines Undertakers	55	76	.420	30.5	Joe Quinn
Omaha Indians	49	78	.386	34.5	Pa Rourke

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bunk Congalton	Colorado Springs	BA	.363		Ed Kenna	Milwaukee	W	28
Bunk Congalton	Colorado Springs	Hits	184		Harvey Cushman	Des Moines	SO	195
Tom O'Neill	Milwaukee	Runs	107		Ed Kenna	Milwaukee	PCT	.757 28-9
Tom Fleming	Colorado Springs	Runs	107
Mike Jacobs	Kansas City	HR	8

1904 Western League - schedule
League President: Michael Sexton

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Omaha Rangers	90	60	.600	-	Pa Rourke
Denver Grizzlies	87	61	.588	2	Bill Hallman
Colorado Springs Millionaires	85	58	.594	3.5	Jimmy Ryan
Des Moines Prohibitionists	79	69	.534	10	Bill Hoffer / Joe Quinn
St. Joseph Saints	53	93	.363	35	Joseph Chamberlain
Sioux City Indians	45	98	.315	41.5	Jay Andrews / Jay Parker / Tom Fleming

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bunk Congalton	Colorado Springs	BA	.327		Buster Brown	Omaha	W	27
Del Howard	Omaha	Hits	184		Jack Pfiester	Omaha	SO	178
Rabbit Nill	Colorado Springs	Runs	117		Buster Brown	Omaha	PCT	.643 27-15
Del Howard	Omaha	HR	9

1905 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill 1905-1916

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Underwriters	95	64	.638	-	Herman Long
Denver Grizzlies	92	58	.613	3.5	Tuffy Fisk
Omaha Rourkes	87	62	.584	8	Pa Rourke
Sioux City Soos	80	68	.541	14.5	John Carney
Colorado Springs / Pueblo #	52	92	.361	40.5	McKean / Tanner /Schriver
St. Joseph Saints	37	109	.253	56.5	Douglass / Dexter / Gibson / Zinram / Ducky Holmes

# Colorado Springs (22-48) moved to Pueblo July 15

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Claude Rossman	Des Moines	BA	.357		Lefty Leifield	Des Moines	W	26
Claude Rossman	Des Moines	Hits	229		Lefty Leifield	Des Moines	PCT	.743 26-9
George Hogreiver	Des Moines	Runs	122		Ralph Cadwallader	Sioux City	CG	37
Bill Shipke	Omaha	HR	10

1906 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Champions	97	50	.660	-	Jack Doyle
Lincoln Ducklings	75	74	.503	23	Ducky Holmes
Omaha Rourkes	73	74	.497	24	Pa Rourke / Herman Long
Sioux City Packers	69	81	.460	29.5	John Carney
Denver Grizzlies	68	81	.456	30	Bill Everitt
Pueblo Indians	63	85	.426	34.5	Frank Selee

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bill McGilvray	Pueblo	BA	.373		Roscoe Miller	Des Moines	W	28
Henry Melchior	Pueblo	Hits	220		Louis Manske	Des Moines	PCT	.697 23-10
Jim Cook	Pueblo	Runs	149
George Noblitt	Sioux City	HR	11
Newt Randall	Denver	3B	25
Red Andreas	Des Moines	SB	84

1907 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Omaha Rourkes	84	63	.571	-	Pa Rourke
Lincoln Ducklings	79	63	.556	3.5	James "Ducky" Holmes
Des Moines Champs	76	63	.547	4	Mike Kelley
Denver Grizzlies	67	75	.472	14.5	Ed Wheeler
Pueblo Indians	65	73	.471	14.5	Frank Selee / Lew Drill
Sioux City Soos	56	90	.384	27.5	A.C. Granville / Bill Hart

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bill Hart	Sioux City	BA	.323		Babe Adams	Denver	W	23
Bill McGilvray	Pueblo	Hits	174		Babe Adams	Denver	PCT	.657 23-12
Bill McGilvray	Pueblo	Runs	94
John Thomas	Lincoln	HR	9
Jim Austin	Omaha	SB	63

1908 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Sioux City Soos	88	57	.607	-	Ducky Holmes
Omaha Rourkes	86	59	.593	2	Pa Rourke
Lincoln Greenbackers	74	73	.503	15	Guy Green / Bill Fox
Denver Grizzlies	71	75	.486	17.5	Charlie Irwin /Charlie Jones
Pueblo Indians	63	78	.447	23	Frank Selee / Ham Patterson
Des Moines Boosters	54	94	.365	35.5	Charlie Dexter

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Harry Welch	Omaha	BA	.362		Al Furchner	Sioux City	W	30
Harry Welch	Omaha	Hits	180		Al Furchner	Sioux City	SO	267
Tom Campbell	Sioux City	Runs	113		Pat Ragan	Omaha	PCT	.806 29-7
John Thomas	Lincoln	HR	7
Ira Belden	Denver	HR	7
Ham Patterson	Pueblo	HR	7
Jim Austin	Omaha	SB	97

1909 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Boosters	93	59	.613	-	Bill Dwyer
Sioux City Soos	94	60	.610	-	Ducky Holmes
Omaha Rourkes	84	68	.553	9	Pa Rourke / Bill Fox
Topeka Jayhawks	76	73	.510	15.5	Duff Cooley
Wichita Jobbers	71	82	.464	22.5	Jack Holland
Denver Grizzlies	69	82	.457	23.5	Charlie Jones /Hank Thompson
Lincoln Greenbackers	61	89	.407	31	Jim Sullivan
Pueblo Indians	58	93	.384	34.5	Walter Carlisle

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Harry Welch	Omaha	BA	.373		Frank Lange	Des Moines	W	29
Harry Welch	Omaha	Hits	196		Frank Lange	Des Moines	SO	328
Tony Smith	Sioux City	Runs	135		Fred Olmstead	Denver	PCT	.750 24-8
Bill Hunter	Sioux City	HR	13
Red Fisher	Omaha	SB	88

1910 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Sioux City Packers	108	60	.643	-	Babe Towne
Denver Grizzlies	102	65	.611	6.5	Jack Hendricks
Lincoln Railsplitters	95	71	.572	12	Jim Sullivan
Wichita Jobbers	89	78	.533	18.5	Frank Isbell
Omaha Rourkes	84	82	.506	23	Bill Fox / Pa Rourke
St. Joseph Drummers	76	91	.455	31.5	Jack Holland
Des Moines Boosters	72	96	.429	36	George Dwyer
Topeka Jayhawks	42	125	.251	65.5	Duff Cooley

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Art Fenlon	Sioux City	BA	.365		Jim Durham	Wichita	W	24
Cy Neighbors	Sioux City	Hits	206		James Freeman	Sioux City	SO	246
Red Andreas	Sioux City	Runs	137		Marty O'Toole	Sioux City	PCT	.796 19-5
John Thomas	Lincoln	HR	22
Cozy Dolan	Denver	SB	80

1911 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Denver Grizzlies	111	54	.673	-	Jack Hendricks
St. Joseph Drummers	93	72	.564	18	Jack Holland /Charles Shaffer
Wichita Jobbers / Pueblo Indians #	92	75	.551	20.5	Frank Isbell
Omaha Rourkes	85	80	.515	26	Pa Rourke / Bill Schipke / Carl Arbogast
Sioux City Indians	85	80	.515	26	Babe Towne
Lincoln Railsplitters	84	81	.509	27	Jim Sullivan /Bob Unglaub
Topeka Kaws	60	104	.365	50.5	Duff Cooley / Frank Richert
Des Moines Boosters	49	113	.302	60.5	George Dwyer / George Davis

# Wichita (15-9) moved to Pueblo May 22

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Art Thomason	Omaha / Topeka	BA	.342		Henry Chellette	St. Joseph	W	27
Art Thomason	Omaha / Topeka	Hits	218		Buck O'Brien	Denver	SO	261
James Kane	Omaha	Hits	218		Buck O'Brien	Denver	PCT	.788 26-7
Joe Berger	Wichita / Pueblo	Runs	128
John Thomas	Lincoln	HR	12
Dutch Zwilling	St. Joseph	RBI	92

1912 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Denver Grizzlies	99	63	.611	-	Jack Hendricks
St. Joseph Drummers	94	72	.566	7	Jack Holland
Omaha Rourkes	92	71	.564	7.5	Pa Rourke
Des Moines Boosters	82	80	.506	17	Frank Isbell
Lincoln Railsplitters	83	81	.506	17	Bill Dwyer
Sioux City Indians	74	85	.465	23.5	George "Red" Andreas / Ducky Holmes
Wichita Jobbers	75	89	.457	25	George Hughes
Topeka Jayhawks	51	109	.319	47	Dale Gear

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Babe Borton	St. Joseph	BA	.364		Marc Hall	Omaha	W	25
Hy Myers	Sioux City	Hits	224		Elmer Brown	Sioux City	W	25
Ray Powell	St. Joseph	Runs	139		Rip Hagerman	Lincoln	SO	315
Johnny Beall	Denver	HR	18		Harry Hicks	Omaha	PCT	.783 18-5

1913 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Denver Bears	104	62	.627	-	Jack Hendricks
Des Moines Boosters	93	72	.564	10.5	Frank Isbell
St. Joseph Drummers	89	78	.564	15.5	Jack Holland
Lincoln Greenbackers	87	80	.521	17.5	Charlie Mullen
Omaha Rourkes	79	86	.478	24.5	Carl Arbogast / Charlie Babb / Eddie Justice
Sioux City Indians	73	92	.442	30.5	Ducky Holmes /Josh Clarke
Topeka Jayhawks	73	92	.442	30.5	Dale Gear
Wichita Jobbers	65	101	.389	39	George Hughes / Charlie Babb / Nick Maddox

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Roxy Middleton	Wichita	BA	.370		George Boehler	St. Joseph	W	27
Bunk Congalton	Omaha	Hits	227		Red Faber	Des Moines	SO	265
Les Channell	Denver	Runs	137		Harry Hicks	Omaha	ERA	2.27
Les Channell	Denver	HR	26

1914 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Sioux City Indians	105	60	.636	-	Josh Clarke
Denver Bears	96	72	.571	10.5	Jack Coffey
St. Joseph Drummers	89	75	.543	15.5	Jack Holland
Des Moines Boosters	82	81	.503	22	Frank Isbell
Lincoln Tigers	81	87	.482	25.5	Charlie Mullen / David Lloyd
Omaha Rourkes	77	87	.470	27.5	Pa Rourke / John Gondling
Topeka Jayhawks	68	97	.412	37	Dale Gear / Duff Cooley
Wichita Wolves	63	102	.382	42	Peaches Graham / Nick Maddox

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Larry LeJeune	Sioux City	BA	.361		Buck Sterzer	Denver	W	28
Jim Kane	Sioux City	Hits	221		Buck Sterzer	Denver	SO	206
Larry LeJeune	Sioux City	Runs	124		Jim Scoggins	Lincoln	ERA	2.58
Chauncey Fisher	Denver	HR	21		Harry Gaspar	Sioux City	PCT	.781 25-7

1915 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Boosters	87	53	.621	-	Frank Isbell
Denver Bears	82	55	.599	3.5	Jack Coffey / Larry Spahr
Topeka Jayhawks	75	63	.543	11	Jim Jackson
Omaha Rourkes	71	69	.507	16	Marty Krug
Lincoln Tigers	70	69	.504	16.5	Matty McIntyre
Sioux City Indians	66	68	.493	18	Josh Clarke /Harry Gaspar
Wichita Wolves	57	80	.416	28.5	Buzzy Wares / Ham Patterson
St. Joseph Drummers	43	94	.314	42.5	Jack Holland

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Larry LeJeune	Sioux City	BA	.355		Tom Blodgett	Omaha	W	24
Vern Spencer	Denver	Hits	185		George Mogridge	Des Moines	W	24
Tex Jones	Des Moines	Runs	103		Dazzy Vance	St. Joseph	SO	199
Moose McCormick	Denver	HR	16		George Mogridge	Des Moines	ERA	1.94
					Paul Musser	Des Moines	PCT	.900 20-2

1916 League Champs

1916 Western League - schedule
League President: Norris O'Neill

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Omaha Rourkes	92	57	.617	-	Marty Krug
Lincoln Tigers	87	63	.580	5.5	Ducky Holmes
Sioux City Indians	79	71	.527	13.5	Harry Gaspar
Denver Bears	78	75	.510	16	Rebel Oakes
Des Moines Boosters	75	75	.500	17.5	Frank Isbell
Topeka Savages	70	84	.455	24.5	Bill Lattimore /Clyde Engle
St. Joseph Drummers	67	86	.440	27	Jack Holland
Wichita / Colorado Springs #	57	94	.377	36	Jim Jackson

# Wichita (55-84) moved to Colorado Springs September 10

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hank Butcher	Denver	BA	.377		Carl East	Lincoln	W	24
Rebel Oakes	Denver	Hits	205		Paul Musser	Omaha	SO	249
Hank Butcher	Denver	Hits	205		Otto Merz	Omaha	ERA	2.45
Walter Carlisle	Lincoln	Runs	121		Marty O'Toole	Omaha	PCT	.682 15-7
Ben Dyer	Denver	HR	16

1917 Western League - schedule
League President:F. C. Zehrung / Emerson Dickerson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Boosters	84	62	.575	-	Jack Coffey
Lincoln Ducklings	83	64	.565	1.5	Ducky Holmes
Sioux City / St. Joseph #	80	66	.548	4	Ed Holly
Joplin Miners	79	68	.537	5.5	Jack Dalton / Harry Davis / Savage born in 1964
Omaha Rourkes	73	75	.493	12	Marty Krug / Pa Rourke
St. Joseph / Hutchinson ##	66	80	.452	18	Jack Holland /Wid Conroy /Babe Adams
Denver Bears	62	86	.419	23	Rebel Oakes / Roy Hartzell
Wichita Witches	61	87	.412	24	Frank Isbell / Bobby Wallace / Joe Berger

## St. Joseph (34-56) moved to Hutchinson July 24
# Sioux City (57-46) moved to St. Joseph August 5
Playoffs: Hutchinson 3 games, Joplin 0 for second half title
Finals: Des Moines 4 games, Hutchinson 2.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hank Butcher	Denver	BA	.321		Otto Merz	Des Moines	W	26
Hank Butcher	Denver	Hits	183		Paul Musser	Omaha	SO	337
Frank Gilmore	St. Joseph	Runs	116		Howard Gregory	Lincoln	PCT	.742 23-8
Hank Butcher	Denver	HR	13

1918 Western League - schedule
League President: Emerson Dickerson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Wichita Jobbers	41	24	.631	-	Joe Berger
Topeka / Hutchinson #	37	31	.544	5.5	Johnny Nee
Des Moines Boosters	36	31	.537	6	Jack Coffey
Joplin Miners	34	31	.523	7	Rudy Hulswitt
Omaha Rourkes	33	32	.508	8	Bill Jackson
Hutchinson / Oklahoma City ##	33	37	.471	10.5	Jack Holland /Otto Jacobs
St. Joseph Saints	30	38	.419	23	Bert Daniels
Sioux City Indians	22	42	.344	18.5	Ducky Holmes

# Topeka (19-13) moved to Hutchinson June 2
## Hutchinson (14-19) moved to Oklahoma City June 2.
The league suspended play July 7 due to WWI.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Clarence Pitts	Hutchinson/Oklahoma City	BA	.380		Jesse Haines	Topeka/Hutchinson	W	13
Harry McClellan	Hutchinson/Oklahoma City	Hits	66		Ed Hovlik	Wichita	SO	128
Al Bashang	Omaha	Runs	40		Jesse Haines	Topeka/ Hutchin	ERA	1.59
Buzz Murphy	Des Moines	HR	8		Elmer Koestner	Wichita	PCT	.833 10-2

1919 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
St. Joseph Saints	78	57	.578	-	Cozy Dolan
Tulsa Oilers	77	63	.550	3.5	Spencer Abbott
Wichita Wolves	75	65	.536	5.5	Joe Berger
Des Moines Boosters	71	67	.514	8.5	Jack Coffey
Oklahoma City Indians	69	69	.500	10.5	Jack Holland
Sioux City Indians	68	72	.486	12.5	Butch Schmidt
Joplin Miners	57	78	.422	21	Rudy Hulswitt
Omaha Rourkes	56	80	.412	22.5	Bill Jackson

Playoff: Tulsa 3 games, St. Joseph 1; series cancelled due to inclement weather

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Wilhoit	Wichita	BA	.422		Lou North	St. Joseph	W	23
Joe Wilhoit	Wichita	Hits	222		Paul Musser	Des Moines/Wichita	SO	212
Joe Wilhoit	Wichita	Runs	126		Guy Hoffman	St. Joseph	PCT	.737 14-5
Yam Yaryan	Wichita	HR	12

1920 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tulsa Oilers	92	61	.601	-	Spencer Abbott
Wichita Jobbers	92	62	.597	.5	Joe Berger
Oklahoma City Indians	82	68	.547	8.5	James Humphries / Danny Moeller / Dick Breen
Omaha Rourkes	76	77	.497	16	Jack Lelivelt
St. Joseph Saints	74	80	.481	18.5	John Kelleher
Joplin Miners	73	81	.474	19.5	James Hamilton
Sioux City Packers	63	88	.417	28	George Andreas / Frank Metz
Des Moines Boosters	58	93	.384	33	Jack Coffey

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Yam Yaryan	Wichita	BA	.357		Emilio Palmero	Omaha	W	28
Yam Yaryan	Wichita	Hits	206		George Boehler	Joplin	SO	258
Yam Yaryan	Wichita	Runs	124		C.A. Ramsey	Oklahoma City	PCT	.821 23-5
Yam Yaryan	Wichita	HR	41

1921 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Wichita Witches	106	61	.615	-	112,085	Joe Berger
Omaha Buffaloes	95	73	.566	11.5	116,538	Jack Lelivelt /Barney Burch
Oklahoma City Indians	93	75	.554	13.5		Dick Breen
Sioux City Packers	81	83	.494	23.5	58,321	Frank Metz / George Andreas
St. Joseph Saints	79	88	.473	27	58,451	Frank Owens
Joplin Miners	76	91	.455	30	60,334	James Hamilton
Des Moines Boosters	71	92	.436	33	72,818	Jack Coffey
Tulsa Oilers	65	103	.387	41.5	104,975	Jimmy Burke / Bill Clymer

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jack Lelivelt	Omaha	BA	.416		Roy Allen	Oklahoma City	W	25
Jack Lelivelt	Omaha	Hits	274		Al Tesch	Sioux City	SO	163
Royce Washburn	Wichita	Runs	170		Nelson Pott	Des Moines	PCT	.737 14-5
Fred Beck	Wichita	HR	35
Jack Leliveit	Omaha	2B	70

1922 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tulsa Oilers	103	64	.617	-	Jack Lelivelt
St. Joseph Saints	98	70	.584	5.5	Wally Smith
Wichita Witches	94	73	.568	9	Joe Berger / Howie Gregory
Omaha Buffaloes	91	77	.549	12.5	Barney Burch
Sioux City Packers	86	79	.518	16	Wally Mattick
Oklahoma City Indians	73	94	.435	30	Gus Fisher / Jack Egan
Denver Bears	63	105	.374	40.5	Joe Dunn / C.H. Adkins / Bill Rodgers
Des Moines Boosters	61	107	.363	42.5	Dick Breen / Jack Graney

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Carl East	Whichita	BA	.391		George Boehler	Tulsa	W	38
Carl East	Whichita	Hits	270		George Boehler	Tulsa	SO	333
Herschel Bennett	Tulsa	Runs	177		Dan Tipple	Omaha	PCT	.793 23-6
Yank Davis	Tulsa	HR	35		George Boehler	Tulsa	IP	441
Lyman Lamb	Tulsa	2B	68

1923 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Oklahoma City Indians	102	64	.614	-	Fred Luderus
Tulsa Oilers	101	67	.601	2	Jack Lelivelt
Wichita Izzies	100	68	.595	3	Howie Gregory
Omaha Buffaloes	92	74	.554	10	Ed Konetchy
Des Moines Boosters	87	79	.527	15	Red Corriden
St. Joseph Saints	65	94101	.392	37	Wally Smith
Sioux City Packers	59	105	.358	42	Frank Metz / Eddie Palmer / Wray Query
Denver Bears	59	107	.355	43	Billy Gilbert

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Shags Horan	Des Moines	BA	.411		Karl Black	Tulsa	W	29
Shags Horan	Des Moines	Hits	256		Ed Hovlik	Wichita	SO	161
Jim Blakesley	Wichita	Runs	151		Ernie Maun	Wichita	PCT	.703 26-11
Jim McDowell	Whichita	HR	37

1924 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Omaha Buffaloes	103	61	.628	-	Art Griggs
Denver Bears	100	67	.599	4.5	Joe Berger
Tulsa Oilers	98	69	.587	6.5	Jack Lelivelt
St. Joseph Saints	86	79	.521	17.5	Joe Mathes
Oklahoma City Indians	82	86	.488	23	Fred Luderus
Wichita Izzies	79	88	.473	25.5	Howie Gregory
Des Moines Boosters	59	106	.358	44.5	Red Corriden
Lincoln Links	57	108	.345	46.5	Howard Wakefield/ Art Rasmussen/ Josh Clarke

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Charlie Miller	St.Joseph	BA	.385		Herb Hall	Denver	W	26
Lyman Lamb	Tulsa	Hits	261		Bill Bailey	Omaha	SO	191
Royce Washburn	Tulsa	Runs	184		George Blaeholder	Tulsa	PCT	.750 18-6
Royce Washburn	Tulsa	HR	48
Lyman Lamb	Tulsa	2B	100
Royce Washburn	Tulsa	TB	458

1925 Western League - schedule
League President: Albert Tearney

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Demons	98	70	.583	-	Joe Mathes
Denver Bears	97	71	.577	1	Joe Berger
Oklahoma City Indians	88	76	.537	8	Ned Pettigrew / Fred Luderus
Wichita Izzies	80	84	.488	16	Howie Gregory
St. Joseph Saints	77	87	.470	19	Jack Lelivelt
Omaha Buffaloes	74	89	.454	21.5	Art Griggs
Tulsa Oilers	75	91	.452	22	Lyman Lamb / Marty Berghammer
Lincoln Links	70	91	.435	24.5	Josh Clarke / Frank Haley

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Fred Osborn	Omaha	BA	.372		Byrd Hodges	Denver	W	26
Fred Osborn	Omaha	Hits	245		Stew Bolen	Tulsa	SO	184
Sam Langford	Des Moines	Runs	160		Joe Brown	Oklahoma City	.823 14-3
Leo Payne	Wichita	HR	33
Wally Shaner	Lincoln	3B	30

1926 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Demons	99	64	.607	-	Shano Collins
Oklahoma City Indians	100	66	.602	.5	Fred Luderus
St. Joseph Saints	89	75	.543	10.5	Joe Kelly / Dick Breen
Tulsa Oilers	86	78	.524	13.5	Marty Berghammer
Denver Bears	88	80	.524	13.5	Joe Berger
Omaha Buffaloes	77	89	.464	23.5	Barney Burch
Lincoln Links	64	101	.388	36	Dutch Zwilling
Wichita Izzies	58	108	.349	42.5	Howie Gregory / Ray Haley

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jim Blakesley	Omaha	BA	.384		Herb Hall	Denver	W	29
Snake Henry	Omaha	Hits	247		Pat Malone	Denver	SO	190
Guy Sturdy	Tulsa	Runs	163		Leo Moon	Des Moines	PCT	.750 24-8
Guy Sturdy	Tulsa	HR	49
Guy Sturdy	Tulsa	TB	452

1927 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tulsa Oilers	101	53	.615	-	Marty Berghammer
Wichita Larks	91	63	.591	.5	Doc Crandall
Des Moines Demons	82	72	.532	19	Shano Collins
Denver Bears	77	75	.507	23	Joe Berger
Oklahoma City Indians	68	86	.442	33	Fred Luderus
Amarillo Texans	66	87	.431	34.5	Joe Kelly
Omaha Buffaloes	66	88	.429	35	Kal Segrist / Barney Burch / Petey Brausen
Lincoln Links	63	90	.412	37.5	Johnny Lavin

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Sam Langford	Des Moines	BA	.409		George Blaeholder	Tulsa	W	26
Joe Rabbitt	Omaha	Hits	251		Dixie Walker	Denver	W	19-9
Joe Rabbitt	Omaha	Runs	172		Karl Black	Tulsa	Tulsa	.857 12-2
Joe Munson	Tulsa	HR	32

1928 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Oklahoma City Indians	95	67	.586	-	Howie Gregory
Tulsa Oilers	96	69	.582	.5	Marty Berghammer
Wichita Larks	94	70	.573	2	Doc Crandall / Art Griggs
Pueblo Steel Workers	85	78	.521	10.5	Spencer Abbott
Denver Bears	81	84	.491	15.5	Jack Knight
Omaha Crickets	71	86	.452	21.5	Fred Luderus / Barney Burch
Amarillo Texans	60	93	.392	30.5	Sled Allen / Tom Connelly / Rip Ripperton
Des Moines Demons	63	98	.391	31.5	Lute Boone / Archie Yelle / Lee Fohl

Playoffs: Tulsa 4 games, Oklahoma City 1, one game was ruled no contest

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Munson	Tulsa	BA	.385		Barney Bornholdt	Oklahoma City	W	24
Jim Stroner	Wichita	Hits	255		Barney Bornholdt	Oklahoma City	SO	154
Joe Munson	Tulsa	Runs	171		Chad Kimsey	Tulsa	PCT	.767 23-7
Jim Stroner	Wichita	Runs	171
Jim Stroner	Wichita	HR	42

1929 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tulsa Oilers	95	66	.590	-	Marty Berghammer /Nick Allen
Oklahoma City Indians	88	68	.564	4.5	Lefty Leifield
Omaha Crickets	81	75	.519	11.5	Fred Luderus / Barney Burch / Pug Griffin
Wichita Aviators	77	79	.494	15.5	Art Griggs
Denver Bears	73	81	.474	18.5	Eddie Palmer
Topeka Jayhawks	75	85	.469	19.5	Jimmy Payton
Des Moines Demons	72	86	.456	21.5	Lee Fohl / Claude Davenport
Pueblo Steelworkers	69	90	.434	25	Cotton Tierney / Spencer Abbott

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Buster Chatham	Pueblo	BA	.386		Glenn Spencer	wichita	W	24
Lin Storti	Tulsa	Hits	230		John McGrew	Omaha	W	24-
Joe Munson	Tulsa	Runs	167		Pat Caraway	Topeka	SO	159
Jack Burns	Tulsa	HR	36		Joe O'Dowd	Tulsa	PCT	.750 15-5

1930 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Wichita Aviators	89	56	.614	-	Art Griggs
Omaha Packers	76	66	.535	11-	Spencer Abbott
Oklahoma City Indians	79	71	.527	12-	Joe Kelly / Louis Brower / Ned Pettigrew
Des Moines Demons	77	71	.520	13-	Claude Davenport /Shano Collins
Pueblo Braves	75	75	.500	16-	Jimmy Payton
Denver Bears	74	74	.500	16-	Eddie Palmer
Topeka Senators	66	84	.440	25-	Bruno Betzel
St. Joseph Saints	53	92	.366	36	Gene Bailey / Joe Sugden / Everett Booe

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Woody Jensen	Wichita	BA	.354		Spades Wood	Wichita	W	22
Woody Jensen	Wichita	Hits	207		Spades Wood	Wichita	SO	197
Carl Frey	Pueblo	Runs	133		Walter Brown	Oklahoma City	ERA	2.57
Stan Keyes	Des Moines	HR	35		Spades Wood	Wichita	PCT	.880 22-3
Stan Keyes	Des Moines	RBI	140

1931 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Demons	94	51	.648	-	Bill Rodgers
Wichita Aviators	92	58	.613	4-	Art Griggs
St. Joseph Saints	79	64	.552	14	Jack Haley
Pueblo Braves	76	69	.524	18	Jimmy Payton /Walt Smallwood
Oklahoma City Indians	70	80	.467	26-	Cletus Dixon /Frank Tobin
Denver Bears	64	77	.454	28	John Butler
Topeka Senators	58	86	.397	35-	Howie Gregory / Howard Lindimore
Omaha Packers	49	97	.336	45-	Harry Smith / Barney Burch / Pug Griffin

Playoffs: Des Moines 4 games, Wichita 2

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Stan Keyes	Des Moines	BA	.369		Bud Tinning	Des Moines	W	24
Stan Keyes	Des Moines	Hits	203		Rufus Meadows	Topeka	SO	177
Arky Vaughan	Wichita	Runs	145		Bud Tinning	Des Moines	ERA	3.14
Stan Keyes	Des Moines	HR	38		Bud Tinning	Des Moines	PCT	.723 24-2
Stan Keyes	Des Moines	RBI	160
Angus McIsaac	Pueblo	3B	27

1932 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tulsa Oilers	98	48	.671	-	Art Griggs
Denver Bears	83	64	.565	15-	Earl Smith
Oklahoma City Indians	83	67	.553	17	Fred Luderus
Des Moines Demons	71	72	.497	25-	Bill Rodgers
St. Joseph Saints	72	75	.490	26-	Jack Haley
Wichita Aviators	63	86	.423	36-	Jimmy Payton
Pueblo Braves	62	90	.408	39	Walt Smallwood / Pug Griffin
Omaha Packers	58	88	.397	40	Pug Griffin / Eddie Brown

Playoffs: Oklahoma City 2 games, Tulsa 1 for second-half title

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jim Oglesby	Des Moines	BA	.385		Andy Bednar	Tulsa	W	22-4
Melvin Nydahl	Denver	Hits	231		Ralph Birkofer	Tulsa	SO	186
Bill Allington	Pueblo	Runs	167		Andy Bednar	Tulsa	PCT	.846 22-4
Stan Schino	Tulsa	RBI	143
Dick Goldberg	Wichita	HR	30

1933 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Des Moines Demons	81	47	.633	-	John Butler
St. Joseph Saints	77	47	.621	2	Dutch Zwilling
Springfield Cardinals	73	50	.593	5-	Joe Schultz, Sr.
Topeka Senators	68	55	.553	10-	Art Ewoldt
Omaha Packers	63	61	.508	16	Pug Griffin
Joplin Miners	55	69	.444	24	Runt Marr
Hutchinson / Bartlesville ##	51	70	.421	26-	Marty Purtell
Wichita Oilers / Muskogee Oilers #	26	95	.215	51-	Marquard/Strain / Hawk / Wilson

# Wichita moved to Muskogee June 6.
## Hutchinson moved to Bartlettsville July 7.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Mike Ryba	Springfield	BA	.380		Buckshot May	St. Joseph	W	24
Kit Carson	St. Joseph	Hits	186		Cy Blanton	St. Joseph	SO	284
Johnny Keane	Springfield	Runs	118		Buckshot May	St. Joseph	PCT	.800 24-6
Vic Shiell	Topeka	HR	22

1934 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale D. Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Sioux City Cowboys	74	50	.597	-	Dutch Zwilling
Davenport Blue Sox	70	53	.569	3-	Cletus Dixon
Des Moines Demons	68	56	.548	6	Hal Irelan / Alex Gaston
St. Joseph Saints	65	56	.537	7-	Wes Griffin / Earle Brucker
Topeka Senators	59	64	.480	14-	Art Ewoldt / Jimmy Payton
Rock Island Islanders	58	65	.471	15-	Riley Parker /Cliff Knox
Omaha Packers	49	73	.402	24	Dutch Wetzel / Malcolm Pickett
Cedar Rapids Raiders	47	73	.392	25	Bubbles Hargrave / Bill Mizeur

Playoffs: Playoffs involved the three teams tied for first place in the first-half and the second-half winner. St. Joseph 3 games, Sioux City 1; Davenport 3 games, Des Moines 1

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pat Patterson	Rock Island	BA	.366		Frank Lamanske	Davenport	W	24-7
Charlie Bates	St. Joseph	Hits	164		Frank Lamanske	Davenport	SO	216
Howie McFarland	St. Joseph	Hits	164		Frank Lamanske	Davenport	PCT	.774 24-7
Johnny Dickshot	Rock Island/Cedar Rapids	Runs	112
Roy Hudson	Des Moines	RBI	94
Vern Johnson	Sioux City	HR	24

1935 Western League - schedule
League President: Dale D. Gear

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Davenport Blue Sox	70	46	.603	-	Cletus Dixon
St. Joseph Saints	58	48	.547	7	Earle Brucker
Des Moines Demons	58	55	.513	10-	Doc Crandall
Sioux City Cowboys	54	52	.509	11	William Wilson / Dave Bancroft
Cedar Rapids Raiders	53	57	.482	14	Clarence Crossley
Keokuk Indians	49	66	.426	20-	Jimmy Payton
Omaha Packers / Council Bluff Rails #	55	46	.545	NA	Joe McDermott
Rock Island Islanders ##	19	46	.292	NA	Tommy Taylor / Karl Swanson

# Omaha (22-15) moved to Council Bluffs June 25, first home game July 3. Council Bluffs disbanded August 27
## Rock Island disbanded July 17.

Playoffs: St. Joseph 3 games, Des Moines 0 games; Sioux City 3 games, Davenport 0.
Finals: St. Joseph 4 games, Sioux City 3.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Earle Brucker	Cedar Rapids	BA	.342		Claude Passeau	Des Moines	W	20
Skeeter Webb	Cedar Rapids	Hits	151		Claude Passeau	Des Moines	SO	239
Milt Bocek	Cedar Rapids	Runs	93		Al Piechota	Davenport	PCT	.739 17-6
Lou Vezilich	St. Joseph/Council Bluffs	RBI	78
Hugh Willingham	Sioux City	HR	20

1936 Western League - schedule
League President: Dr. A.J. McLaughlin

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Davenport Blue Sox	74	52	.587	-	Cletus Dixon
Cedar Rapids Raiders	70	58	.547	5	Clarence Crossley
Des Moines Demons	64	64	.500	11	Spencer Abbott
Omaha / Rock Island #	62	64	.492	12	Hank Severeid / Clarence Mitchell /Keith Clark
Sioux City Cowboys	61	64	.488	12-	Marty Berghammer /Dave Bancroft
Waterloo Hawks	50	79	.388	25-	Ralph Michaels /Johnny Berger

# Omaha (29-35) moved to Rock Island August 18 when park was destroyed by fire.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Prerost	Davenport	BA	.341		Hal Turpin	Des Moines	W	20
Hugh Luby	Sioux City	Hits	155		Jim Hayes	Cedar Rapids	SO	172
Dutch Prather	Omaha / Rock Island	Runs	102		Hal Turpin	Des Moines	PCT	.667 20-10
Phil Seghi	Sioux City	RBI	104
Dutch Prather	Omaha / Rock Island	HR	22

1937 Western League - schedule
League President: Dr. A.J. McLaughlin

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Cedar Rapids Raiders	78	38	.672	-	Cap Crossley
Waterloo Reds	61	55	.526	17	Lennie Backer
Davenport Blue Sox	57	59	.491	21	Jack Fitzpatrick
Des Moines Demons	57	62	.479	22-	Del Bissonette
Sioux City Cowboys	50	63	.442	26-	Dutch Lorbeer /Pete Monahan
Rock Island Islanders #	20	46	.303	NA	Bill Burwell

# Rock Island disbanded July 7, at the end of the first half.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Mack	Waterloo	BA	.337		Dwight VanFleet	Cedar Rapids	W	22
James Howard	Cedar Rapids	Hits	142		Dykes Potter	Cedar Rapids	SO	138
Mike Chartak	Cedar Rapids	Runs	113		Dykes Potter	Cedar Rapids	ERA	2.28
Carl Lahman	Cedar Rapids	RBI	101		Dwight VanFleet	Cedar Rapids	PCT	.759 22-7
Carl Lahman	Cedar Rapids	HR	22

There was no Western League in 1938.
1939, 40 & 41 the league was played as a class D.

1939-1941 (class D)

• President

J. Roy Carter 1939-1941

• Cheyenne, WY: Cheyenne Indians 1941
• Denver, CO: Denver Bears 1941
• Lincoln, NE: Lincoln Links 1939, moved from Nebraska State League 1938
• Mitchell, SD: Mitchell Kernels 1939; Mitchell Kernels 1940
• Norfolk, NE: Norfolk Elks 1939, moved from Nebraska State League 1928-1938; Norfolk Yankees 1940-1941
• Pueblo, CO: Pueblo Rollers 1941
• Sioux City, IA: Sioux City Soos 1939-1940; Sioux City Cowboys 1941
• Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Falls Canaries 1939-1941, moved from Nebraska State League 1928-1938, moved to Northern League 1942, 1946-1953
• Worthington, MN: Worthington Cardinals 1939-1940

Bob Dillinger, Lincoln Links, 1939

1939 Western League
League President: J. Roy Carter

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Norfolk Elks	75	44	.630	-	Doc Bennett
Sioux Falls Canaries	66	52	.559	8-	Ralph Brandon
Sioux City Soos	63	52	.548	10	Pete Monahan
Lincoln Links	64	55	.538	11	Pug Griffin
Mitchell Kernels	49	69	.415	25-	Red Davis (8/1) / Charles Moglia
Worthington Cardinals	36	81	.308	38	Joe McDermott

Playoffs: Sioux City 3 games, Norfolk 2; Lincoln 3 games, Sioux Falls 2
Finals: Sioux City 4 games, Lincoln 2.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Howard Conners	Sioux Falls	BA	.365		Ox Miller	Lincoln	W	21
Wendell Finders	Norfolk	Hits	167		Ox Miller	Lincoln	SO	208
Bob Dillinger	Lincoln	Runs	139		Lawrence Kempe	Sioux Falls	ERA	3.02
Ted Kakaloris	Lincoln	RBI	114		Leonard Bobeck	Norfolk	PCT	.864 19-3
William Morgan	Norfolk	HR	17

1940 Western League - schedule
League President: J. Roy Carter

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Norfolk Yankees	73	39	.652	-	Doc Bennett
Sioux Falls Canaries	59	58	.504	16-	Robert Fenner
Worthington Cardinals	50	59	.459	21-	Ray Martin /George Payne
Sioux City Soos / Mitchell Kernels #	44	70	.386	30	Jimmy Zinn / Ed Grayston

# Sioux City moved to Mitchell July 24.
The league played four quarters. Norfolk won the first, second and fourth quarters, while Sioux Falls won the third quarter.
Playoff: Sioux Falls 4 games, Norfolk 2.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Johnny Lucas	Worthington	BA	.356		Frank Wagner	Sioux Falls	W	17
Leo Bohanan	Sioux Falls	Hits	158		Frank Wagner	Sioux Falls	SO	193
Robert Duby	Norfolk	Runs	112		Fred Whalen	Norfolk	ERA	1.36
Fred Schenk	Norfolk	RBI	97		Fred Whalen	Norfolk	PCT	.786 11-3
Russell Burns	Norfolk	HR	17

1941 Western League - schedule
League President: J. Roy Carter

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Norfolk Yankees	64	44	.593	-	Ray Powell
Cheyenne Indians	59	44	.573	2-	John Kerr
Sioux City Cowboys	54	56	.491	11	Richard Tichacek
Pueblo Rollers	52	54	.491	11	Pug Griffin
Sioux Falls Canaries	51	56	.477	12-	Robert Fenner /Tony Koenig
Denver Bears	42	68	.382	23	Cobe Jones

Playoffs: Norfolk 3 games, Sioux City 2; Pueblo 3 games, Cheyenne 1
Finals: Pueblo 3 games, Norfolk 2.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bernard Steele	Pueblo	BA	.383		George Milstead	Cheyenne	W	19
Bernard Steele	Pueblo	Hits	158		Robert Bergen	Pueblo	SO	183
Bernard Steele	Pueblo	Runs	88		Frank Wagner	Sioux Falls	ERA	2.15
Frank Bocek	Norfolk	RBI	92		George Milstead	Cheyenne	PCT	.792 19-5
Mel Bergman	Cheyenne	HR	10

The League did not operate from 1942 - 1946. It returned in 1947 and regained its Class A Status.

1947-1958

• Presidents

Edwin C. Johnson 1947-1955

O'Neal M. Hobbs 1956-1958

• Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque Dukes 1956-1958, moved from West Texas-New Mexico League 1946-1955
• Amarillo, TX: Amarillo Gold Sox 1956-1958, moved from West Texas-New Mexico League 1946-1955, moved to Texas League 1959-1963
• Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado Springs Sky Sox 1950-1958
• Denver, CO: Denver Bears 1947-1954, moved to American Association 1955-1962
• Des Moines, IA: Des Moines Bruins 1947-1958
• Lincoln, NE: Lincoln Athletics 1947-1952; Lincoln Chiefs 1953-1958, moved to Three-I League 1959-1961
• Omaha, NE: Omaha Cardinals 1947-1954, moved to American Association 1955-1959
• Pueblo, CO: Pueblo Dodgers 1947-1958
• Sioux City, IA: Sioux City Soos1947-1958, moved to Three-I League 1959-1960
• Topeka, KS: Topeka Hawks 1956-1958, moved to Three-I League 1959
• Wichita, KS: Wichita Indians 1950-1955

Lincoln, Nebraska's Western League Baseball Park, 1947

1947 Western League
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Sioux City Soos	81	49	.623	-	113,036	Joe Becker
Des Moines Bruins	72	52	.591	4-	152,027	Jim Keesey
Pueblo Dodgers	70	58	.547	10	80,163	Walter Alston
Omaha Cardinals	67	62	.519	13-	138,308	Ollie Vanek
Denver Bears	54	75	.419	26-	124,923	Marty McManus
Lincoln Athletics	38	89	.299	41-	43,464	Ham Schulte / Tom Oliver

Playoffs: Sioux City 3 games, Omaha 1; Pueblo 3 games, Des Moines 1
Finals: Pueblo 4 games, Sioux City 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Edmund Lewinski	Omaha	BA	.346		Red Webb	Sioux City	W	19-7
Michael Conroy	Omaha	Hits	190		Charlie Bishop	Omaha	SO	133
Preston Ward	Pueblo	Runs	120		Herb Chmiel	Des Moines	ERA	2.23
Preston Ward	Pueblo	RBI	121		Herb Chmiel	Des Moines	PCT	.778 14-4
Tony Jaros	Sioux City	HR	24

1948 Western League
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Des Moines Bruins	76	64	.543	-	232,038	Stan Hack
Denver Bears	70	67	.511	4-	283,377	Mike Gazella
Lincoln Athletics	69	68	.504	5-	127,462	Jimmie DeShong
Sioux City Soos	69	68	.504	5-	112,381	Joe Becker
Pueblo Dodgers	69	70	.496	6-	116,304	John Fitzpatrick
Omaha Cardinals	62	78	.443	14	147,130	Ollie Vanek

Playoffs: Lincoln 3 games, Des Moines 2; Sioux City 3 games, Denver 2. Lincoln defeated Sioux City 6-0 for third place.
Finals: Sioux City 4 games, Lincoln 2.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Red Treadway	Des Moines	BA	.352		Bobby Shantz	Lincoln	W	18-7
George Genovese	Denver	Runs	119		Bobby Shantz	Lincoln	SO	212
Nellie Fox	Hits	Runs	179		Tony Jacobs	Des Moines	ERA	2.72
Tookie Gilbert	Sioux City	RBI	114		Turk Lown	Pueblo	PCT	.739 17-6
Carl Sawatski	Des Moines	HR	29

1949 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Lincoln Athletics	74	64	.536	-	149,159	Jimmie DeShong
Denver Bears	71	68	.511	3-	463,039	Mike Gazella / Bill DeCarlo / Earle Browne
Pueblo Dodgers	71	68	.511	3-	138,726	Ray Hathaway
Des Moines Bruins	70	70	.500	5	210,204	Stan Hack
Omaha Cardinals	68	71	.489	6-	277,370	Cedric Durst
Sioux City Soos	63	76	.453	11-	125,356	Don Ramsay

Playoffs: Denver defeated Pueblo 5-3 for second place. Des Moines 3 games, Lincoln 1; Pueblo 3 games, Denver 1
Finals: Pueblo 4 games, Des Moines 3.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Victor Marasco	Pueblo	BA	.330		Earl Stabelfeld	Des Moines	W	17
Jimmy Williams	Pueblo	Runs	126		Lynn Lovenguth	Des Moines	W	17
Fred Richards	Des Moines	Hits	178		Walter Cox	Sioux City	W	17
Victor Marasco	Pueblo	RBI	121		Ken Lehman	Pueblo	SO	203
Lou Limmer	Lincoln	HR	29		George Uhle	Denver	ERA	2.25
					Marian Fricano	Pueblo	PCT	.833 10-2

1950 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Omaha Cardinals	96	58	.623	-	218,393	Al Hollingsworth
Sioux City Soos	89	65	.578	3-	463,039	Hugh Poland
Des Moines Bruins	84	70	.545	12	147,549	Charlie Root
Wichita Indians	77	77	.500	19	126,729	Joe Schultz
Denver Bears	75	79	.487	21	379,180	Earl Browne
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	72	82	.468	24	107,264	Buddy Hassett
Lincoln Athletics	69	85	.448	27	68,884	Jimmie DeShong
Pueblo Dodgers	54	100	.351	42	91,299	Ray Hathaway

Playoffs: Wichita 3 games, Omaha 0; Sioux City 3 games, Des Moines 2
Finals: Sioux City 3 games, Wichita 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bill Taylor	Sioux City	BA	.346		Bob Mahoney	Omaha	W	20
Danny Holden	Denver	Runs	131		Bob Mahoney	Omaha	SO	162
Chuck Tanner	Denver	Hits	195		Vern Fear	Des Moines	ERA	2.83
Pete Whisenant	Denver	RBI	119		Vern Fear	Des Moines	PCT	.750 15-5
Pat Seerey	Colorado Springs	HR	44

1951 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Omaha Cardinals	90	64	.584	-	162,247	George Kissell
Denver Bears	88	66	.571	2	424,065	Andy Cohen
Wichita Indians	84	68	.553	5	122,060	Joe Schultz
Sioux City Soos	77	71	.520	10	104,247	Frank Genovese
Des Moines Bruins	73	78	.483	15-	94,137	Al Todd
Pueblo Dodgers	74	80	.481	16	104,254	Jim Biven
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	64	87	.424	24-	107,320	Skeeter Webb / Otto Denning
Lincoln Athletics	57	93	.380	31	37,123	Frank Skaff

Playoffs: Sioux City 3 games, Omaha 1; Denver 3 games, Wichita 1
Finals: Sioux City 3 games, Denver 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
George Freese	Pueblo	BA	.338		ElRoy Face	Pueblo	W	23
Ron Samford	Sioux	Runs	108		Willard Schmidt	Omaha	SO	202
George Freese	Pueblo	Hits	183		Willard Schmidt	Omaha	ERA	2.11
George Freese	Pueblo	RBI	106		Ray Peters	Wichita	PCT	.800 12-3
Howie Boles	Des Moines / Denver	HR	32

1952 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Denver Bears	88	66	.571	-	461,419	Andy Cohen
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	87	67	.565	1	170,041	Don Gutteridge
Omaha Cardinals	86	68	.558	2	137,378	George Kissell
Sioux City Soos	83	71	.539	5	103,004	Ray Mueller
Pueblo Dodgers	81	73	.526	7	122,746	Bill McCahan
Wichita Indians	67	87	.435	21	116,703	Ralph Winegarner
Lincoln Athletics	67	87	.435	21	61,483	Les Bell
Des Moines Bruins	57	97	.370	31	62,597	Harry Strohm

Playoffs: Denver 3 games, Sioux City 1; Omaha 3 games, Colorado Springs 1
Finals': Denver 3 games, Omaha 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ed Phillips	Omaha	BA	.320		Alberto Osorio	Denver	W	20
Ken Landenberger	Colorado Springs	Runs	112		Connie Johnson	Colorado Springs	SO	233
Ken Landenberger	Colorado Springs	Hits	183		Jim Singleton	Sioux City	ERA	2.73
Ken Landenberger	Colorado Springs	RBI	133		Lou Ciola	Omaha	PCT	.938 15-1
Bill Pinckard	Denver	HR	35

1953 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	95	69	.617	-	141,117	Don Gutteridge
Denver Bears	94	60	.610	1	322,128	Andy Cohen
Pueblo Dodgers	78	77	.503	17-	103,878	George Pfister
Des Moines Bruins	77	78	497	18-	98,972	Kemp Wicker /Bruce Edwards
Omaha Cardinals	74	80	.481	21	115,512	George Kissell
Lincoln Chiefs	71	83	.461	24	87,615	Lou Finney /Walt Linden
Sioux City Soos	70	84	.455	25	45,412	Ray Mueller
Wichita Indians	58	96	.377	37	68,683	George Hausmann / Mark Christman

Playoffs: Des Moines 3 games, Colorado Springs 1; Denver 3 games, Pueblo 0
Finals: Des Moines 3 games, Denver 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Kent Pflasterer	Pueblo	BA	.350		Norman Brown	Lincoln	W	21
Len Johnston	Colorado Springs	Runs	133		Karl Spooner	Pueblo	SO	198
Glen Gorbous	Pueblo	Hits	204		Walt Montgomery	Omaha	ERA	2.43
Jerry Crosby	Colorado Springs	RBI	115		Jake Thies	Denver	ERA	2.43
Jim Gentile	Pueblo	HR	34		Nellie King	Denver	PCT	.833 15-3

1954 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Denver Bears	94	56	.627	-	232,686	Andy Cohen
Des Moines Bruins	88	66	.571	8	113,691	Les Peden
Omaha Cardinals	83	68	.550	11-	150,131	Ferrell Anderson
Pueblo Dodgers	79	74	.516	16-	80,768	Goldie Holt
Sioux City Soos	78	75	.510	17-	69,333	Dave Garcia
Wichita Indians	76	77	.497	19-	87,854	Herb Brett /Les Layton
Lincoln Chiefs	62	88	.413	32	80,660	Whitey Wietelmann / Glenn McQuillen
Colorado Springs	48	104	.316	47	59,606	Mickey Livingston / Bud Stewart / Al Jacinto

Playoffs: Denver 3 games, Pueblo 1; Des Moines 3 games, Omaha 1
Finals: Des Moines 3 games, Denver 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Kirrene	Colorado Springs	BA	.343		Bob Clear	Omaha	W	20-11
Bobby Prescott	Denver	Runs	137		Bob Garber	Denver	SO	173
Reno DeBenedetti	Denver	Hits	183		Hy Cohen	Des Moines	ERA	1.88
Bill White	Sioux City	Hits	183		Clarence Churn	Denver	PCT	.786 11-3
Rocco Ippolito	Denver	RBI	131
Bill White	Sioux City	HR	30
Bill White	Sioux City	SB	40

1955 Western League - schedule
League President: Senator Edwin C. Johnson

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	81	69	.540	-	87,527	Jack Conway
Pueblo Dodgers	79	71	.527	2	73,941	Goldie Holt
Wichita Indians	78	73	.517	3-	94,862	Bud Bates
Des Moines Bruins	77	74	.510	4-	88,181	Les Peden /Pepper Martin
Sioux City Soos	69	81	.460	12	62,902	John Davenport
Lincoln Chiefs	67	83	.447	14	90,024	Bill Burwell

Playoffs: Des Moines 3 games, Colorado Springs 1; Wichita 3 games, Peublo 2. Wichita defeated Des Moines in a one-game playoff for third place.
Finals: Wichita 3 games, Des Moines 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Sammy Hairston	Colorado Springs	BA	.350		Joe Stanka	Des Moines	W	17
Willie Kirkland	Sioux City	Runs	117		Bob Harrison	Wichita	SO	270
Clarence Moore	Pueblo	Hits	194		Dick Hall	Lincoln	ERA	2.24
Ron Cooper	Colorado Springs	RBI	117		Dick Hall	Lincoln	PCT	.706 12-5
Willie Kirkland	Sioux City	HR	40

1956 Western League - schedule
League President: O'Neal M. Hobbs

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Amarillo Gold Sox	87	52	.626	-	77,628	Chuck Stevens
Lincoln Chiefs	84	54	.609	2-	92,554	Larry Shepard
Des Moines Bruins	72	67	.518	15	67,973	Lou Klein
Topeka Hawks	70	68	.507	16-	103,938	Bud Bates
Pueblo Dodgers	68	70	.493	18-	51,496	Ray Hathaway
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	66	72	.478	20-	59,282	Jack Conway
Albuquerque Dukes	59	81	.421	28-	94,176	Bob Swift
Sioux City Soos	49	91	.350	38-	40,734	Hal Olt / Bob Clear

Playoff: Lincoln 4 games, Amarillo 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Art Cuitti	Amarillo	BA	.364		Marshall Bridges	Topeka	W	18
Art Cuitti	Amarillo	Runs	132		Marshall Bridges	Topeka	SO	213
Lynn Van de Hey	Albuquerque	Hits	197		John O'Donnell (minors04)	Topeka	ERA	3.32
Dick Stuart	Lincoln	RBI	158		Bennie Daniels	Lincoln	PCT	.833 15-3
Dick Stuart	Lincoln	HR	66

1957 Western League - schedule
League President: O'Neal M. Hobbs

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Lincoln Chiefs	98	56	.636	-	100,190	Larry Shepard
Amarillo Gold Sox	97	57	.630	1	102,210	Eddie Bockman
Topeka Hawks	87	64	.576	9-	88, 014	Red Smith / Bill Dossey
Sioux City Soos	71	82	.464	26-	46,851	Ken Landenberger
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	68	86	.442	30	45,184	Ira Hutchinson
Albuquerque Dukes	66	88	.429	32	92,236	Nick Cullop / Hal Toso
Pueblo Dodgers	66	88	.429	32	40,887	Ray Hathaway
Des Moines Demons	60	92	.395	37	79,965	Lou Stringer / Hersh Martin

Playoff: No Playoffs.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Sammy Miley	Lincoln	BA	.374		John Stadnicki	Topeka	W	23
Ray Webster	Amarillo	Runs	136		Dave Stenhouse	Des Moines	SO	184
Chuck Coles	Albuquerque	Hits	208		Hugh Blanton	Amarillo	ERA	2.86
Al Pinkston	Amarillo	RBI	133		John Stadnicki	Topeka	PCT	.793 23-6
Leonard Williams	Topeka	HR	43

1958 Western League - schedule
League President: O'Neal M. Hobbs

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Colorado Springs Sky Sox	87	60	.592	-	61,091	Skeeter Scalzi
Amarillo Gold Sox	84	63	.571	3	85,931	Eddie Bockman / Gale Pringle
Lincoln Chiefs	75	71	.514	11-	67,604	Monty Basgall
Pueblo Dodgers	73	74	.497	14	39,179	Ray Mueller
Albuquerque Dukes	71	75	.486	15-	81,702	Jimmy Brown
Sioux City Soos	69	77	.473	17-	55,921	Rocky Tedesco / Ted Shandor
Topeka Hawks	65	82	.442	22	43,686	George McQuinn
Des Moines Bruins	61	83	.424	24-	35,039	Roy Hartsfield

Playoff: No Playoffs.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jim McAnany	Colorado Springs	BA	.400		Hugh Blanton	Amarillo	W	20
Stan Johnson	Colorado Springs	Runs	120		Pedro Carrillo	Albuquerque	SO	177
Stan Johnson	Colorado Springs	Hits	204		Hal DeMars	Topeka	SO	177
Al Pinkston	Amarillo	Hits	204		Al Jackson	Lincoln	ERA	2.07
Al Pinkston	Amarillo	RBI	126		Gale Pringle	Amarillo	PCT	.824 14-3
Daniel Lynk	Sioux City	HR	37

Hall of Fame Alumni

• Walter Alston, 1947 Manager Pueblo Dodgers
• Sparky Anderson, 1954 Pueblo Dodgers
• Dave Bancroft, 1936 Sioux City Cowboys
• Jake Beckley, 1886-1887 Leavenworth Soldiers; 1887 Lincoln Tree Planters; 1910 Topeka Jayhawks
• Jim Bottomley, 1920 Sioux City Packers
• Roger Bresnahan, 1899 Minneapolis Millers
• Mordecai Brown, 1902 Omaha Indians
• Charlie Comiskey, 1895 St. Paul Apostles
• Sam Crawford, 1899 Columbus Senators/Grand Rapids Furnituremakers
• George Davis, 1910 Des Moines Boosters
• Dizzy Dean, 1930 St. Joseph Saints
• Hugh Duffy, 1902-1903 Milwaukee Creams
• Red Faber, 1911 Pueblo Indians; 1912-1913 Des Moines Boosters
• Nellie Fox, 1948 Lincoln Athletics
• Jesse Haines, 1918 Topeka Kaw-nees/Hutchinson Salt Packers; 1919 Tulsa Oilers
• Carl Hubbell, 1924-1925 Oklahoma City Indians
• Miller Huggins, 1901 St. Paul Saints
• Joe Kelley, 1892 Omaha Omahogs
• Tony Lazzeri, 1924 Lincoln Links
• Connie Mack, 1897-1899 Manager Milwaukee Brewers
• Heinie Manush, 1922 Omaha Buffaloes
• Joe McGinnity, 1894 Kansas City Blues
• Kid Nichols, 1887, 1902-1903 Kansas City Cowboys
• Edd Roush, 1913 Lincoln Greenbackers
• Sam Thompson, 1885 Indianapolis Hoosiers
• Joe Tinker, 1900 Denver Grizzlies
• Dazzy Vance, 1914-1915 St. Joseph Drummers
• Arky Vaughan, 1931 Wichita Aviators
• Rube Waddell, 1898 Detroit Tigers
• Bobby Wallace, 1917 Wichita Witches
• Earl Weaver (1951-1953/1954 Omaha/Denver)
• Billy Williams, 1958 Pueblo Dodgers

Notable Alumni

• Ken Boyer (1951, Omaha) 1964 NL Most Valuable Player
• Mel Harder (1927, Omaha) #18 Retired by Cleveland Indians and 1933 ERA Champion
• Wally Moon (1950-1952, Omaha) 1954 NL Rookie of the Year
• Gary Peters (1958, Colorado Springs) 1963 AL Rookie of the Year
• Bobby Shantz (1948, Lincoln) 1952 AL Most Valuable Player
• Monty Stratton (1934, Omaha) Subject of Movie: The Stratton Story
• chuck Tanner (1949-1950, Denver) MGR: World Series Champion - 1979
• Bob Turley (1950, Wichita) 1958 Cy Young Award; 1958 World Series MVP
• Maury Wills (1953-1954, 1956 Pueblo) 1962 NL Most Valuable Player

Sources

SOURCES: "The Western League" by Madden and Stewart and The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Second and Third Editions.
Nebraska images can be found at: http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/

• http://stewthornley.net/millers_year_by_year.html

Further Reading

• John R. Husman: Baseball in Toledo, Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
• W.C. Madden and Patrick J. Stewart: The Western League: A Baseball History, 1885 through 1999, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2002.
• 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.