The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Northwestern United States and Western Canada. A Class A Short Season league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league operated as the High-A West in 2021, then resumed its original moniker in 2022.

Northwest League
FormerlyWestern International League (1937–1954)
High-A West (2021)
ClassificationHigh-A (2021–present)
Class A Short Season (1966–2020)
SportBaseball
Founded1955 (69 years ago) (1955)
No. of teams6
CountriesUnited States and Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Spokane Indians (2024)
Most titlesSpokane Indians (9)
Official websitewww.milb.com

History

edit

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

In 1955, the Northwest League was formed, with seven charter teams: Salem Senators, Eugene Emeralds, Yakima Bears, Spokane Indians, Tri-City Braves, Wenatchee Chiefs, and Lewiston Broncs.[4][5] The league switched to the short season schedule in 1966;[6] between then and 1982, the NWL fluctuated between four, six, and eight clubs. In 1983, the league returned to an eight-team circuit, which it maintained through 2019.

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[7][8] As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Northwest League was promoted to High-A, reduced to six teams, and renamed the "High-A West" for the 2021 season.[9] The two dropped teams were the Boise Hawks and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the High-A West was renamed the Northwest League in 2022.[10]

Current teams

edit
Team Founded MLB affiliation City Stadium Capacity
Eugene Emeralds 1955 San Francisco Giants Eugene, Oregon PK Park 4,000
Everett AquaSox 1995 Seattle Mariners Everett, Washington Funko Field 3,682
Hillsboro Hops 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro Ballpark 4,500
Spokane Indians 1898 Colorado Rockies Spokane, Washington Avista Stadium 6,803
Tri-City Dust Devils 2001 Los Angeles Angels Pasco, Washington Gesa Stadium 3,654
Vancouver Canadians 2000 Toronto Blue Jays Vancouver, British Columbia Nat Bailey Stadium 6,500
 
 
100km
62miles
Canadians
6
Dust Devils
5
Indians
4
Hops
3
AquaSox
2
Emeralds
1
Current team locations
1
Eugene Emeralds
2
Everett AquaSox
3
Hillsboro Hops
4
Spokane Indians
5
Tri-City Dust Devils
6
Vancouver Canadians

Champions

edit

League champions have been determined by different means since the Northwest League's formation in 1955. Except for 1956, 1960, and from 1966 to 1973, all seasons have ended with playoffs to determine a league champion.[11]

The Spokane Indians have won 9 championships, the most in the league.[11]

Northwest League teams (1955–present)

edit

Cities that have hosted NWL teams

edit

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

Hall of Fame alumni

edit

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

Notable alumni

edit
Sandy Alomar Jr.Spokane Indians, 1984
Garret AndersonBoise Hawks, 1990
Kevin AppierEugene Emeralds, 1987
Pedro AstacioYakima Bears, 1990
Garrett AtkinsPortland Rockies, 2000
Jim BoutonPortland Mavericks, 1973 & 1977
Jason BartlettEugene Emeralds, 2001
Glenn Beckert - Wenatchee Chiefs, 1963
Dante BichetteSalem Angels, 1984
Carlos BeltránSpokane Indians, 1996
Dallas BradenVancouver Canadians, 2004
Kris Bryant - Boise Hawks, 2013
Bert Campaneris - Lewiston Broncs, 1963
Tom Candiotti - Victoria Mussels, 1979
José CansecoMedford A's, 1983
Rico Carty - Yakima Valley Braves, 1962
Ron Cey - Tri-City Atoms, 1968
Aaron CookPortland Rockies, 1998
Ron Coomer - Medford A's, 1987
Chris Davis - Spokane Indians, 2006
Eric DavisEugene Emeralds, 1980–81
Mark DeRosaEugene Emeralds, 1996
Dick DietzEugene Emeralds, 1962
Josh Donaldson - Boise Hawks, 2007
Dave Duncan - Lewiston Broncs, 1965
Andre EthierVancouver Canadians, 2003
Todd FieldPortland Mavericks batboy, 1976–77
Chone FigginsPortland Rockies, 1998
Chuck FinleySalem Angels, 1985
George FosterMedford Giants, 1968
Matt FrancoPortland Mavericks batboy, 1977
Julio FrancoCentral Oregon Phillies, 1979
Tom GordonEugene Emeralds, 1987
Jason GiambiSouthern Oregon A's, 1992
Carlos GonzálezYakima Bears, 2004
Khalil GreeneEugene Emeralds, 2002
Pedro GuerreroBellingham Dodgers, 1974
Bob HamelinEugene Emeralds, 1988
Dave Henderson - Bellingham Mariners, 1977
Félix HernándezEverett AquaSox, 2003
Ken Hubbs- Wenatchee Chiefs, 1961
Ender Inciarte - Yakima Bears, 2010
Ian Kinsler -- Spokane Indians, 2003
John KrukWalla Walla Padres, 1981
Paul KonerkoYakima Bears, 1994
Adam JonesEverett AquaSox, 2003
John LackeyBoise Hawks, 1999
Mark Langston - Bellingham Mariners, 1981
Ted Lilly - Yakima Bears, 1996
Tim LincecumSalem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2006
Kirk McCaskillSalem Angels, 1982
Denis Menke - Yakima Valley Braves, 1960
Wade Miley - Yakima Bears, 2008
Rick MondayLewiston Broncos, 1965
Bill MurrayGrays Harbor Loggers, 1978
Joe NathanBellingham Giants, 1995; Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 1997
Claude Osteen - Wenatchee Chiefs, 1958
Troy PercivalBoise Hawks, 1991
Eduardo PérezBoise Hawks, 1991
Juan PierrePortland Rockies, 1998
Kevin Pillar - Vancouver Canadians, 2011
Buster PoseySalem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2008
Mark Reynolds - Yakima Bears, 2004
Francisco RodríguezBoise Hawks, 1999
Kurt RussellBend Rainbows, Walla Walla Islanders, Portland Mavericks, 1971–73, 1977
Tim Salmon – Bend Bucks, 1989
Jeff SamardzijaBoise Hawks, 2006
Casey SanderSeattle Rainiers, 1975
Pablo SandovalSalem-Keizer Volcanoes, 2005
Kyle Schwarber - Boise Hawks, 2014
Mike SciosciaBellingham Dodgers, 1976
Braden Shipley - Hillsboro Hops, 2014
Ted Sizemore - Tri-City Atoms, 1966
Marcus Stroman - Vancouver Canadians, 2012
Kurt SuzukiVancouver Canadians, 2004
Noah Syndergaard - Vancouver Canadians, 2011
Dansby Swanson - Hillsboro Hops, 2015
Mike SweeneyEugene Emeralds, 1992–93
Nick SwisherVancouver Canadians, 2002
Kevin Tapani - Medford A's, 1986
Miguel TejadaSouthern Oregon A's, 1995
Tom Treblehorn - Bend Rainbows, 1970
Trea Turner - Eugene Emeralds, 2014
Dan UgglaYakima Bears, 2001
Max Venable - Bellingham Dodgers, 1976
Shane VictorinoYakima Bears, 2000
Omar Vizquel - Bellingham Mariners, 1985
Matt Williams - Everett Giants, 1986
Mitch Williams - Walla Walla Padres, 1982
Russell WilsonTri-City Dust Devils, 2010
Mike ZuninoEverett AquaSox, 2012

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Missildine, Harry (April 20, 1972). "Northwest League goes back to 1890". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 22. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "Spokane gets berth in new ball league". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 8, 1954. p. 18. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Indians "on first" in baseball plans". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 9, 1954. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Northwest loop begins to shape into a tight seven-team battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. June 11, 1955. p. 8. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  5. ^ Rodman, Bob (June 17, 1981). "29 years of minor league baseball". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1E. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Broncs get confirmation from A's on '66 working agreement". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). March 2, 1966. p. 13.
  7. ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Northwest League Past Champions". Northwest League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
edit