The Northwestern League was a professional sports league in minor league baseball that operated from 1905 to 1917. It was represented by teams based in British Columbia, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The league became the Pacific Coast International League in 1918.

Teams 21 teams played in the league throughout its existence. Those teams include the: Aberdeen Black Cats (1905, 1917), Bellingham Gillnetters (1905), Everett Smokestackers (1905), Spokane Indians (1905–1917), Vancouver Horse Doctors (1905, 1907), Victoria Legislators (1905), Butte Miners (1906–1908, 1916–1917), Grays Harbor Lumbermen (1906), Tacoma Tigers (1906–1917), Seattle Siwashes (1907–1908), Grays Harbor Grays (1908–1909), Vancouver Beavers (1908–1911, 1914, 1916–1917), Portland Colts (1909, 1912–1914), Seattle Turks (1909), Seattle Giants (1910–1917), Portland Pippins (1911), Victoria Bees (1911–1915), Vancouver Champions (1912, 1915), Vancouver Bees (1913), Ballard Pippins (1914), a Great Falls, Montana team (1916) and Great Falls Electrics (1917).

League champions For most of the league's history, there were no official playoffs following the regular season. The only season with a playoff was 1915. Therefore, the team that finished in first place was often the de facto league champion.

The Everett Smokestackers were the league's first champions, finishing in first place in the four team league in 1905. In 1906, the Tacoma Tigers finished in first place, and in 1907, the Aberdeen Black Cats took the crown. The Vancouver Beavers finished in first place in 1908 and again in 1911 and 1914. The Seattle Turks won in 1909 and the Spokane Indians in 1910. In 1912, the Seattle Giants were first, while in 1913 the Vancouver Bees finished on top.

In 1915, the league played its only official playoff, which matched the first-place Seattle Giants against the second-place Tacoma Tigers. The Giants won the playoff three games to two, though it was presumably supposed to be at least a seven-game series - however, the playoff was abandoned during game six when a dispute broke out.

The Spokane Indians finished in first place in 1916 and the Great Falls Electrics finished in first place in 1917.

Cities represented Aberdeen, WA: Aberdeen Black Cats 1907, 1915; Aberdeen Grays 1908–1909 Aberdeen, WA & Hoquiam, WA: Grays Harbor Grays 1906 Ballard, WA: Ballard Pippins 1914 Bellingham, WA: Bellingham Yankees 1905 Butte, MT: Butte Miners 1906–1908, 1916–1917 Everett, WA: Everett Smokestackers 1905 Great Falls, MT: Great Falls Electrics 1916–1917 Portland, OR: Portland Colts 1909, 1912–1914; Portland Pippins 1911 Seattle, WA: Seattle Siwashes 1907–1908; Seattle Turks 1909; Seattle Giants 1910–1917 Spokane, WA: Spokane Indians 1905–1917 Tacoma, WA: Tacoma Tigers 1906–1917 Vancouver, BC: Vancouver Horse Doctors 1905, 1907; Vancouver Beavers 1908–1911, 1914, 1916–1917; Vancouver Champions 1912, 1915; Vancouver Bees 1913; Victoria, BC: Victoria Legislators 1905; Victoria Bees 1911–1915

Standings & statistics

1905 Northwestern League schedule pt 1 - pt 2 Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Everett Smokestackers6037.619–Billy Hulen Bellingham Yankees4948.50511 Kirby Drennen / Frederick Clarke Vancouver Horse Doctors4552.46415 John McCloskey Victoria Legislators / Spokane Indians 4158.41420 G.G. Howlett / Ed Hutchinson / Charles McIntyre Victoria (14–38) moved to Spokane July 11. Season shortened to September 11. Playoffs: None. First half finished in a tie. League decided if Everett won second half, Everett would be champion. Everett won the second half.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Kirby Drennan BellinghamBA.320 Carl DruhotBellinghamW18 Billy HulenEverettRuns85 Hick Belt EverettW18 Ed HutchinsonVict/SpokeHits107 Ira Harmon VancouverSO194 Joe MarshallVancouverHR7 John McInnisEverettPct.800; 12–3

1906 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Tacoma Tigers5436.600–Mike LynchButte Miners4342.5068.5Charles McIntyre Grays Harbor Grays4147.46612 Robert Brown / Bill Hurley Spokane Indians3750.42515½Bill Hurley / Matthew Stanley

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Mike LynchTacomaBA.355Ike ButlerTacomaW20 Mike LynchTacomaRuns76Irv HigginbothamTacomaSO153 Mike LynchTacomaHits130 Oscar BandelinButtePct.733; 11–4 Mike LynchTacomaHR7

1907 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Aberdeen Black Cats8551.625–Robert Brown Tacoma Tigers9059.6041½George ShreederSeattle Siwashes8365.5618 Dan Dugdale Butte Miners7073.49018½Russ Hall Spokane Indians6876.47221 E.E. Quinn Vancouver Horse Doctors34106.24353 Parke Wilson / Butch McIntyre / James Evans / Con Strothers / William Hurley

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Ed HouseholderAberdeenBA.347Ike ButlerTacomaW32 Hunky ShawTacomaRuns105Irv HigginbothamAberdeenSO295 Hunky ShawTacomaHits174Bill BrinkerAberdeenPct.714; 15-6 John Clynes Tacoma/Vancouver HR10

1908 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Vancouver Beavers8562.578–Richard Dickson Tacoma Tigers7466.5297½Mike Lynch Aberdeen Grays7369.5149½Robert Brown Spokane Indians7275.49013 E.E. Quinn Butte Miners6373.46316½Russ Hall Seattle Siwashes6587.42822½Dan Dugdale

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Steamer FlanaganVancouverBA.352 George Engel VancouverW22 Ham HyattVancouverRuns102 Ed Erickson VancouverW22 Ham HyattVancouverHits185Spec HarknessButteW22 Ham HyattVancouverHR15Gus ThompsonGrays HarborSO263 George EngelVancouverPct.733; 22-8

1909 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Seattle Turks10958.653–Mike LynchSpokane Indians10066.6028½Robert Brown Aberdeen Grays7881.49127 Pants Rowland Portland Colts7988.47330 Perle Casey Vancouver Beavers7096.42238½Lou Nordyke Tacoma Tigers64111.36649 Russ Hall / Jerry Hurley / Ike Butler

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat Tot PlayerTeamStatTot Pug BennettSeattleBA.314 Gus Thompson SeattleW26 Pug BennettSeattleRuns111 Jesse BakerTacoma/SpokaneSO249 Pug BennettSeattleHits201 Frank AllenSeattlePct.769; 20-6 George CapronSeattleHR15

1910 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Spokane Indians9665.596–Harry Ostdiek Vancouver Beavers8971.5566½Robert Brown Tacoma Tigers7384.46521Cliff Blankenship Seattle Giants6199.38134½Mike Lynch / Fred Wood

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Lou NordykeSpokaneBA.290Jesse BakerSpokaneW28 Charles Swain VancouverRuns88Jesse BakerSpokaneSO227 Lou NordykeSpokaneHits163Jesse BakerSpokanePct.737; 28-10 Charles Swain VancouverHR11

1911 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Vancouver Beavers10361.628–Kitty Brashear Spokane Indians9671.5748½Harry Ostdiek Seattle Giants9077.53314½Jack Tighe / Frank Raymond Portland Pippins8477.52117½Nick Williams Tacoma Tigers8184.49022½Mike LynchVictoria Bees41125.24763 T.S. McPherson

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Art BuesSeattleBA.352 Ralph Willis SpokaneW23Phil CooneySpokaneRuns130 George Engel VancouverPct.786; 22-6 Art BuesSeattleHits219 Art BuesSeattleHR27 Pug BennettVancouverSB64

1912 Northwestern League schedule Team StandingsWLPCTGB Managers Seattle Giants9966.600–Jack Barry / Frank Raymond Spokane Indians9572.5685 Harry Ostdiek Vancouver Champions9473.5636 Kitty Brashear Portland Colts7488.45723½Nick Williams Victoria Bees7293.43627 Lou Nordyke Tacoma Tigers62104.37337½Mike Lynch

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Jack Meek VictoriaBA.344 Bill JamesSeattleW26 Hap MyersSpokaneRuns121 Bill James SeattleSO201 Hap MyersSpokaneHits207Bill James SeattlePct.765; 26-8 Les MannSeattleHR23 Hap MyersSpokaneSB116

1913 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Vancouver Bees9966.600–Robert BrownPortland Colts8673.54110 Nick Williams Seattle Giants8978.53311 Frank Raymond Victoria Bees8190.47421 Mike Lynch / Del Delmas Tacoma Tigers7596.43927 Joe McGinnity Spokane Indians7097.41930Harry Ostdiek / Watt Powell / Mike Lynch

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Jack Meek VictoriaBA.358Erv KantlehnerVictoriaW23 Charles Swain VictoriaRuns112Erv KantlehnerVictoriaSO253 Ed KippertVancouverHits202 Clyde Hall VancouverPct.696; 16-7 Charles Swain VictoriaHR34

1914 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Vancouver Beavers9656.632–Robert BrownSeattle Giants9561.6093 Frank Raymond Spokane Indians8468.55312 Mike LynchVictoria Bees6487.42431½Del DelmasTacoma Tigers6493.40834½Joe McGinnity / Russ Hall Portland Colts / Ballard Pippins 5896.37739 Nick Williams Portland (36–60) moved to Ballard July 20.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Emil FriskVancou/SpokaneBA.322Wheezer DellSeattleW21 Kid ButlerSpokaneRuns95Stan CoveleskiSpokaneSO214 Emil FriskVancou/SpokaneHits178Oscar HarstadVancouverPct.867; 13-2 Charles Swain SeattleHR12

1915 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Seattle Giants8868.564–Frank Raymond Tacoma Tigers8672.5443 Russ Hall / Joe McGinnity Spokane Indians8174.5236½Bob Wicker Vancouver Champions7479.48412½Hank Scharnweber Aberdeen Black Cats #4662.426NACharley Stis / Pug Bennett Victoria Bees4161.402NAMartin Nye Victoria and Aberdeen folded August 1.Playoff: Seattle 3 games, Tacoma 2; abandoned after sixth game ended in dispute.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Ed KippertSea/Aber/TacomaBA.332 Richard Kaufman TacomaW25 Jack Smith Aberdeen/SeattleRuns99Duster MailsSeattleSO250 Ted Kaylor Spokane/VictoriaHits197Chuck RoseSeattlePct.667; 20-10 Bill BrinkerVancouverHR11

1916 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Spokane Indians7948.622–Nick Williams Butte Miners6859.53511 Joe McGinnity Tacoma Tigers6361.50814½Russ Hall Great Falls Electrics6061.49616 Dick Hurley / Herb Hester Seattle Giants6072.45521½Frank Raymond Vancouver Beavers5079.38830 Robert Brown

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Ed KippertButteBA.358Suds SutherlandTacomaW23 Roy GroverButteRuns119Rudy KallioGreat FallsSO190 Rod Murphy VancouverHits182Suds SutherlandTacomaPct.767; 23-7 Dave HillyardButteHR17 Dave HillyardButteRBI101

1917 Northwestern League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Great Falls Electrics4229.592–Herb Hester Seattle Giants4634.575½Bill Leard / Rube Gardner Tacoma Tigers3835.5215 Frank Raymond Spokane Indians3641.4689 Nick WilliamsButte Miners3138.44910 Joe McGinnity / Cliff McCarl Vancouver Beavers3349.40214½Robert Brown Season was shortened to July 15 with National Association approval.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Harry HarperTacomaBA.382Herman PilletteTacomaW13 Charles JacksonSpokaneRuns74 Jim Clark Great FallsW13 Harry HarperTacomaHits113Harry GardnerGreat Falls/TacomaSO108 Dave HillyardButteHR12 Pat Eastley SeattlePct.750; 9–3

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni Dave Bancroft, 1913 Portland Colts Stan Coveleski, 1913–1914 Spokane Indians Harry Heilmann, 1913 Portland Colts George Kelly, 1914–1915 Victoria Bees Joe McGinnity, 1913–1915 Tacoma Tigers, 1916–1917 Butte Miners, 1917 Great Falls Electrics

References