Northwestern League (1905–1917)

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.

Northwestern League (1905–1917)
ClassificationClass B (1905–1917)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1905
Ceased1917
Replaced byPacific Coast International League
PresidentWilliam Henry Lucas (1905–1910)
Robert Lindsay (1911)
Dan Dugdale (1911)
Fielder Jones (1912–1914)
E.H. Hughes (1914)
Bob Blewett (1915–1917)
No. of teams21
CountryUnited States of America
Last
champion(s)
4
Vancouver

Teams

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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

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For most of the league's history, there were no official playoffs following the regular season — in fact, 1915 was the only season in which a playoff was played. 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 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 1905—1917

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Standings & statistics

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1905 Northwestern League schedule pt 1 - pt 2

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Everett Smokestackers 60 37 .619 Billy Hulen
Bellingham Yankees 49 48 .505 11.0 Kirby Drennen / Frederick Clarke
Vancouver Horse Doctors 45 52 .464 15.0 John McCloskey
Victoria Legislators /
Spokane Indians
41 58 .414 20.0 G.G. Howlett /
Ed Hutchinson / Charles McIntyre

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

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

1906 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Tacoma Tigers 54 36 .600 Mike Lynch
Butte Miners 43 42 .506 8.5 Charles McIntyre
Grays Harbor Grays 41 47 .466 12.0 Robert Brown / Bill Hurley
Spokane Indians 37 50 .425 15.5 Bill Hurley / Matthew Stanley

Grays Harbor represented Aberdeen—Hoquiam, Washington.

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

1907 Northwestern League schedule<

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Aberdeen Black Cats 85 51 .625 Robert Brown
Tacoma Tigers 90 59 .604 1.5 George Shreeder
Seattle Siwashes 83 65 .561 8.0 Dan Dugdale
Butte Miners 70 73 .490 18.5 Russ Hall
Spokane Indians 68 76 .472 21.0 E.E. Quinn
Vancouver Horse Doctors 34 106 .243 53.0 Parke Wilson / Butch McIntyre /
James Evans /
Con Strothers / William Hurley
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ed Householder Aberdeen BA .347 Ike Butler Tacoma W 32
Hunky Shaw Tacoma Runs 105 Irv Higginbotham Aberdeen SO 295
Hunky Shaw Tacoma Hits 174 Bill Brinker Aberdeen Pct .714; 15-6
John Clynes Tacoma/Vancouver HR 10

1908 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Beavers 85 62 .578 Richard Dickson
Tacoma Tigers 74 66 .529 7.5 Mike Lynch
Aberdeen Grays 73 69 .514 9.5 Robert Brown
Spokane Indians 72 75 .490 13.0 E.E. Quinn
Butte Miners 63 73 .463 16.5 Russ Hall
Seattle Siwashes 65 87 .428 22.5 Dan Dugdale
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Steamer Flanagan Vancouver BA .352 George Engel Vancouver W 22
Ham Hyatt Vancouver Runs 102 Ed Erickson Vancouver W 22
Ham Hyatt Vancouver Hits 185 Spec Harkness Butte W 22
Ham Hyatt Vancouver HR 15 Gus Thompson Grays Harbor SO 263
George Engel Vancouver Pct .733; 22-8

1909 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Turks 109 58 .653 Mike Lynch
Spokane Indians 100 66 .602 8.5 Robert Brown
Aberdeen Grays 78 81 .491 27.0 Pants Rowland
Portland Colts 79 88 .473 30.0 Perle Casey
Vancouver Beavers 70 96 .422 38.5 Lou Nordyke
Tacoma Tigers 64 111 .366 49.0 Russ Hall /
Jerry Hurley / Ike Butler
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pug Bennett Seattle BA .314 John Thompson Seattle W 26
Pug Bennett Seattle Runs 111 Jesse Baker Tacoma/Spokane SO 249
Pug Bennett Seattle Hits 201 Frank Allen Seattle Pct .769; 20-6
George Capron Seattle HR 15

1910 Northwestern League schedule

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

1911 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Beavers 103 61 .628 Kitty Brashear
Spokane Indians 96 71 .574 8.5 Harry Ostdiek
Seattle Giants 90 77 .533 14.5 Jack Tighe / Frank Raymond
Portland Pippins 84 77 .521 17.5 Nick Williams
Tacoma Tigers 81 84 .490 22.5 Mike Lynch
Victoria Bees 41 125 .247 63.0 T.S. McPherson
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Art Bues Seattle BA .352 Ralph Willis Spokane W 23
Phil Cooney Spokane Runs 130 George Engel Vancouver Pct .786; 22-6
Art Bues Seattle Hits 219
Art Bues Seattle HR 27
Pug Bennett Vancouver SB 64

1912 Northwestern League schedule

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Giants 99 66 .600 Jack Barry / Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 95 72 .568 5.0 Harry Ostdiek
Vancouver Champions 94 73 .563 6.0 Kitty Brashear
Portland Colts 74 88 .457 23.5 Nick Williams
Victoria Bees 72 93 .436 27.0 Lou Nordyke
Tacoma Tigers 62 104 .373 37.5 Mike Lynch
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Meek Victoria BA .344 Bill James Seattle W 26
Hap Myers Spokane Runs 121 Bill James Seattle SO 201
Hap Myers Spokane Hits 207 Bill James Seattle Pct .765; 26-8
Les Mann Seattle HR 23
Hap Myers Spokane SB 116

1913 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Bees 99 66 .600 Robert Brown
Portland Colts 86 73 .541 10.0 Nick Williams
Seattle Giants 89 78 .533 11.0 Frank Raymond
Victoria Bees 81 90 .474 21.0 Mike Lynch / Del Delmas
Tacoma Tigers 75 96 .439 27.0 Joe McGinnity
Spokane Indians 70 97 .419 30.0 Harry Ostdiek /
Watt Powell / Mike Lynch
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Meek Victoria BA .358 Erv Kantlehner Victoria W 23
Charles Swain Victoria Runs 112 Erv Kantlehner Victoria SO 253
Ed Kippert Vancouver Hits 202 Clyde Hall Vancouver Pct .696; 16-7
Charles Swain Victoria HR 34

1914 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Vancouver Beavers 96 56 .632 Robert Brown
Seattle Giants 95 61 .609 3.0 Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 84 68 .553 12.0 Mike Lynch
Victoria Bees 64 87 .424 31.5 Del Delmas
Tacoma Tigers 64 93 .408 34.5 Joe McGinnity / Russ Hall
Portland Colts /
Ballard Pippins
58 96 .377 39.0 Nick Williams

Portland (36—60) moved to Ballard July 20.

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

1915 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Seattle Giants 88 68 .564 Frank Raymond
Tacoma Tigers 86 72 .544 3.0 Russ Hall / Joe McGinnity
Spokane Indians 81 74 .523 6.5 Bob Wicker
Vancouver Champions 74 79 .484 12.5 Hank Scharnweber
Aberdeen Black Cats # 46 62 .426 NA Charley Stis / Pug Bennett
Victoria Bees 41 61 .402 NA Martin Nye

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

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

1916 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Spokane Indians 79 48 .622 Nick Williams
Butte Miners 68 59 .535 11.0 Joe McGinnity
Tacoma Tigers 63 61 .508 14.5 Russ Hall
Great Falls Electrics 60 61 .496 16.0 Dick Hurley / Herb Hester
Seattle Giants 60 72 .455 21.5 Frank Raymond
Vancouver Beavers 50 79 .388 30.0 Robert Brown
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ed Kippert Butte BA .358 Suds Sutherland Tacoma W 23
Roy Grover Butte Runs 119 Rudy Kallio Great Falls SO 190
Rod Murphy Vancouver Hits 182 Suds Sutherland Tacoma Pct .767; 23-7
Dave Hillyard Butte HR 17
Dave Hillyard Butte RBI 101

1917 Northwestern League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Great Falls Electrics 42 29 .592 Herb Hester
Seattle Giants 46 34 .575 0.5 Bill Leard / Rube Gardner
Tacoma Tigers 38 35 .521 5.0 Frank Raymond
Spokane Indians 36 41 .468 9.0 Nick Williams
Butte Miners 31 38 .449 10.0 Joe McGinnity / Cliff McCarl
Vancouver Beavers 33 49 .402 14.5 Robert Brown

The season was shortened to July 15 with National Association approval.

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

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

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References

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