The Pacific Northwest League was a professional Minor League Baseball

Minor league baseball

Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 league based in the Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...

. It was the first professional baseball league ever in the region.

Founding

The Pacific Northwest League was founded in 1890. In January 1890, investors met in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...

 to discuss a four-to-six team league in the Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...

. The league folded during the second half of the season because of a nationwide economic depression known as the "Panic of 1893

Panic of 1893

The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...

." During its time, the league was known for its former Major League players such as Kid Baldwin

Kid Baldwin

Clarence Geoghan "Kid" Baldwin was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played seven seasons at the Major League level. In addition to playing catcher, Baldwin also played outfield, third base, second base and first base. He also pitched two games in the season.-Early life:Baldwin began to play...

 and Ollie Beard

Ollie Beard

Oliver Perry Beard was an American Major League Baseball player who played shortstop for the Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds from 1889 to 1890. He then played third base for the Louisville Colonels in 1891. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, it is claimed that his family invented the Kentucky version of...

. In 1892 the league President was W. E. Rockwell and the Secretary was M. J. Roche. The league was revived briefly in , but only lasted until mid-June. The 1896 version was also known as the New Pacific League. Early rules for the league included salary caps of $1,000 per month but was later raised to $1,300 per month. The league agreed to add a team from Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...

 and either Wardner, Idaho

Wardner, Idaho

Wardner is a city in Shoshone County, Idaho, United States. The population was 188 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Wardner is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all the land....

 or Wallace, Idaho

Wallace, Idaho

Wallace is a historic city in the Panhandle region of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Shoshone County in the Silver Valley mining district...

 in the beginning of 1892 and the league was also close to adding a team from Salem, Oregon

Salem, Oregon

Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...

 but folded before anything was announced. The league denied Olympia, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...

 a baseball team in 1892.

Second resurrection

The second Pacific Northwest League began play in as a four-team league, and was a six-team Class B circuit in when the minors were first classified. The next season it expanded with teams in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...

 and San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

 and was renamed the Pacific National League, later known as the Pacific Coast League

Pacific Coast League

The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...

. The President of the league for the two years was William Henry Lucas.

Pacific Northwest League: 1890 to 1892

Team name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(s) active
Portland Webfeet Portland Webfeet The Portland Webfeet were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were located in Portland, Oregon and played at Columbia Park. They were active from to ....	Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...	Columbia Park	to
Seattle Hustlers Seattle Hustlers The Seattle Hustlers were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were based in Seattle, Washington. They played in Madison Park.-Year-by-year record:-Notable players:*Billy Earle*Bill Hassamaer*Gil Hatfield*Charlie Irwin...	Seattle, Washington Seattle, Washington Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...	Madison Park Madison Park (Seattle) Madison Park is an 8.3 acre park in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, located between the western shore of Lake Washington on the east, 42nd Avenue E. on the west, E. Madison Street on the north, and E. Blaine Street on the south. 43rd Avenue E...	to
Spokane Bunchgrassers Spokane Bunchgrassers The Spokane Bunchgrassers were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were located in Spokane, Washington and played at the Northwest League Grounds...	Spokane, Washington Spokane, Washington Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...	Northwest League Grounds	to
Tacoma Daisies Tacoma Daisies The Tacoma Daisies were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Pacific Northwest League. They were based in Tacoma, Washington and played in Tacoma Baseball Park. The Daisies were active for three seasons, winning the league championship in...	Tacoma, Washington Tacoma, Washington Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...	Tacoma Baseball Park	to

New Pacific League: 1896

Team name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(s) active
Portland Gladiators Portland Gladiators The Portland Gladiators were a Minor League Baseball team in the New Pacific League. They were based in Portland, Oregon and only lasted one season, in , before the league folded in mid-season. They ended up wining the championship game. One notable player for the Gladiators was Charlie...	Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...	Vaughn Street Park Vaughn Street Park Vaughn Street Park was a baseball park located in Portland, Oregon. It opened in 1901, and was torn down in 1956. Its primary tenant was the Portland Beavers Pacific Coast League team...
Seattle Yannigans/Rainmakers Seattle Yannigans/Rainmakers The Seattle Yannigans/Rainmakers were a Minor League Baseball team in the New Pacific League. They were based in Seattle, Washington and lasted only one season, folding along with the league during mid-season, . They finished last place.-Record:...	Seattle, Washington Seattle, Washington Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...	Unknown
Tacoma Rabbits/Colts Tacoma Rabbits/Colts The Tacoma Rabbits/Colts were a Minor League Baseball team in the New Pacific League. They were based in Tacoma, Washington and lasted only one season, folding along with the league during mid-season, . They finished second place.-Record:-External links:...	Tacoma, Washington Tacoma, Washington Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...	Unknown
Victoria Chappies Victoria Chappies The Victoria Chappies were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the New Pacific League. They were based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were only active one season and folded along with the league in mid-season. One notable player for the Chappies was Jay Hughes.-Record:-External...	Victoria, British Columbia Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...	Unknown

Pacific Northwest League: 1901 to 1902

Team name	Town represented	Stadium	Year(s) active
Butte Miners	Butte, Montana Butte, Montana Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...	Unknown
Helena Senators	Helena, Montana Helena, Montana Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...	Unknown
Portland Webfoots Portland Webfoots The Portland Webfoots were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were based in Portland, Oregon and were active for only two years, and...	Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...	Vaughn Street Park Vaughn Street Park Vaughn Street Park was a baseball park located in Portland, Oregon. It opened in 1901, and was torn down in 1956. Its primary tenant was the Portland Beavers Pacific Coast League team...	to
Seattle Clamdiggers	Seattle, Washington Seattle, Washington Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...	YMCA Field	to
Spokane Blue Stockings	Spokane, Washington Spokane, Washington Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...	Unknown
Spokane Smoke Eaters	Spokane, Washington Spokane, Washington Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...	Natatorium Park
Tacoma Tigers	Tacoma, Washington Tacoma, Washington Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...	Unknown	-

External links

• History at Baseball-Reference