The Northwestern League was a sports league that operated in the Central United States during the early years of professional baseball for six seasons: 1879, 1883–1884, 1886–1887, and 1891. After the 1887 season, the league was replaced by the Western Association, although the Northwestern League returned for its final season in 1891 as an independent baseball league.
The Northwestern League of 1883–1884 is considered the first baseball "minor league", as it was party to the National Agreement of 1883, along with the National League and American Association, whereby the leagues agreed to honor each other's suspensions, expulsions, and player reserve clauses, and established territorial rights.
An unrelated Northwestern League, located in the Pacific Northwest, later formed in 1905.
Results by season The league operated for a total of six seasons, during a span of 13 years.
1879
Four teams participated in the 1879 season, which ran from May 1 to July 7.
+ 1879 Northwestern League final standings Team Record GB Manager Dubuque Red Stockings — Ted Sullivan Rockford White Stockings 5 James McKee Omaha Green Stockings 11 Davenport Brown Stockings 12 J. W. Green Source:
1883
The 1883 season featured eight teams and ran from May 1 to September 29. Saginaw won the pennant.
+ 1883 Northwestern League final standings Team Record GB Manager Toledo Blue Stockings — William Voltz / Charlie Morton Saginaw Greys 2 Arthur Whitney Peoria Reds 7 Charles Flynn / Charles Levis / A. C. Harding Grand Rapids (MI) 8 Charles Eden / Henry Jones Springfield (IL) 19 C. J. Frichtel / John Peters / John Crawford Bay City (MI) 21 John Crawford / William Montgomery / Chester Morgan Fort Wayne Hoosiers 22 Jack Remsen / Milton Scott Quincy Quincys 33 Charles Overrecker / Ed Hengel / Dickey Pearce Source:
1884 The 1884 season began on May 1 with 12 teams. The Bay City team disbanded in late July and was replaced by Evansville. In early August, multiple other teams disbanded. Play continued through August 13, at which time Milwaukee had the best record of teams still active. Milwaukee was later offered the league championship for the abbreviated season, but declined it.
+ 1884 Northwestern League final standings (1) Team Record GB Manager Grand Rapids (MI) — Horace Phillips Saginaw Greys William Dyer Quincy Quincys George Brackett Peoria Reds 9 James Whitfield / Charles Flynn Milwaukee Brewers Charles Cushman / James McKee / Tom Loftus Minneapolis Millers Benjamin Tuthill Muskegon (MI) 27 A. R. Bradford / Charles Cushman / John Rainey Fort Wayne Hoosiers 29 John McDonough / Harry Smith St. Paul Apostles Lem Hunter / Andrew Thompson Stillwater (MN) 31 Joseph May / Joe Miller / Fred Gunkle / John Peters Terre Haute (IN) 36 Al Buckenberger / George Hammerstein Evansville (IN) n/a Stephen Hagan Bay City (MI) n/a Bill Watkins Source:
The league reorganized on August 14, and started a second season with a limited schedule of 24 games planned for each of four teams. This short season would also end early due to financial difficulties, with the final game played on September 7.
+ 1884 Northwestern League final standings (2) Team Record GB Manager Milwaukee Brewers — Tom Loftus Minneapolis Millers 2 Benjamin Tuthill St. Paul Apostles Andrew Thompson Winona Clippers John Rainey Source:
The St. Paul and Milwaukee teams were late-season additions to the major league Union Association.
1886–1887 In 1886, the league was recreated when the Duluth Jayhawks; Eau Claire Lumbermen; St. Paul Freezers, Minneapolis Millers, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Oshkosh, Wisconsin based Oshkosh team composed the league. Duluth won the championship.
In 1887, the Northwestern League featured the Des Moines Hawkeyes, Duluth Freezers, Eau Claire, LaCrosse Freezers, Milwaukee Cream Citys, Minneapolis Millers, Oshkosh and the St. Paul Saints. Oshkosh won the championship.
1891 Teams
Bay City, Michigan: Bay City Dayton, Ohio: Dayton Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Wolverines Evansville, Indiana: Evansville Hoosiers Fort Wayne, Indiana: Ft. Wayne Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids Shamrocks Peoria, Illinois: Peoria Distillers Terre Haute, Indiana: Terre Haute Hottentots
Standings League president: W. H. Ketcham + 1891 Northwestern LeagueTeam standingsWLPCTGB Manager(s) Evansville Hoosiers4429.603–Andy Sommers Ft. Wayne3933.5424½Guy Hecker Terre Haute Hottentots2841.40614Billy Clingman / George BrackettGrand Rapids Shamrocks2844.38915½John Murphy Peoria Distillers 4217.712NAGeorge Brackett Dayton 2730.474NAHarry Fisher Bay City 1217.414NA Fred Craves / John WhalenDetroit Wolverines 1019.345NARasty Wright Note: Peoria and Dayton disbanded July 16; Bay City disbanded June 7; Detroit disbanded June 6 Peoria won the first and second split-season. Evansville won the third split-season.
Schedule:
References
Further reading
External links Northwestern League - Baseball Reference