The Western Association was the name of five different leagues formed in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887. It began operations in the 1888 season and lasted through the 1891 season.

A separate Western Association was formed in January 1894 with clubs in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri – with a team in faraway Denver, Colorado, added in 1895. This league ceased operations in 1898, but was revived again for the following season. It was renamed the Central League in 1900. In 1901, two leagues were called the Western Association. One had eight teams in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana; it folded after only one year. The other loop, confusingly located in the same geographic area, was the former Interstate League; it reverted to its original identity in 1902.

The most long-lived Western Association played between 1905 and 1954. Originally the Missouri Valley League, it existed for 42 years during that half century, suspending operations during both world wars and for one season (1933) during the Great Depression. It was largely a Class C circuit, meaning it was a lower minor league, above only the Class D level.

Cities represented

Ardmore, OK: Ardmore Foundlings (1917); Ardmore Snappers 1923; Ardmore Bearcats 1924; Ardmore Boomers (1925–1926) Bartlesville, OK: Bartlesville Boosters (1909–1910); Bartlesville Bearcats (1924); Bartlesville Boosters (1924); Bartlesville Broncos (1931–1932); Bartlesville Reds (1934–1935); Bartlesville Bucs (1936); Bartlesville Blues (1937); Bartlesville Chiefs (1938) Blackwell, OK: Blackwell Broncos (1954) Bloomington, IL: Bloomington Blues (1899) Burlington, IA: Burlington Colts (1895–1897); Burlington Hawkeyes (1898) Carthage, MO: Carthage Browns (1941) Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1896–1899) Chicago, IL: Chicago Maroons (1888) Chickasha, OK: Chickasha Chicks (1920–1921) Coffeyville, KS: Coffeyville White Sox (1911) Columbus, OH: Columbus Senators (1901) Davenport, IA: Davenport Onion Weeders (1888) Dayton, OH: Dayton Veterans (1901) Denison, TX: Denison Railroaders (1915–1917) Denver, CO: Denver Grizzlies (1889–1890); Denver Mountaineers (1891); Denver (1895) Des Moines, IA: Des Moines Prohibitionists (1888–1890, 1894–1897) Drumright, OK: Drumright Drummers (1920); Drumright Oilers (1921) Duluth, MN: Duluth Whalebacks (1891) Dubuque, IA: Dubuque (1895–1899) El Reno, OK: El Reno Packers (1909–1910) Enid, OK: Enid Railroaders (1908–1910); Enid Harvesters (1920–1923); Enid Giants (1950); Enid Buffalos (1951) Fort Smith, AR: Fort Smith Scouts (1911); Fort Smith Twins (1914–1917, 1920–1932); Fort Smith Giants (1938–1942, 1946–1949); Fort Smith Indians (1951–1952) Fort Smith, AR & Van Buren, AR: Fort Smith-Van Buren Twins (1953) Fort Wayne, IN: Fort Wayne Railroaders (1901) Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Woodworkers (1901) Guthrie, OK: Guthrie Senators (1905, 1909–1910, 1914) Henryetta, OK: Henryetta Boosters (1914); Henryetta Hens (1920–1923) Hutchinson, KS: Hutchinson Salt Packers (1906–1908); Hutchinson Wheat Shockers (1924, 1932); Hutchinson Larks (1934–1938); Hutchinson Pirates (1939–1942); Hutchinson Cubs (1946–1948); Hutchinson Elks (1949–1954) Independence, KS: Independence Packers (1911); Independence Producers (1925, 1928–1932) Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Hoosiers (1901) Iola, KS: Iola Indians (1954) Jacksonville, IL: Jacksonville Jacks (1894); Jacksonville (1895) Joplin, MO: Joplin Miners 1905–1911, 1922–1924; Joplin Ozarks (1926); Joplin Miners (1927–1932, 1934–1942, 1946–1953); Joplin Cardinals (1954) Joplin, MO & Webb City, MO: Joplin-Webb City Miners (1914) Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Blues (1888; 1890–1891); Kansas City Cowboys (1893) Lawrence, KS: Lawrence Farmers (1893) Leavenworth, KS: Leavenworth Orioles (1905); Leavenworth Old Soldiers (1906); Leavenworth Convicts (1907); Leavenworth Braves (1946–1949) Lincoln, NE: Lincoln (1890); Lincoln Rustlers (1891); Lincoln Treeplanters (1894–1895) Louisville, KY: Louisville Colonels (1901) McAlester, OK: McAlester Miners (1914–1917, 1922); McAlester Diggers (1923); McAlester Miners (1926) Marion, OH: Marion (1901) Maud, OK: Maud Chiefs (1929) Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Brewers (1888, 1890–1891); Milwaukee Creams (1889) Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Millers (1888–1891) Muskogee, OK: Muskogee Navigators (1909–1910); Muskogee Redskins (1911); Muskogee Mets 1914–1916; Muskogee Reds (1917); Muskogee Athletics (1924–1926); Muskogee Chiefs (1927–1932); Muskogee Tigers (1934–1936); Muskogee Reds (1937–1942, 1946–1950); Muskogee Giants (1951–1954) Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma City Mets (1905–1908); Oklahoma City Boosters (1914); Oklahoma City Senators (1916); Oklahoma City Boosters (1917) Okmulgee, OK: Okmulgee Drillers (1920–1927) Omaha, NE: Omaha Omahogs (1888–1890); Omaha Lambs (1891); Omaha Omahogs (1894–1895) Ottumwa, IA: Ottumwa Giants (1898–1899) Paris, TX: Paris Red Snappers (1915); Paris Survivors (1916); Paris Athletics (1917) Pawhuska, OK: Pawhuska Huskers (1920–1921); Pawhuska Osages (1922) Peoria, IL: Peoria Distillers (1894–1896); Peoria Blackbirds (1897–1898) Pittsburg, KS: Pittsburg Pirates (1909) Ponca City, OK: Ponca City Angels (1934–1938); Ponca City Jets (1954) Quincy, IL: Quincy Ravens (1894–1895); Quincy Bluebirds (1896); Quincy Little Giants (1897); Quincy (1898–1899) Rock Island, IL & Moline, IL: Rock Island-Moline Islanders (1894, 1898–1899) Rockford, IL: Rockford Forest City 1895–1897; Rockford Roughriders (1899) Springfield, IL: Springfield (1895) St. Joseph, MO: St. Joseph Clay Eaters (1889); St. Joseph Saints (1893); St. Joseph Saints (1894–1898); St. Joseph Packers (1906); St. Joseph Saints (1927); St. Joseph Angels (1939); St. Joseph Saints (1940); St. Joseph Ponies (1941); St. Joseph Cardinals (1946–1951); St. Joseph Cardinals (1953); St. Joseph Saints (1954) St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Whites (1888) St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Apostles (1888–1891) Salina, KS: Salina Millers (1938–1941); Salina Blue Jays (1946–1952) Sapulpa, OK: Sapulpa Oilers 1909–1911 Sedalia, MO: Sedalia Gold Bugs (1905) Shawnee, OK: Shawnee Robins (1929–1930) Sherman, TX: Sherman Hitters (1915); Sherman Lions (1916); Sherman Browns (1917) Sioux City, IA: Sioux City Cornhuskers (1888–1891) Springfield, MO: Springfield Highlanders (1905); Springfield Midgets (1906–1909); Springfield Jobbers (1911); Springfield Merchants (1920); Springfield Midgets (1921–1930); Springfield Cardinals (1931–1932); Springfield Red Wings (1934); Springfield Cardinals (1935–1942, 1948); Springfield Cubs (1950) Toledo, OH: Toledo Mud Hens (1901) Topeka, KS: Topeka Populists (1893); Topeka White Sox (1905–1907); Topeka Jayhawkers (1908); Topeka Senators (1924); Topeka Jayhawks 1927–1928; Topeka Jayhawks (1932); Topeka Owls (1939–1942, 1946–1954) Tulsa, OK: Tulsa Oilers (1910); Tulsa Railroaders (1911); Tulsa Oilers (1914); Tulsa Producers (1915–1917) Webb City, MO: Webb City Goldbugs (1906–1907); Webb City Webbfeet (1908–1909) Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Stogies (1901) Wichita, KS: Wichita Jobbers (1905–1908)

Year–by–year 1888 to 1891 1888 Western Association – schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersKansas City Blues7642.644-Jim Manning Des Moines Prohibitionists7340.646½ Charlie MortonSt. Paul Apostles6138.6165½ Andrew Thompson Omaha Omahogs5548.53413½Frank Selee Milwaukee Brewers5354.49517½Jim Hart Chicago Maroons4171.36632 Moxie Hengle St. Louis Whites 1018.357NATom Loftus Sioux City Cornhuskers 2138.356NAWilliam Bryan / Jim PowellMinneapolis Millers 2852.350NAAl Gooding / Dave RoweDavenport Onion Weeders 421.160NAWilliam Lucas St. Louis disbanded June 20; Sioux City began play July 4 and later disbanded; Minneapolis moved to Davenport August 25

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotSpud JohnsonKansas CityBA.342Tom LovettOmahaW30Jim ManningKansas CityRuns123Tom LovettOmahaSO273Bug HollidayDes MoinesHits147Kid NicholsKansas CityERA1.14Orator ShafferDes MoinesHits147Kid NicholsKansas CityPCT.889 16–2Scrappy CarrollSt. PaulHR16Jim ManningKansas CitySB101

1889 Western Association – schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersOmaha Omahogs8338.686-Frank Selee St. Paul Apostles7546.6208 Andrew Thompson / John BarnesMinneapolis Millers6655.54517 Samuel Morton / Moxie HengleSioux City Cornhuskers6460.51620½Jim Powell Milwaukee Creams5863.47925 Ezra Sutton Denver Grizzlies5170.42132 Dave RoweSt. Joseph Clay Eaters4170.36937 Charles Lord / A.H. Truckenmiller Chippy McGarr Des Moines Prohibitionists4177.34740½ Jimmy Macullar

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotMonk ClineSioux CityBA.364Kid NicholsOmahaW39Monk ClineSioux CityRuns172Kid NicholsOmahaSO368Abner DalrympleDenverHits173Martin DukeMinneapolisERA1.66Charlie ReillySt. PaulHR27Kid NicholsOmahaPCT.830 39–8

1890 Western Association – schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersKansas City Blues7839.667-Charles Hackett / Jim ManningMilwaukee Brewers7647.655½Charlie Cushman Minneapolis Millers8043.6501 Samuel Morton / Tim Hurst Denver Grizzlies5764.47123 Dave RoweSioux City Cornhuskers5564.46224 Jim Powell Omaha Omahogs5169.42528½ Frank Leonard Des Moines / Lincoln4873.39732Jimmy Macullar St. Paul Apostles3784.30643 Andrew Thompson / Bill Watkins Des Moines (31–52) moved to Lincoln August 1.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotBuster HooverKansas CityBA.336John ThorntonMilwaukeeW29Elmer SmithDenverRuns128Martin DukeMinneapolisSO308Dan MinnehanMinneapolisHits178Martin DukeMinneapolisERA0.81Scrappy CarrollSt. PaulHR21Nat HudsonMinneapolisPCT765 13–4Jim ManningKansas CitySB96Willard MainsSt. PaulHB40

1891 Western Association - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersSioux City Cornhuskers6657.537-Al Buckenberger Kansas City Blues6659.5281Jim ManningOmaha Lambs5159.4648½Dan Shannon / Bob LeadleyDenver Mountaineers5363.4579½ George Tebeau / W.L. Van Horn Sam CantrellMilwaukee Brewers5937.615NACharlie Cushman Minneapolis Millers 5247.525NAW.H. Harkington (8/11) / Samuel Morton Lincoln Rustlers 4649.484NADave Rowe St. Paul Apostles / Duluth Whalebacks 3961.390NABill Watkins / Jay Anderson St. Paul (17–34) moved to Duluth June 8; Milwaukee joined American Association August 18; Duluth, Minneapolis and Lincoln disbanded August 20.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotRasty WrightDuluth/OmahaBA.353Billy HartSioux CityW25Jim ManningDenverRuns138Tom VickeryMilwaukeeSO153Ecky StearnsKansas CityHits156George DaviesMilwaukeePct.767; 23–7Dell DarlingMinneapolisHR18

Year–by–year 1893 to 1899 1893 Western Association Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersKansas City Cowboys128.600-William Lucas St. Joseph Saints118.579½Harry Gatewood Topeka Populists812.4004 Duff Cooley Lawrence Farmers712.3684½ John Rodemaker / John Hayden The League disbanded June 20. Playoff: Kansas City 4 games, St. Joseph 2.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotDucky HolmesSt. JosephBA.481Bert CunninghamKansas CityW7Cornelius HolohanSt. JosephRuns28Bert CunninghamKansas CitySO35Harry HoweSt. JosephHits37Gus MackeyLawrenceSO35Andy CostelloLawrenceHR4Harry HoweSt. JosephPCT1.000 3–0Cornelius HolohanSt. JosephSB18

1894 Western Association Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersRock Island-Moline Islanders7250.590-Harry Sage Peoria Distillers6855.5534½ George Brackett Lincoln Treeplanters6756.5455½ Hi EbrightJacksonville Jacks6757.5406 Con Strothers Omaha Omahogs6659.5287½ Pa Rourke St. Joseph Saints5766.46315½ Bill Kneisley / Hugh Nicol Des Moines Prohibitionists5573.43020 Hugh Nicol / Bill TraffleyQuincy Ravens4278.35029 Burt Merrifield

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotJoe KatzRock Island/MolineBA.404George McVeyOmahaHits215Emmett SeeryOmahaRuns196Joe StraussJacksonvilleHR33Walt PrestonSt. JosephSB55

1895 Western Association – schedule