This page is the main page for this topic. For other related pages & articles, see:
|
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball (or simply the Northwest League or NWL) is a High-A minor league in the northwest United States and western Canada. The NWL's short season starts in mid-June, after major league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early September. All eight teams are affiliated with a major league team.
The Northwest League (or the Northwestern League) has existed in various forms since 1890, and has been in its current incarnation since 1955. The current NWL is the descendant of the Western International League (WIL), a Class B league from 1937 to 1951 (with a stoppage during World War II) and Class A from 1952 to 1954. The league reformed as the Northwest League and dropped to Class B for the 1955 season.
The WIL had ten teams in its final season, with four in Canada. In 1955, the Northwest League was formed, with seven charter teams: Salem Senators, Eugene Emeralds, Yakima Bears, Spokane Indians, Tri-City Braves, Wenatchee Chiefs, and Lewiston Broncs. During its fiftieth season in 2004, five of the seven original cities were in the league. The Northwest League switched to the short season schedule in 1966, with only four teams, and expanded to six in 1970.