Western International League

The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937–1942, and 1946–1954. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season, Class A loop under that name.

The WIL consisted of teams in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. It was a Class B league through 1951 and was upgraded to Class A in 1952. In its final season, it included teams in Calgary, Edmonton, Lewiston, Salem, Spokane, Kennewick-Richland-Pasco (playing as "Tri-City"), Vancouver, Victoria, Wenatchee and Yakima.

Throughout much of the 1930s and 1940s its teams were largely unaffiliated with Major League Baseball farm systems and provided talent to the strong Pacific Coast League of the era.

Member teams

Champions

  • 1923—Calgary
  • 1937—Tacoma
  • 1938—Bellingham
  • 1939—Tacoma
  • 1940—Tacoma
  • 1941—Spokane

  • 1942—Vancouver
  • 1946—Wenatchee
  • 1947—Vancouver
  • 1948—Spokane
  • 1949—Vancouver

  • 1950—Yakima
  • 1951—Spokane
  • 1952—Victoria
  • 1953—Spokane
  • 1954—Vancouver

References