Hawaii Winter Baseball (HWB), based in
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island o ...
, was a professional baseball league in the
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
an islands. It was loosely affiliated with
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB).
History
The HWB league first began play in 1993. Funded by
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
, the league drew players from the MLB,
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
, the
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO; ko, 한국야구위원회) is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. The KBO was founded in 1981 and has governed two leagues: the KBO League ( ko, KBO 리그) and KBO ...
, and
independent leagues. Games were played in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
from October to December. The HWB league first folded after the 1997 season as it was too heavily reliant on its limited funding from MLB.
In 2006, the league returned for its sixth season. It was the only
winter league to feature both top Japanese and American talent. However, this new league folded following the 2008 season when the contract with MLB expired.
Alumni
Source:
2006-2008 Teams
Former teams
*
Hilo Stars
The Hilo Stars were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Hilo, Hawaii. They played their home games at Vulcan Field and Wong Stadium. Former players include Ichiro Suzuki, Bill Mueller, Adam Kenedy ...
*
Kauai Emeralds
Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...
*
Kaneohe Bay Dawgs
*
Kona Man O'Wars
*
Kona Navigators
*
Lahaina Whalers
*
Maui Stingrays
The Maui Stingrays were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Wailuku, Hawaii. They played their home games at Maehara Stadium.
For the 1994 season, Julie Croteau and Lee Anne Ketcham, teammates w ...
The Kaneohe Bay Dawgs and Kona Man O'Wars were announced in August 1996 as expansions teams to begin play in 1997. The Kaneohe announcement was rescinded in October 1996, and Kona did not play in 1997.
Champions
*1993
Hilo Stars
The Hilo Stars were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Hilo, Hawaii. They played their home games at Vulcan Field and Wong Stadium. Former players include Ichiro Suzuki, Bill Mueller, Adam Kenedy ...
(No play-off)
*1994
Kauai Emeralds
Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...
(No play-off)
*1995
Maui Stingrays
The Maui Stingrays were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Wailuku, Hawaii. They played their home games at Maehara Stadium.
For the 1994 season, Julie Croteau and Lee Anne Ketcham, teammates w ...
*1996
Maui Stingrays
The Maui Stingrays were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Wailuku, Hawaii. They played their home games at Maehara Stadium.
For the 1994 season, Julie Croteau and Lee Anne Ketcham, teammates w ...
*1997
Honolulu Sharks
The Honolulu Sharks were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Sharks name comes from the large number of shark species native to the waters of Hawaii. They played their home games at the ...
*2006
North Shore Honu
The North Shore Honu were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Waipahu, Hawaii. The name ''honu'' is the Hawaiian word for sea turtle. They played their home games at the Hans L'Orange Field.
No ...
*2007
North Shore Honu
The North Shore Honu were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Waipahu, Hawaii. The name ''honu'' is the Hawaiian word for sea turtle. They played their home games at the Hans L'Orange Field.
No ...
(Play-off rained out)
*2008
Waikiki BeachBoys
The Waikiki BeachBoys were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The BeachBoys name derives from the "Beach Boys of Waikiki," a group credited with the rebirth of surfing in Hawa ...
References
External links
Official Website
{{Use mdy dates, date=March 2020
Baseball in Hawaii
Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
Winter baseball leagues
2003 establishments in Hawaii
Sports leagues established in 1993
2008 disestablishments in Hawaii
Sports leagues disestablished in 2008
Baseball leagues in Hawaii