The Northern League was a name used by several

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...

baseball organizations that operated off and on between 1902 and 1971 in the upper

midwestern United States The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...

and

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada. The name was later used by the

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

Northern League from 1993 to 2010.

Incarnations

The Northern League name represented four leagues in this time frame: *First Northern League: 1902–1905 ** Northern-Copper Country League 1906–1907 *Second Northern League: 1908 ** Minnesota–Wisconsin League 1909–1911 ** Central International League 1912 *Third Northern League: 1913–1917 *Fourth Northern League: 1933–1971 (suspended operations 1943–1945 due to World War II)

Historical overview

The first Northern League operated between 1902 and 1905. Charter members were the Winnipeg Maroons, Crookston Crooks, Fargo, Devil's Lake, Grand Forks and Cavalier. In 1906, the league merged with the Copper Country Soo League to become the Northern-Copper Country League (1906–1907). A second Northern League was attempted in 1908, but did not finish its first season. The third Northern League appeared when the Central International League of 1912 expanded and changed its name in 1913. This third Northern League would last until 1917, when it was forced to disband due to a lack of players as a result of World War I. The league did not re-emerge until 1933, when it began play with the Brainerd Muskies, Brandon Grays, Crookston Pirates, East Grand Forks Colts, Eau Claire Cardinals, Fargo-Moorhead Twins, Superior Blues and Winnipeg Maroons. The league did not operate between 1943 and 1945 because of a lack of manpower during World War II, and finally folded again in 1971. While the Northern League in its various incarnations began as an independent loop in 1902, it was Class D (1903–1905, 1908, 1917, 1933–1940) and Class C (1913–1916, 1941–1942, 1946–1962) under the antiquated classification system for

Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

. The league operated as Class A (1963–1971) under the modern minor league classification system. When the league folded after the 1971 season, the remaining teams were the Aberdeen Pheasants, Sioux Falls Packers, St. Cloud Rox and Watertown Expos.

League Champions

*1902 Winnipeg Maroons *1903 Winnipeg Maroons *1904 Duluth White Sox *1905 Duluth White Sox *1906 Calumet Aristocrats (NCCL) *1907 Winnipeg Maroons (NCCL) *1908 Brandon Angels *1909 Duluth White Sox (MWL) *1910 Eau Claire Commissioners (MWL) *1911 Superior Red Sox (MWL) *1912 Duluth White Sox (CIL) *1913 Winona Pirates *1914 Duluth White Sox *1915 Fargo-Moorhead Graingrowers *1916 Winnipeg Maroons *1917 Fargo-Moorhead Graingrowers *1918–1932 ''league did not operate'' *1933 Superior Blues *1934 Fargo-Moorhead Twins *1935 Winnipeg Maroons *1936 Eau Claire Bears *1937 Duluth Dukes *1938 Duluth Dukes *1939 Winnipeg Maroons *1940 Grand Forks Chiefs *1941 Eau Claire Bears *1942 Winnipeg Maroons *1943–1945 ''league did not operate'' *1946 St. Cloud Rox *1947

Sioux Falls Canaries The Sioux Falls Canaries are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The Canaries are members of the North Division of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major ...

*1948 Grand Forks Chiefs *1949 Aberdeen Pheasants *1950

*1951 Grand Forks Chiefs *1952 Superior Blues *1953 Fargo-Moorhead Twins *1954 Fargo-Moorhead Twins *1955 St. Cloud Rox *1956 Duluth-Superior White Sox *1957

Winnipeg Goldeyes The Winnipeg Goldeyes are a professional minor-league baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Goldeyes play in the American Association of Professional Baseball, which they joined in 2011. Previously, the Goldeyes were members of ...

*1958 Fargo-Moorhead Twins *1959

*1960

*1961 Aberdeen Pheasants *1962 Eau Claire Braves *1963 Grand Forks Chiefs *1964 Aberdeen Pheasants *1965 St. Cloud Rox *1966 St. Cloud Rox *1967 St. Cloud Rox *1968 St. Cloud Rox *1969 Duluth-Superior Dukes *1970 Duluth-Superior Dukes *1971 St. Cloud Rox Source:

Cities represented

Aberdeen, South Dakota Aberdeen () is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 28,495. making it the third-most populous city in the state. Aberdeen is home of Northern State University. ...

: Aberdeen Pheasants (1946–1971) *

Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck (; from 1872 to 1873: Edwinton) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat, seat of Burleigh County, North Dakota, Burleigh County. It is the state's List of cities i ...

, and

Mandan, North Dakota Mandan is a city on the eastern border of Morton County, North Dakota, Morton County and the List of cities in North Dakota, eighth-most populous city in North Dakota. Founded in 1879 on the west side of the upper Missouri River, it was designat ...

: Bismarck-Mandan Pards (1962–1964, 1966) *

Brainerd, Minnesota Brainerd ( ) is a city and the county seat of Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 14,395 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluen ...

: Brainerd Muskies (1933); Brainerd Blues 1935 *Brainerd, Minnesota & Little Falls, Minnesota: Brainerd-Little Falls Muskies (1934) *

Brandon, Manitoba Brandon () is the second-largest city in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is located in the southwestern corner of the province on the banks of the Assiniboine River, approximately west of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, and east of the ...

: Brandon Angels (1908), Brandon Grays (1933) * Cavalier, North Dakota: Cavalier (1902) * Crookston, Minnesota: Crookston Crooks (1902–1905); Crookston Pirates (1933–1941) * Devils Lake, North Dakota: Devil's Lake (1902) *

Duluth, Minnesota Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...

: Duluth White Sox (1903–1905, 1908, 1913–1916, 1934); Duluth Dukes (1935–1942, 1946–1955) *Duluth, Minnesota, &

Superior, Wisconsin Superior (; ) is a city in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 26,751 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located at the western end of Lake Superior in northwestern Wisconsin, the city l ...

: Duluth-Superior White Sox 1956–1959; Duluth–Superior Dukes 1960–1970 *

East Grand Forks, Minnesota East Grand Forks (also known as EGF) is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, Polk County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it Polk County's largest community. It is in the Red ...

: East Grand Forks Colts (1933) *

Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the List of cities in North Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County, North Dakota, Cass County. The population was 125,990 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, which was e ...

: Fargo (1902–1905); Fargo Browns (1908) *

Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire ( ; lit. "clear water") is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Eau Claire and Chippewa County, Wisconsin, Chippewa counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat, seat of Eau Claire County. It is the List of citie ...

: Eau Claire Cardinals (1933); Eau Claire Bears (1934–1942, 1946–1953); Eau Claire Braves (1954–1962) *

, and

Moorhead, Minnesota Moorhead ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, Minnesota, Clay County, Minnesota, United States, on the banks of the Red River of the North. Located in the Red River Valley, an extremely fertile and active agricultural region, Moo ...

: Fargo-Moorhead Graingrowers (1914–1917); Fargo-Moorhead Twins (1933–1942, 1946–1960) * Fort William, Ontario: Fort William Canadians (1914–1915) * Fort William, Ontario and

Port Arthur, Ontario Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario, Canada, located on Lake Superior. In January 1970, it was amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay. Port Arthur became the district seat ...

: Fort William-Port Arthur Canadians (1916) *

Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks is a city in and the county seat of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. The city's population was 59,166 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in North Dakota, third-most populous ...

: Grand Forks Forkers (1902–1905); Grand Forks Flickertails (1913–1915); Grand Forks Chiefs (1934–1935, 1938–1942, 1946–1963); Grand Forks Dodgers (1964) *

Huron, South Dakota Huron is a city in and the county seat of Beadle County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,263 at the 2020 census, making it the 8th most populous city in South Dakota. The first settlement at Huron was established in 1880. ...

: Huron Phillies (1965–1968); Huron Cubs (1969–1970) *

Jamestown, North Dakota Jamestown is a city in and the county seat of Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 15,849 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in North Dakota, ninth most populous city in North ...

: Jamestown Jimmies (1936–1937) *

La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse ( ) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 202 ...

: LaCrosse Colts (1913) *

Mankato, Minnesota Mankato ( ) is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, Blue Earth, Nicollet County, Minnesota, Nicollet, and Le Sueur County, Minnesota, Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is the county seat of Blue Earth County, Minnesota. The ...

: Mankato Mets (1967–1968) *

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

: Minneapolis Millers (1913) *

Minot, North Dakota Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 2 ...

: Minot Why Nots (1917); Minot Mallards (1958–1960); Minot Mallards (1962) * St. Boniface, Manitoba: St. Boniface Bonnies (1915) * St. Cloud, Minnesota: St. Cloud Rox (1946–1971) *St. Cloud, Minnesota &

: St. Cloud-Brainerd (1905) *

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

: St. Paul Colts (1913) *

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls ( ) is the List of cities in South Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the List of United States cities by population, 117th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha Coun ...

(1942, 1946–1953); Sioux Falls Packers (1966–1971) *

: Superior Longshoremen (1903–1905); Superior Red Sox (1913–1915); Superior Blues (1933–1942, 1946–1955) *

Virginia, Minnesota Virginia is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. With an economy heavily reliant on large-scale iron ore mining, Virginia is considered the Mesabi Iron Range's commercial center. The population was ...

: Virginia Ore Diggers (1913–1916) *

Warren, Minnesota Warren is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Minnesota, Marshall County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,605 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Warren was platted in 1879, and named for Charles ...

: Warren Wanderers (1917) * Watertown, South Dakota: Watertown Expos (1970–1971) *

Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau ( ) is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Wisconsin River and had a population of 39,994 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the core city of the Wausau ...

: Wausau Lumberjacks (1936–1939); Wausau Timberjacks (1940–1942); Wausau Lumberjacks 1956–1957 *

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

: Winnipeg Maroons (1902–1905, 1908, 1913–1917, 1933–1942) *

Winona, Minnesota Winona ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, Minnesota, United States. Located in bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf (Winona, Minnesota), Sugar Loaf. The population was 2 ...

: Winona Pirates (1913–1914);

(1954–1964, 1969)

References

Ballparkwatch Northern League history
{{DEFAULTSORT:Northern League (baseball, 1902-71) Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 1902