The Western League was the name of several American

sports league A sports league is a group of individual athletes, sports teams or clubs who form a league to compete against each other and gain points in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among them ...

s in

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 ...

. This article concentrates on the Western Leagues that operated from 1900 to 1937 and from 1947 to 1958. Its earliest progenitor, the Western League of 1885–1899, was the predecessor of the

American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...

. Later, during the 20th century, there were four incarnations of the Western League, including the Western League of 1939–1941 (succeeding the Nebraska State League) that played at the Class D level, and an

independent baseball league An independent baseball league is a professional baseball league in the United States or Canada that is not overseen by Major League Baseball or its affiliated Minor League Baseball system (historically referred to as organized baseball). Inde ...

that operated as the Western Baseball League from 1995 to 2002.

History

The league's longest-serving franchise was located in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

, which joined the WL in 1900 and played continuously through 1937, when the league shut down during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

. Des Moines then rejoined the reborn Western circuit when

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

Edwin C. Johnson from

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

founded it in 1947; this team, a

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

affiliate called the Des Moines Bruins, then played for the final 12 years of the league's existence. Minor league baseball went unclassified through 1901. From 1902 until 1911, Class A was the highest level in the minor leagues. In 1912, a new top tier, Class AA, was created; in 1936, a second tier, Class A1, came into being. One year later, the existing Western League disbanded after it ended the 1937 season with only five teams, the Rock Island Islanders, disbanded on July 7. Then, in 1946, the Class AA leagues were renamed AAA, and the A1 loops were renamed AA. Thus the Western League – whose clubs were located in the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain States, the Upper Midwest and the Upper Southwest – was a top-level minor league until 1911, then two levels below

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

through 1935, and three steps removed in 1936–37 and when it was revived in

1947 It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January–February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the country i ...

during the post-war minor league baseball boom. For several years in the 1910s, the Western League champion played a postseason series against the champion of the Class AA American Association for supremacy of the central states.

1947-1958

The Western League reformed in 1947 with six teams: Denver Bears, Des Moines Bruins, Lincoln A's,

Omaha Cardinals The Omaha Cardinals were a minor league baseball team based in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1947 through 1959. They played in the Class A Western League (1900–1958), Western League through 1954 and in the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A American Associat ...

, Pueblo Dodgers and Sioux City Soos. All six clubs were affiliated with major league

farm system In sports, a farm team (also referred to as farm system, developmental system, feeder team, or nursery club) is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful pl ...

s. The WL expanded to eight teams in

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 ...

, adding the

Colorado Springs Sky Sox The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado R ...

and Wichita Indians, but the encroachment of televised baseball and major league franchise shifts into former AAA cities hit the league hard. In 1955, the Western League's two strongest franchises, the Denver Bears and the

, were admitted to the AAA American Association. The WL continued for four more seasons before folding in the autumn of 1958. Its last champion, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, attracted only 61,000 fans for the season. In addition to the founding clubs and the Sky Sox, the postwar WL had teams in Albuquerque, Amarillo, Topeka, and Wichita.

List of teams

1900-1958

* Albuquerque Dukes * Amarillo Texans ; Amarillo Gold Sox * Bartlesville Broncs * Cedar Rapids Raiders * Cheyenne Indians * Colorado Springs Millionaires ;

* Council Bluffs Rails * Davenport Blue Sox * Denver Bears ; Denver Grizzlies ; Denver Bears , , * Des Moines Hawkeyes ; Des Moines Millers ; Des Moines Midgets ; Des Moines Undertakers ; Des Moines Prohibitionists ; Des Moines Underwriters ; Des Moines Champions ; Des Moines Champs ; Des Moines Boosters ; Des Moines Demons , * Hutchinson Wheatshockers ; Hutchinson Salt Packers , Hutchinson Wheatshockers * Joplin Miners * Kansas City Blues ; Kansas City Blue Stockings * Keokuk Indians * Lincoln Ducklings ; Lincoln Treeplanters ; Lincoln Greenbackers ; Lincoln Railsplitters ; Lincoln Greenbackers ; Lincoln Tigers ; Lincoln Links , ; * Lincoln Athletics ; Lincoln Chiefs * Milwaukee Creams * Minneapolis Millers * Mitchell Kernels * Muskogee Oilers * Norfolk Elks ; Norfolk Yankees * Oklahoma City Indians * Omaha Omahogs ; Omaha Indians ; Omaha Rangers ; Omaha Rourkes ; Omaha Buffaloes ; Omaha Crickets ; Omaha Packers ; Omaha Robin Hoods ;

* Peoria Distillers * Pueblo Indians ; Pueblo Steelworkers ; Pueblo Braves ; Pueblo Rollers ; Pueblo Dodgers * Rock Island Islanders ; Rock Island Rocks ; Rock Island Islanders * St. Paul Saints * St. Joseph Saints ; St. Joseph Drummers ; St. Joseph Saints ; St. Joseph Saints * Sioux City Cornhuskers ; Sioux City Soos ; Sioux City Packers ; Sioux City Soos ; Sioux City Packers ; Sioux City Indians ; Sioux City Packers ; Sioux City Cowboys ;Sioux City Soos ; Sioux City Cowboys ; Sioux City Soos * Sioux Falls Canaries * Springfield Cardinals * Topeka Jayhawks ;

Topeka Kaws Topeka ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeaste ...

; Topeka Jayhawks ; Topeka Savages ; Topeka Kaw-nees ; Topeka Jayhawks ; Topeka Senators ; Topeka Hawks * Tulsa Oilers * Waterloo Hawks ; Waterloo Reds * Wichita Jobbers ; Wichita Witches ; Wichita Jobbers ; (Wichita Witches ; Wichita Izzies ; Wichita Larks ; Wichita Aviators ; Wichita Oilers ; Wichita Indians * Worthington Cardinals

1900 to 1936 standings & statistics

1900

The new Western League formed as a Class B league in 1900. Charter teams were the Denver Grizzlies, Des Moines Hawkeyes, Omaha Omahogs, Pueblo Indians, Sioux City Cornhuskers and St. Joseph Saints.

1901

The teams in Pueblo and Sioux City folded. New teams in

Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010 United States Census, 2 ...

, and

St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 311,527, making it Minnesota's second-most populous city a ...

, formed and joined the League. Teams from

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

, and

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 ...

moved from the

1902

The Minneapolis and St. Paul teams joined the American Association. New teams in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, and

Peoria, Illinois Peoria ( ) is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Illinois River, the city had a population of 113,150 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Ill ...

, formed and joined the League.

1903

1904

The teams in Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Peoria folded. the

Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, Woodbury and Plymouth County, Iowa, Plymouth counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Iowa, fo ...

team from the Iowa–South Dakota League joined the League.

1905

The Colorado Springs team, with a record of 22–48, moved to

Pueblo, Colorado Pueblo ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality that is the county seat of and the List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous municipality in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ...

on July 15, where they had a record of 30–44.

1906

The St. Joseph team moved to the Western Association. A new team in

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The city covers and had a population of 291,082 as of the 2020 census. It is the state's List of cities in Nebraska, second-most populous city a ...

, formed and joined the League.

1907

1908

1909

Teams from

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...

, and

Wichita, Kansas Wichita ( ) is the List of cities in Kansas, most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397, ...

, joined from the Western Association.

1910

The Pueblo team folded. A new team in

St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...

, formed and joined the League.

1911

The Wichita team, with a record of 15–9, moved to

on May 22, Their record there was 77–66.

1912

The Pueblo team moved back to

. Denver defeated the Minneapolis team of the American Association 4 games to 1.

1913

Milwaukee of the American Association defeated Denver 4 games to 2.

1914

Wichita Jobbers renamed Wichita Wolves. Indianapolis of the American Association defeated Denver 4 games to 2.

1915

1916

The Wichita team, with a record of 58–84, moved to

on September 10. Their record there was 2–10. Louisville of the American Association defeated Omaha 4 games to 1.

1917

The Topeka team folded. A new team in

Joplin, Missouri Joplin is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, Jasper and Newton County, Missouri, Newton counties in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bulk of the city is in Jasper County, while the southern portion is in Newton County. J ...

formed and joined the League. Colorado Springs moved back to Wichita. St. Joseph, with a record of 34–56, moved to Hutchinson, where their record was 32–24, on July 24. Sioux City moved to St. Joseph on August 5. Hutchinson defeated Joplin 3 games to none for the second half title. Des Moines defeated Hutchinson 4 games to 2 for the championship.

1918

The Denver and Lincoln teams folded. New teams in

, and

, formed and joined the League. Hutchinson, with a record of 14–19, moved to

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Oklahoma, most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat ...

on June 2, where they compiled a record of 19–18. Topeka, with a record of 19–13, moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where they compiled a record of 18–18, on June 2. The League suspended operations on July 7 due to World War I.

1919

The Hutchinson team folded. A new team was formed in

Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa ( ) is the List of municipalities in Oklahoma, second-most-populous city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the List of United States cities by population, 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The po ...

, and joined the League. Tulsa lead St. Joseph 3 games to 1 in the championship series when the series was cancelled due to bad weather. Wichita's Joe Wilhoit had a 69-game hitting streak, which remains the professional baseball record.

1920

1921

1922

Joplin moved to the Western Association. A new team formed in

Denver, Colorado Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, and joined the League. Tulsa beat Mobile of the Southern Association 4 games to 1, with 1 tie

1923

1924

Sioux City moved to the Tri-State League. Lincoln joined from the Nebraska State League.

1925

1926

Springfield of the Three-I League led Des Moines 3 games to 1 when the series was cancelled due to bad weather.

1927

St. Joseph moved to the Western Association. A new team in

Amarillo, Texas Amarillo ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Potter County, Texas, Potter County, though most of the southern half of the city extends into Randall County, Texas, Randall County ...

formed and joined. Waco of the

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

beat Tulsa 3 games to 2, with 1 tie.

1928

Lincoln moved to the Nebraska State League. A new team in

, formed and joined the League. Tulsa beat Oklahoma City 4 games to 1, with 1 tie, for the championship.

1929

Amarillo folded. The

team from the Western Association joined.

1930

The Tulsa team folded. A new team formed in

and joined the League.

1931

Des Moines Demons beat Wichita 4 games to 2 for the championship.

1932

Topeka moved to the Western Association. The Tulsa team joined. Oklahoma City beat Tulsa 2 games to 1 for the second half title. Tulsa beat Oklahoma City 4 games to none for the championship.

1933

Denver & Pueblo folded. Oklahoma City and Tulsa moved to the

. The teams from Hutchinson, Kansas and

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the List of cities in Missouri, third most populous city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County, Missouri, Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...

joined from the American Association. New teams in

, and

, formed and joined the League. Wichita, with a record of 6–13, moved to Muskogee on June 6, keeping the Oilers name, where they had a record of 20–82. Hutchinson, with a record of 25–32, moved on July 7 to Bartlesville, where they had a record of 26–38. St. Joseph beat Topeka 4 games to 1. St. Joseph lost to the Davenport Blue Sox from the Mississippi Valley League 4 games to 2.

1934

Bartlesville, Joplin, Muskogee, and Springfield moved to the Western Association. The teams from Davenport Blue Sox, and Rock Island Islanders joined from the Mississippi Valley League. New teams in

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Cedar Rapids is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. The population was 137,710 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Iowa, second-most populous city in Iowa. The city lies o ...

, and

formed and joined the League. St. Joseph beat Sioux City 3 games to 1 in the first round of playoffs. Davenport beat Des Moines by the same number. In the championship, St. Joseph beat Davenport 4 games to 3.

1935

Topeka folded. A new team in Keokuk, Iowa formed and joined the League. Omaha, with a record of 22–15, moved to

Council Bluffs, Iowa Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 62,799 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the state's List of cities in Iowa, te ...

on June 25, where they had a record of 33–31. Rock Island folded July 17. Council Bluffs folded August 27. Sioux City beat Davenport 3 games to none, and St. Joseph beat Des Moines 3 games to none, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Sioux City 4 games to 3 for the championship.

1936

Keokuk and St. Joseph folded. New teams formed in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, and

Waterloo, Iowa Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 United States census the population was 67,314, making it the List of cities in Iowa, eighth-most populous city in the st ...

, and joined the League. Omaha moved to Rock Island on August 18.

1937

Rock Island folded July 7. Cedar Rapids and Waterloo moved to the Three-I League. Sioux City moved to the Nebraska State League. Davenport, Des Moines, and the League itself folded.

1939 to 1941 standings & statistics

1939 Western League Playoffs: Sioux City 3 games, Norfolk 2; Lincoln 3 games, Sioux Falls 2
Finals: Sioux City 4 games, Lincoln 2. 1940 Western League Sioux City moved to Mitchell July 24.
The league played four quarters. Norfolk won the first, second and fourth quarters, while Sioux Falls won the third quarter.
Playoff: Sioux Falls 4 games, Norfolk 2. 1941 Western League Playoffs: Norfolk 3 games, Sioux City 2; Pueblo 3 games, Cheyenne 1
Finals: Pueblo 3 games, Norfolk 2. The League did not operate from 1942 - 1946. It returned in 1947 and regained its Class A Status.

1947 to 1958 standings & statistics

1947 Western League Playoffs: Sioux City 3 games, Omaha 1; Pueblo 3 games, Des Moines 1
Finals: Pueblo 4 games, Sioux City 1. 1948 Western League Playoffs: Lincoln 3 games, Des Moines 2; Sioux City 3 games, Denver 2. Lincoln defeated Sioux City 6-0 for third place.
Finals: Sioux City 4 games, Lincoln 2. 1949 Western League Playoffs: Denver defeated Pueblo 5-3 for second place. Des Moines 3 games, Lincoln 1; Pueblo 3 games, Denver 1
Finals: Pueblo 4 games, Des Moines 3. 1950 Western League Playoffs: Wichita 3 games, Omaha 0; Sioux City 3 games, Des Moines 2
Finals: Sioux City 3 games, Wichita 1. 1951 Western League Playoffs: Sioux City 3 games, Omaha 1; Denver 3 games, Wichita 1
Finals: Sioux City 3 games, Denver 1. 1952 Western League' Playoffs: Denver 3 games, Sioux City 1; Omaha 3 games, Colorado Springs 1
Finals: Denver 3 games, Omaha 0. 1953 Western League Playoffs: Des Moines 3 games, Colorado Springs 1; Denver 3 games, Pueblo 0
Finals: Des Moines 3 games, Denver 1. 1954 Western League' Playoffs: Denver 3 games, Pueblo 1; Des Moines 3 games, Omaha 1
Finals: Des Moines 3 games, Denver 1. 1955 Western League Playoffs: Des Moines 3 games, Colorado Springs 1; Wichita 3 games, Pueblo 2. Wichita defeated Des Moines in a one-game playoff for third place.
Finals: Wichita 3 games, Des Moines 0. 1956 Western League Playoff: Lincoln 4 games, Amarillo 1. 1957 Western League No Playoffs held. 1958 Western League No Playoffs held.

Media

The Western League was the topic of the book ''The Western League: A Baseball History, 1885 through 1999'' (2002, McFarland Publishing) by W. C. Madden & Patrick J. Stewart. The .

References

*Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, editors. ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 1997 edition. Durham, North Carolina: ''

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' (BA) is a sports publication company that covers baseball at every level, including Major League Baseball (MLB), with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) college, high school, and inte ...

''. *Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. ''Minor League Baseball Standings: All North American Leagues, Through 1999.'' Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. {{DEFAULTSORT:Western League (1900-1958) 1900 establishments in the United States Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in New Mexico Baseball leagues in Iowa Baseball leagues in Nebraska Baseball leagues in Colorado Baseball leagues in Missouri Baseball leagues in Kansas Baseball leagues in Oklahoma Baseball leagues in Texas Baseball leagues in Wisconsin Baseball leagues in Illinois Baseball leagues in Minnesota Sports leagues established in 1885 Sports leagues disestablished in 1958