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Pacific National League

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Pacific National League
FormerlyPacific Northwest League
ClassificationClass A (1903)
Class B (1904–1905)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1903
Ceased1905
PresidentWilliam Henry Lucas (1903–1904)
William Rishel (1905)
No. of teams11
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles2
Boise Fruit Pickers / Boise Infants
Related
competitions		California League

The Pacific National League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1903 to 1905. The league evolved from its predecessor, the Pacific Northwest League and was a competitor of the newly formed Pacific Coast League. The league began play in 1903 as a Class A level league, the highest level of minor leagues in the era, before becoming a Class B level league in 1904 and 1905. Member teams were based in California, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah and Washington.

History

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In 1903, the Pacific Northwest League changed its name to become the Pacific National League. This was a result of the independent California League deciding to expand north into Seattle and Portland and changing its name to the Pacific Coast League as a result. The Pacific Northwest League decided to oppose the move by placing franchises of its own in Los Angeles and San Francisco (San Francisco Pirates), with William Henry Lucas continuing as president of the newly named league.[1]

The Class A level Pacific National League began play on April 14, 1903, with eight teams.[2] The league had teams based in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland and San Francisco, which all also had teams in the Pacific Coast League; these were complemented by teams in the smaller cities of Butte, Helena, Spokane and Tacoma. Travel would prove to be a challenge and on July 1, 1903, the Portland franchise was replaced by a new team in Salt Lake City. On August 15, Helena left the league, and was soon followed by Tacoma, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as the remaining four teams finished out the season.[1][3]

With four cities left in 1904, the league was downgraded to Class B level league. 1904 league franchises were based in Boise, Butte, Salt Lake City and Spokane. In 1905, Ogden replaced Butte as the league remained a four–team league. The 1905 Pacific National League permanently folded on June 20, 1905, when the Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers disbanded. The league was expelled from the National Association on February 20, 1906, and never reformed.[1][3]

Pacific National League member teams

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Team name City represented Stadium Year(s) active
Boise Fruit Pickers/
Boise Infants 		Boise, Idaho Riverside Park
(10th & Miller) 		1904 to 1905
Butte Miners Butte, Montana Columbia Gardens ballpark
(east of city) 		1903 to 1904
Helena Senators Helena, Montana Unknown 1903
Los Angeles Nationals Los Angeles, California Prager Park 1903
Ogden Lobsters Ogden, Utah Glenwood Park
(Madison, Monroe, & Canyon Road) 		1905
Portland Green Gages Portland, Oregon National Park
(8th & Hawthorne) 		1903
Salt Lake City Elders/
Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers 		Salt Lake City, Utah Walker's Field 1903 to 1905
San Francisco Pirates San Francisco, California National Park
(9th & Bryant) 		1903
Seattle Chinooks Seattle, Washington YMCA Field 1903
Spokane Indians Spokane, Washington Natatorium Park 1903 to 1905
Tacoma Tigers Tacoma, Washington South 11th Street Grounds 1903

Standings & statistics

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1903 Pacific National League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Butte Miners 85 62 .578 – Jerry Kane / Walt Wilmot
Spokane Indians 82 68 .547 4.5 W.V. Garrett / C.H. Williams
Seattle Chinooks 78 71 .523 8.0 Dan Dugdale
Portland Green Gages /
Salt Lake City Elders		 56 91 .381 29.0 John Grim / John McCloskey
Los Angeles Nationals 65 42 .607 NA Charlie Reilly
San Francisco Pirates 56 52 .519 NA John McCloskey
Tacoma Tigers 46 60 .434 NA Byron McKibben
Helena Senators 40 62 .392 NA John Flannery / Fred Carish

Portland (21–42) moved to Salt Lake City July 2; Tacoma and Helena disbanded August 16; Los Angeles and San Francisco disbanded August 21.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Frank Huelsman Spokane BA .392 Pete Dowling Butte W 30
She Donahue Portland/Salt Lake City Runs 114 Pete Dowling Butte SO 249
She Donahue Portland/Salt Lake City Hits 192 Ernest Nichols Spokane Pct .833; 20–4
Joe Marshall San Francisco HR 25

1904 Pacific National League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Boise Fruit Pickers 82 49 .626 – John McCloskey
Spokane Indians 73 57 .562 8.5 Charlie Reilly
Butte Miners 54 75 .419 27.0 Walt Wilmot
Salt Lake City Elders 51 79 .392 30.5 Dad Gimlin / Frederick Clarke
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Carney Spokane BA .366 Dan McFarlan Boise W 30
Ike Rockenfield Spokane Runs 113 Bill Hogg Spokane SO 259
Farmer Weaver Boise Hits 188 Dan McFarlan Boise Pct .698; 30–13
Ralph Frary Spokane HR 13

1905 Pacific National League schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Boise Infants 22 15 .595 – William Weaver / John McCloskey
Ogden Lobsters 20 17 .541 2.0 Walt Wilmot
Spokane Indians 20 19 .513 3.0 Charlie Reilly
Salt Lake City Fruit Pickers 13 24 .351 9.0 Frederick Clarke

The league disbanded June 20 when Salt Lake City withdrew.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Charles McIntyre Boise BA .372 Dan McFarlan Boise W 8
Eddie Hammond Boise Runs 34 Charles Steztz Boise SO 70
Charles McIntyre Boise Hits 54 Gus Thompson Ogden SO 70
Hugh Kellacky Boise HR 5 George Hodson Boise PCT .833 5–1

[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "1903 Pacific National League (PNL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ a b "Pacific National League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
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