The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League. During the 20th century, there were four incarnations of the Western League, including a Class D loop that played from 1939-41 and an independent loop (outside of "organized baseball") that began play in 1995. This article, however, concentrates on the two Class A leagues that played from 1900-37 and from 1947-58.

The minor leagues 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. In 1946, the Class AA leagues were renamed AAA, and the A1 loops were renamed AA. Thus the Western League - whose clubs were actually 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 through 1935, and three steps removed in 1936-37 and when it was revived in 1947 during the post-war minor league baseball boom.

Its longest-serving franchise was located in Des Moines, Iowa, which joined the WL in 1900 and played continuously through 1937, when the league shut down during the Great Depression. Des Moines then rejoined the reborn Western circuit when Colorado Senator Edwin C. Johnson founded it in 1947; this team, a Chicago Cubs affiliate called the Des Moines Bruins, then played for the final 12 years of the league's existence.

Statistics

Statistics for the Western League have been difficult to come by. Ryan Armbrust is attempting to retrieve and compile the league's individual statistics for players.^[1] They will likely be published by SABR sometime in 2007.

1900 League

Teams in Denver, Colorado, Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska, Pueblo, Colorado, St. Joseph, Missouri, Sioux City, Iowa all formed and created the new Western League.

1900

Team Name	Record
Denver Grizzlies	61-44
Des Moines Hawkeyes	54-45
Sioux City Cornhuskers	49-48
Omaha Omahogs	51-53
St. Joseph Saints	51-58
Pueblo Indians	41-64

1901

The teams in Pueblo and Sioux City folded. New teams in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and St. Paul, Minnesota, formed and joined the League. Teams from Kansas City, Missouri, and Minneapolis, Minnesota moved from the American League.

Team Name	Record
Kansas City Blues	79-44
St. Paul Saints	69-54
St. Joseph Saints	69-58
Denver Grizzlies	60-59
Omaha Omahogs	61-62
Minneaplis Millers	56-62
Des Moines Hawkeyes	48-75
Colorado Springs Millionaires	45-73

1902

The Minneapolis and St. Paul teams joined the American Association. New teams in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Peoria, Illinois, formed and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Kansas City Blue Stockings	82-54
Omaha Indians	84-56
Milwaukee Creams	80-54
Denver Grizzlies	81-57
St. Joseph Saints	71-68
Colorado Springs Millionaires	63-75
Des Moines Midgets	54-83
Peoria Distillers	35-103

1903

Team Name	Record
Milwaukee Creams	83-43
Colorado Springs Millionaires	76-52
Kansas City Blue Stockings	65-61
St. Joseph Saints	62-59
Denver Grizzlies	61-70
Peoria Distillers	57-69
Des Moines Undertakers	55-76
Omaha Indians	49-78

1904

The teams in Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Peoria folded. the Sioux City, Iowa team from the Iowa-South Dakota League joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Omaha Packers	90-60
Colorado Springs Millionaires	85-58
Denver Grizzlies	87-61
Des Moines Prohibitionists	76-69
St. Joseph Saints	53-93
Sioux City Soos	45-98

1905

The Colorado Springs team, with a record of 22-48, moved to Pueblo, Colorado on July 15, where they had a record of 30-44.

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Underwriters	95-54
Denver Grizzlies	92-58
Omaha Rourkes	87-62
Sioux City Packers	80-68
Colorado Springs Millionaires/Pueblo Indians	52-92
St. Joseph Saints	37-109

1906

The St. Joseph team moved to the Western Association. A new team in Lincoln, Nebraska, formed and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Champions	97-50
Lincoln Ducklings	75-74
Omaha Rourkes	73-74
Sioux City Packers	69-81
Denver Grizzlies	68-81
Pueblo Indians	63-85

1907

Team Name	Record
Omaha Rourkes	84-63
Lincoln Treeplanters	79-63
Des Moines Champs	76-63
Denver Grizzlies	67-75
Pueblo Indians	65-73
Sioux City Packers	56-90

1908

Team Name	Record
Sioux City Soos	88-57
Omaha Rourkes	86-59
Lincoln Greenbackers	74-73
Denver Grizzlies	71-75
Pueblo Indians	63-78
Des Moines Boosters	54-94

1909

Teams from Topeka, Kansas, and Wichita, Kansas, joined from the Western Association.

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Boosters	93-59
Sioux City Soos	94-60
Omaha Rourkes	84-68
Topeka Jayhawks	76-73
Wichita Jobbers	71082
Denver Grizzlies	69-82
Lincoln Greenbackers	61-89
Pueblo Indians	58-93

1910

The Pueblo team folded. A new team in St. Joseph, Missouri, formed and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Sioux City Packers	108-60
Denver Grizzlies	102-65
Lincoln Railsplitters	95-71
Wichita Jobbers	89-78
Omaha Rourkes	84-82
St. Joseph Drummers	76-91
Des Moines Boosters	72-96
Topeka Jayhawks	42-125

1911

The Wichita team, with a record of 15-9, moved to Pueblo, Colorado on May 22, Their record there was 77-66.

Team Name	Record
Denver Grizzlies	111-54
St. Joseph Drummers	93-72
Wichita Jobbers/Pueblo Indians	92-75
Omaha Rourkes	85-80
Sioux City Packers	85-80
Lincoln Railsplitters	84-81
Topeka Kaws	60-104
Des Moines Boosters	49-113

1912

The Pueblo team moved back to Wichita, Kansas.

Team Name	Record
Denver Grizzlies	99-63
St. Joseph Drummers	94-72
Omaha Rourkes	92-71
Des Moines Boosters	82-80
Lincoln Railsplitters	83-81
Sioux City Packers	74-85
Wichita Jobbers	75-89
Topeka Jayhawks	51-109

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

1913

Team Name	Record
Denver Bears	104-62
Des Moines Boosters	93-72
St. Joseph Drummers	89-78
Lincoln Greenbackers	87-80
Omaha Rourkes	79-86
Sioux City Packers	73-92
Topeka Jayhawks	73-92
Wichita Jobbers	65-101

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

1914

Wichita Jobbers renamed Wichita Wolves.

Team Name	Record
Sioux City Indians	105-60
Denver Bears	96-72
St. Joseph Drummers	89-75
Des Moines Boosters	82-81
Lincoln Tigers	81-87
Omaha Rourkes	77-87
Topeka Jayhawks	68-97
Wichita Wolves	63-102

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

1915

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Boosters	87-53
Denver Bears	82-55
Topeka Jayhawks	75-63
Omaha Rourkes	71-69
Lincoln Tigers	70-69
Sioux City Packers	66-68
Wichita Wolves	57-80
St. Joseph Drummers	43-94

1916

The Wichita team, with a record of 58-84, moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 10. Their record there was 2-10.

Team Name	Record
Omaha Rourkes	92-57
Lincoln Tigers	87-63
Sioux City Indians	79-71
Denver Bears	78-75
Des Moines Boosters	75-75
Topeka Savages	67-86
Wichita Wolves/Colorado Springs Millionaires	57-94

Louisville of the American Association defeated Omaha 4 games to 1.

1917

The Topeka team folded. A new team in Joplin, Missouri 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.

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Boosters	84-62 (1st half winner)
Lincoln Links	83-64
Sioux City Indians/St. Joseph Drummers	80-66
Joplin Miners	79-68
Omaha Rourkes	73-75
St. Joseph Drummers/Hutchinson Wheatshockers	66-80
Denver Bears 62-86
Wichita Wolves 61-87

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 Sioux City, Iowa, and Topeka, Kansas, formed and joined the League. Hutchinson, with a record of 14-19, moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 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.

Team Name	Record
Wichita Jobbers	41-24
Topeka Kaw-nees/Hutchinson Salt Packers	37-31
Des Moines Boosters	36-31
Joplin Miners	34-31
Omaha Rourkes	33-32
Hutchinson Salt Packers/Oklahoma City Oklahomans
St. Joseph Saints	30-38
Sioux City Indians	22-42

1919

The Hutchinson team folded. A new team was formed in Topeka, Kansas, and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
St. Joseph Saints	78-57
Tulsa Oilers	77-63
Wichita Jobbers	75-65
Des Moines Boosters	71-67
Oklahoma City Indians	69-69
Sioux City Indians	68-72
Joplin Miners	57-78
Omaha Rourkes	56-80

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 minor league record.

1920

Team Name	Record
Tulsa Oilers	92-61
Wichita Jobbers	92-62
Oklahoma City Indians	82-68
Omaha Rourkes	76-77
St. Joseph Saints	74-80
Joplin Miners	73-81
Sioux City Packers	63-88
Des Moines Boosters	58-93

1921

Team Name	Record
Wichita Witches	106-61
Omaha Buffaloes	95-73
Oklahoma City Indians	93-75
Sioux City Packers	81-83
St. Joseph Saints	79-88
Joplin Miners	76-91
Des Moines Boosters	71-92
Tulsa Oilers	65-103

1922

Joplin moved to the Western Association. A new team formed in Denver, Colorado, and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Tulsa Oilers	103-64
St. Joseph Saints	98-70
Wichita Wolves	94-73
Omaha Buffaloes	91-77
Sioux City Packers	86-79
Oklahoma City Indians	73-94
Denver Bears	63-105
Des Moines Boosters	61-107

Tulsa beat Mobile of the Southern Association 4 games to 1, with 1 tie

1923

Team Name	Record
Oklahoma City Indians	102-64
Tulsa Oilers	101-67
Wichita Izzies	100-68
Omaha Buffaloes	92-74
Des Moines Boosters	87-79
St. Joseph Saints	65-101
Sioux City Packers	59-105
Denver Bears	59-107

1924

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

Team Name	Record
Omaha Buffaloes	103-61
Denver Bears	100-67
Tulsa Oilers	98-69
St. Joseph Saints	86-79
Oklahoma City Indians	82-86
Wichita Izzies	79-88
Des Moines Boosters	59-106
Lincoln Links	57-108

1925

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Demons	98-70
Denver Bears	97-71
Oklahoma City Indians	88-76
Wichita Izzies	80-84
St. Joseph Saints	77-87
Omaha Buffaloes	74-89
Tulsa Oilers	75-91
Lincoln Links	70-91

1926

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Demons	99-64
Oklahoma City Indians	100-66
St. Joseph Saints	89-75
Tulsa Oilers	86-78
Denver Bears	88-80
Omaha Buffaloes	77-89
Lincoln Links	64-101
Wichita Izzies	58-108

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 formed and joined.

Team Name	Record
Tulsa Oilers	101-53
Wichita Larks	91-63
Des Moines Demons	82-72
Denver Bears	77-75
Oklahoma City Indians	68-86
Amarillo Texans	66-87
Omaha Buffaloes	66-88
Lincoln Links	63-90

Waco of the Texas League beat Tulsa 3 games to 2, with 1 tie.

1928

Lincoln moved to the Nebraska State League. A new team in Pueblo, Colorado, formed and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Oklahoma City Indians	95-67 (1st half winner)
Tulsa Oilers	96-69 (2nd half winner)
Wichita Larks	94-70
Pueblo Steel Workers	85-78
Denver Bears	81-84
Omaha Crickets	71086
Amarillo Texans	60-93
Des Moines Demons	63-98

Tulsa beat Oklahoma City 4 games to 1, with 1 tie, for the championship.

1929

Amarillo folded. The Topeka, Kansas team from the Western Association joined.

Team Name	Record
Tulsa Oilers	95-66
Oklahoma City Indians	85-68
Omaha Crickets	81-75
Wichita Aviators	77-79
Denver Bears	73-81
Topeka Jayhawks	75-85
Des Moines Demons	72-86
Pueblo Steelworkers	69-90

1930

The Tulsa team folded. A new team formed in St. Joseph, Missouri and joined the League.

Team Name	Record
Wichita Aviators	89-56
Omaha Packers	76-66
Oklahoma City Indians	79-71
Des Moines Demons	77-71
Pueblo Braves	75-75
Denver Bears	74-74
Topeka Senators	66-84
St. Joseph Saints	53-92

1931

Team Name	Record
Des Moines Demons	94-51 (2nd half winner)
Wichita Aviators	92-58 (1st half winner)
St. Joseph Saints	79-64
Pueblo Braves	76-69
Oklahoma City Indians	70-80
Denver Bears	64-77
Topeka Senators	58-86
Omaha Packers	49-97

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

1932

Topeka moved to the Western Association. The Tulsa team folded.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Tulsa Oilers	Pittsburgh Pirates	98-48 (1st half winner)
Denver Bears	St. Louis Cardinals	83-64
Oklahoma City Indians		83-67 (2nd half winner)
Des Moines Demons		71-72
St. Joseph Saints		72-75
Wichita Aviators	Chicago Cubs	63-86
Pueblo Braves		62-90
Omaha Packers		58-88

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 Texas League. The teams from Hutchinson, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri joined from the American Association. New teams in Joplin, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas, 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.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Des Moines Demons		81-47
St. Joseph Saints		77-47 (1st half winner)
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	73-50
Topeka Senators	Cincinnati Reds	68-55 (2nd half winner)
Omaha Packers		63-61
Joplin Miners	St. Louis Browns	55-69
Hutchinson Wheatshockers/Bartlesville Broncos	Detroit Tigers	51-70
Wichita Oilers/Muskogee Oilers		26-95

St. Joseph beat Topeka 4 games to 1. St. Joseph lost to the Davenport team from the Mississippi Valley League 4 games to 2.

1934

Bartlesville, Joplin, Muskogee, and Springfield moved to the Western Association. The teams from Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois joined from the Mississippi Valley League. New teams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sioux City, Iowa formed and joined the League.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Sioux City Cowboys		74-50 (1st half title tie)
Davenport Blue Sox		70-53 (2nd half winner)
Des Moines Demons		68-56 (1st half title tie)
St. Joseph Saints		65-56 (1st half title tie)
Topeka Senators	Cincinnati Reds	59-64
Rock Island Islanders		58-65
Omaha Packers		49-73
Cedar Rapids Raiders		47-73

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 Davnport 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 on June 25, where they had a record of 33-31. Rock Island folded July 17. Council Bluffs folded August 27.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Davenport Blue Sox		70-46
St. Joseph Saints		58-48
Des Moines Demons		58-55
Sioux City Cowboys		54-52
Cedar Rapids Raiders		53-57
Keokuk Indians		49-66
Omaha Packers/Council Bluffs Rails		55-46
Rock Island Islanders		19-46

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

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Davenport Blue Sox	Brooklyn Dodgers	74-52 (1st & 2nd half winner)
Cedar Rapids Raiders	St. Louis Cardinals	70-58
Des Moines Raiders		64-64
Omaha Robin Hoods/Rock Island Rocks		62-64
Sioux City Cowboys		61-64
Waterloo Hawks		50-79

1937

Rock Island folded July 7.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Cedar Rapids Raiders	St. Louis Cardinals	78-38 (1st & 2nd half winner)
Waterloo Reds		61-55
Davenport Blue Sox	Brooklyn Dodgers	57-59
Des Moines Demons	St. Louis Browns	57-62
Sioux City Cowboys	Detroit Tigers	50-63
Rock Island Islanders		20-46

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.

The Post-World War II League

In addition to Des Moines, the 1947 Western League consisted of teams in Sioux City, Pueblo, Omaha, Denver, and Lincoln. All six clubs were affiliated with major league farm systems. The WL expanded to eight teams in 1950, 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 Omaha Cardinals, 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.

References

• Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, editors. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 1997 edition. Durham, N.C.: Baseball America.
• Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings: All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0781-6

Notes