Hawaii Winter Baseball
Encyclopedia
Hawaii Winter Baseball, based in Honolulu, Hawaii
, was a professional baseball league located on the Hawaii
an island of Oahu
. It was loosely affiliated with Major League Baseball
.
, the league drew players from the MLB, Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization
, and independent leagues
. Games were played in Hawaii
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 had expired. MLB is now looking to establish a league in Arizona that would not challenge the competing Arizona Fall League
.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, was a professional baseball league located on the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. It was loosely affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
History
The HWB league first began play in 1993. Funded by Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the league drew players from the MLB, Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
, and independent leagues
Independent baseball
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
. Games were played in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
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 had expired. MLB is now looking to establish a league in Arizona that would not challenge the competing Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
.
Alumni
|
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Current Teams
| East | ||
| Team | City | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu Sharks Honolulu Sharks The Honolulu Sharks were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They are based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Sharks name comes from the large number of shark species native to the waters of Hawaii. They play their home games at the Les Murakami Baseball Stadium.-Team... |
Honolulu Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... , Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... |
Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium is the baseball stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. The stadium was built in 1984 and renamed after legendary Rainbow coach Les Murakami for the 2002 season.... |
| Waikiki BeachBoys | Honolulu Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... , Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... |
Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium is the baseball stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. The stadium was built in 1984 and renamed after legendary Rainbow coach Les Murakami for the 2002 season.... |
| West | ||
| Team | City | Stadium |
| North Shore Honu North Shore Honu The North Shore Honu were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They are based in Waipahu, Hawaii. The name Honu is derived from the Hawaiian word for a sea turtle. They play their home games at the Hans L'Orange Field.... |
Waipahu, Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... |
Hans L'Orange Field Hans L'Orange Field Hans L'Orange Field is a stadium in Waipahu, Hawai'i. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of Hawaii Pacific University's men's baseball team, the Sea Warriors. It was the home field of the Hawaii Winter Baseball teams North Shore Honu and West Oahu CaneFires before the league... |
| West Oahu CaneFires West Oahu CaneFires The West Oahu CaneFires were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They are based in Waipahu, Hawaii. The name CaneFires is derived from the burning of sugarcane before harvest. There are many sugarcane plantations on the island of Oahu. The CaneFires began as the Kauai... |
Waipahu, Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... |
Hans L'Orange Field Hans L'Orange Field Hans L'Orange Field is a stadium in Waipahu, Hawai'i. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of Hawaii Pacific University's men's baseball team, the Sea Warriors. It was the home field of the Hawaii Winter Baseball teams North Shore Honu and West Oahu CaneFires before the league... |
Former teams
- Hilo StarsHilo StarsThe 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, Shane Spencer, Preston Wilson, R.A. Dickey,...
- Kauai Emeralds
- Kaneohe Bay Dawgs
- Kona Man O'Wars
- Lahaina Whalers
- Maui StingraysMaui StingraysThe 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.-Team Record:-External links:*...
Champions
- 1993 Hilo StarsHilo StarsThe 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, Shane Spencer, Preston Wilson, R.A. Dickey,...
No play-off - 1994 Kauai Emeralds No play-off
- 1995 Maui StingraysMaui StingraysThe 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.-Team Record:-External links:*...
- 1996 Maui StingraysMaui StingraysThe 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.-Team Record:-External links:*...
- 1997 Honolulu SharksHonolulu SharksThe Honolulu Sharks were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They are based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Sharks name comes from the large number of shark species native to the waters of Hawaii. They play their home games at the Les Murakami Baseball Stadium.-Team...
- 2006 North Shore HonuNorth Shore HonuThe North Shore Honu were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They are based in Waipahu, Hawaii. The name Honu is derived from the Hawaiian word for a sea turtle. They play their home games at the Hans L'Orange Field....
- 2007 North Shore HonuNorth Shore HonuThe North Shore Honu were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They are based in Waipahu, Hawaii. The name Honu is derived from the Hawaiian word for a sea turtle. They play their home games at the Hans L'Orange Field....
Play-off rained out - 2008 Waikiki BeachBoys