Western League (defunct minor league)
Encyclopedia
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

. Its earliest progenitor
Western League (U.S. baseball)
The Western League of Professional Baseball Clubs, simply called the Western League, was a minor league baseball league originally founded on February 11, 1885, and focused in the Midwest....

, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...

. During the 20th century, there were four incarnations of the Western League, including a Class D
Western League (baseball, 1939-41)
The Western League of 1939-41 was a low-level American circuit in Minor League Baseball. The Class D league was born when the Nebraska State League changed its identity after the season...

 loop that played from 1939-41 and an independent
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....

 loop (outside of "organized baseball") that began play in 1995
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....

. 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
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...

 through 1935, and three steps removed in 1936-37 and when it was revived in 1947
1947 in sports
-American football:* Chicago Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 to win the NFL championship.-Association football:England* First Division – Liverpool win the 1946-47 title.* FA Cup – Charlton Athletic beat Burnley 1-0 after extra time...

 during the post-war minor league baseball boom.

Its longest-serving franchise was located in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...

, which joined the WL in 1900 and played continuously through 1937, when the league shut down during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

. Des Moines then rejoined the reborn Western circuit when Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

 Senator Edwin C. Johnson
Edwin C. Johnson
Edwin Carl Johnson was a Democratic Party politician who served as Governor of the state of Colorado.-Background:...

 founded it in 1947; this team, a Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

 affiliate called the Des Moines Bruins
Des Moines Bruins
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Bruins were a minor league baseball team that played in the Western League from 1947 to 1958. Their home ballpark was Sec Taylor Stadium, and they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers .-Year-by-year record:...

,
then played for the final 12 years of the league's existence.

1900 League

Teams in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

, Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...

, Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

, Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

, St. Joseph, Missouri, Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....

 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
St. Joseph Saints
The Saint Joseph Saints were a Western Association and Western League baseball team based in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930, the Chicago Cubs in 1940 and the New York Yankees in 1954.They won three straight league championships, from 1933 to...

51-58
Pueblo Indians 41-64

1901

The teams in Pueblo and Sioux City folded. New teams in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...

, and St. Paul, Minnesota, formed and joined the League. Teams from Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

, and Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...

 moved from the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...

.
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
Minneapolis Millers 56-62
Des Moines Hawkeyes 48-75
Colorado Springs Millionaires 45-73

1902

The Minneapolis and St. Paul teams joined the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

. New teams in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

, and Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...

, 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
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....

 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
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

 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
Sioux City Packers
Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the Sioux City Packers played in the Western League from 1905 to 1907, from 1910 to 1913, and from 1920 to 1923. They had previously been known as the Sioux City Soos. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1924 and became the Lincoln Links.-Year-by-year record:...

80-68
Colorado Springs Millionaires/Pueblo Indians 52-92
St. Joseph Saints 37-109

1906

The St. Joseph team moved to the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

. A new team in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

, 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
Des Moines Boosters
The Des Moines Boosters were a Western League minor league baseball team based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA that existed from 1908 to 1924. They won two league championships - their first in 1915 under manager Frank Isbell and their second in 1917 under Jack Coffey....

54-94

1909

Teams from Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...

, and Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...

, joined from the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

.
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
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

 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
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...

.
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
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

 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
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

 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
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

 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
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the 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
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

 defeated Omaha 4 games to 1.

1917

The Topeka team folded. A new team in Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...

 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
Lincoln Links
The Lincoln Links were a Western League and Nebraska State League baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns from 1938 to 1939....

83-64
Sioux City Indians/St. Joseph Drummers 80-66
Joplin Miners
Joplin Miners
The Joplin Miners were a baseball team that lasted on and off from 1902 to 1953. They played in Joplin, Missouri. Initially, the team was known as the Colts before changing to Miners during the first season of play....

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
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....

, and Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...

, formed and joined the League. Hutchinson, with a record of 14-19, moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the 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
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

.
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
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...

, and joined the League.
Team Name Record
St. Joseph Saints 78-57
Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...

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 professional baseball 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
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

. A new team formed in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

, 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
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...

 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
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....

. Lincoln joined from the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....

.
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
Des Moines Demons
-1925:In 1925 the Des Moines Boosters of the Western League became the Des Moines Demons. The club from Des Moines, IA broke in in fine form, winning the pennant with a 98-70 record, one game ahead of the Denver Bears...

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
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

. A new team in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...

 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
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...

 beat Tulsa 3 games to 2, with 1 tie.

1928

Lincoln moved to the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....

. A new team in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

, 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
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...

 team from the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

 joined.
Team Name Record
Tulsa Oilers 95-66
Oklahoma City Indians 85-68
Omaha Crickets 81-75
Wichita Aviators
Wichita Aviators (baseball)
The Wichita Aviators were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1929 to 1932. Based in Wichita, Kansas, they played in the Western League. In 1930 and 1931, they were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and in 1932 they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs...

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
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

. The Tulsa team folded.
Team Name Affiliation |Record
Tulsa Oilers Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...

|98-48 (1st half winner)
Denver Bears St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

|83-64
Oklahoma City Indians |83-67 (2nd half winner)
Des Moines Demons |71-72
St. Joseph Saints |72-75
Wichita Aviators Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

|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
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...

. The teams from Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...

 and Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...

 joined from the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

. New teams in Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...

, and Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...

, 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
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

|73-50
Topeka Senators Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....

|68-55 (2nd half winner)
Omaha Packers |63-61
Joplin Miners St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...

|55-69
Hutchinson Wheatshockers/Bartlesville Broncos Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

|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
Mississippi Valley League
The Mississippi Valley League was a Class-D minor baseball league from 1922 to 1932, and a Class-B league in 1933.The league began play in 1922 with six teams: the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, the Marshalltown Ansons, the Rock Island Islanders, the Waterloo Hawks, the Ottumwa Cardinals and the Dubuque...

 4 games to 2.

1934

Bartlesville, Joplin, Muskogee, and Springfield moved to the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...

. The teams from Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...

, and Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...

 joined from the Mississippi Valley League
Mississippi Valley League
The Mississippi Valley League was a Class-D minor baseball league from 1922 to 1932, and a Class-B league in 1933.The league began play in 1922 with six teams: the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, the Marshalltown Ansons, the Rock Island Islanders, the Waterloo Hawks, the Ottumwa Cardinals and the Dubuque...

. New teams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...

, and Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....

 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
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....

|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
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...

 formed and joined the League. Omaha, with a record of 22-15, moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...

 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
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

, and Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...

, 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
Waterloo Hawks (baseball)
The Waterloo Hawks were a minor league team that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1969. From 1922 to 1932, they played in the Mississippi Valley League and in 1932 they were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. They played in the Western League in 1936 and from 1940 to 1942 they played in the...

|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
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....

. 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
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....

, Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

, Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

, Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

, and Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

. All six clubs were affiliated with major league farm systems. The WL expanded to eight teams in 1950
1950 in sports
-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns win 30–28 over the Los Angeles Rams* Oklahoma Sooners – college football champions.* Coaches Poll established to rank top 20 American college football teams-Association football:...

, but the encroachment of televised baseball and major league franchise shifts into former AAA cities hit the league hard. In 1955
1955 in sports
-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns won 38-14 over the Los Angeles Rams* Oklahoma Sooners - college football champions.-England:* First Division - Chelsea win the 1954-55 title.* FA Cup - Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1....

, the Western League's two strongest franchises, the Denver Bears and the Omaha Cardinals
Omaha Cardinals
The Omaha Cardinals was the name of the minor league baseball club based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 1947 through 1959. It played in the Class A Western League through 1954 and in the AAA American Association from 1955-59 as an affiliate of its major league namesake, the St...

, were admitted to the AAA American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...

.

The WL continued for four more seasons before folding in the autumn of 1958. Its last champion, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...

, 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
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...

, Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...

, Topeka, and Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...

.
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