Western Association
Encyclopedia
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. It began operations in the 1888 season, and lasted through the 1891 season.
A separate Western Association was formed in January 1894 with clubs in Iowa
, Nebraska
, Illinois
and Missouri
– with a team in faraway Denver, Colorado
added in 1895. This league ceased operations in 1898, but was revived again for the following season. It was renamed the Central League in 1900. In 1901, two leagues were called the Western Association. One had eight teams in Ohio
, Michigan
, Kentucky
, West Virginia
and Indiana
; it folded after only one year. The other loop, confusingly located in the same geographic area, was the former Interstate League
; it reverted to its original identity in 1902.
The most long-lived Western Association played between 1905 and 1954. Originally the Missouri Valley League
, it existed for 42 years during that half century, suspending operations during both world wars and for one season (1933) during the Great Depression
. It was largely a Class C circuit, meaning it was a lower minor league, above only the Class D level.
, Leavenworth, Kansas
, Sedalia, Missouri
, Springfield, Missouri
, and Topeka, Kansas
joined from the Missouri Valley League
. Teams from Guthrie, Oklahoma
, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
joined from the Southwestern League
. A new team in Wichita, Kansas
formed and joined the league.
. A new team in Webb City, Missouri
formed and joined the league. The St. Joseph team, with a record of 16-24, moved to Hutchinson, Kansas
, on July 12, where their record was 39-60.
, formed and joined the league,
. Oklahoma City moved to the Texas League
. Huthcinson moved to the Kansas State League
. Bartlesville, Oklahoma
, and Muskogee, Oklahoma
, joined from the Oklahoma-Kansas League
. New teams in Guthrie, Oklahoma
, and Pittsburg, Kansas
formed and joined the league.The Joplin team, with a record of 20-43, moved to El Reno, Oklahoma
on July 4, where their record was 16-46. The Webb City team, with a record of 35-39, moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma
on July 18, where their record was 29-20.
, and Tulsa, Oklahoma
, formed and joined the league. The Muskogee and Tulsa teams both folded on July 22, and the Bartlesville and El Reno teams both folded on July 31.
, Fort Smith, Arkansas
, Independence, Kansas
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
, and Tulsa, Oklahoma
formed and joined the league. The Joplin and Springfield teams folded May 10, the Coffeyville and Independence teams June 14, and all other teams and the league itself on June 19.
, Joplin, Missouri
/Webb City, Missouri
, McAlester, Oklahoma
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, and Tulsa, Oklahoma
formed and created the new league.
on July 10, where they had a record of 2-10, and then to Henryetta, Oklahoma
on July 22, where they had a record of 11-36.
Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 2 for the championship.
, and Paris, Texas
, joined from the Texas-Oklahoma League
. A new team formed in Sherman, Texas
, and joined the league.
Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for the championship.
Denison beat Tulsa 4 games to 2 for the championship.
, on May 10, where they had a record of 41-86.
All teams, and the league itself, folded.
, Drumright, Oklahoma
, Enid, Oklahoma
, Fort Smith, Arkansas
, Henryetta, Oklahoma
, Okmulgee, Oklahoma
, Pawhuska, Oklahoma
, and Springfield, Missouri
were formed. The new American Association was formed. The team with the best record in the first half of the season played against the team with the best record in the second half of the season for the championship.
Enid and Okmulgee tied 3 games to 3 in the championship round.
Chickasha beat Fort Smith 4 games to 3 for the championship.
Springifled beat Independence (of the Southwestern League
) 2 games to 1
Ardmore (of the Texas-Oklahoma League
beat Chickasha 2 games to none
. Drumright folded. The team from Joplin, Missouri
joined from the Western League
, and a new team in McAlester, Oklahoma
formed and joined. The Pawhuska team folded on August 16, forfeiting the remainder of their games.
joined from the Texas-Oklahoma League
. The team in McAlester folded July 19, and the Henryetta team folded July 21.
Ardmore beat Okmulgee 4 games to 2 for the championship.
, and Enid moved to the Southwestern League
. Teams from Bartlesville, Oklahoma
, Hutchinson, Kansas
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
, and Topeka, Kansas
, joined from the Southwestern League
. The Bartlesville team, with a record of 19-23, moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma on June 8, where their record was 56-59. The Joplin team, with a record of 25-24, moved to Bartlesville on June 16, where their record was 44-63.
. A new team in Independence, Kansas
, formed and joined the league.
Ardmore beat Muskogee 4 games to 1 for the title.
, and one fro Topeka, Kansas joined from the Southwestern League
. A new team in Muskogee, Oklahoma
, formed and joined the league. The team in St. Joseph, with a record of 38-32, moved to Joplin on July 7, where their record was 35-28.
Joplin beat Independence 4 games to 2 for the title.
. A new team in Shawnee, Oklahoma
, formed and joined the league. The Muskogee team moved to Maud, Oklahoma
, on August 22.
Independence beat Joplin 5 games to 4 for the title.
Springfield beat Bartlesville 5 games to 4 for the title. The Atchinson and Springfield teams moved to the Western League
. The Belleville and Muskogee teams, and the Western Association itself, folded.
, Hutchinson, Kansas
, Joplin, Missouri
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
, Ponca City, Oklahoma
, Springfield, Missouri
.
Ponca City defeated Springfield in a one-game playoff for the first-half title. Springfield defeated Ponca City 4 games to 3 for the league title.
Ponca City beat Springfield 5 games to 4 for the championship.
Ponca City won the title over Joplin 5 games to 2.
Joplin beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 and Springfield beat Hutchinson 3 games to 1 in the first round of playoffs. Springfield beat Joplin 4 games to 3 for the title.
and Salina, Kansas
were formed.
Ponca City beat Fort Smith 3 games to 1, and Hutchinson beat Springfield 3 games to 2, in the first round of the playoffs. Ponca City beat Hutchinson 4 games to 1 for the championship.
.
Fort Smith beat Muskogee 3 games to none, and St. Joseph beat Topeka 3 games to 1, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Fort Smith 3 games to none for the championship.
and became the Carthage Browns and an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns. They had a record of 30-74 in Carthage, and ended in last place.
Fort Smith beat Topeka 4 games to 3 for the title.
and Salina, Kansas
. Because of the playoff format, the team with the best overall record, the newly-formed Leavenworth Braves, did not qualify for the playoffs.
Hutchinson beat Fort Smith 4 games to 2 for the title.
Muskogee beat Salina 3 games to 2, and St. Joseph beat Topeka 3 games to 2, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for the championship.
on July 21. Their record after the move, of 18-45, was worse than their record in Hutchinson, 25-42. No playoff system is known of for this year, so presumably the best overall record is the league champion.
and a new club from Springfield, Missouri
joined.
St. Joseph beat Joplin and Hutchinson beat Topeka in the first rounds of the playoffs by 3 games to zero each. Hutchinson beat St. Joseph for the championship 4 games to 1.
, Iola, Kansas
, and Ponca City, Oklahoma
.
Blackwell beat Topeka 3 games to zero, and St. Joseph beat Muskogee 3 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. Blackwell beat St. Joseph 4 games to 1 for the title. After the season, Blackwell joined the Sooner State League
, and the other seven teams, and the league itself, folded.
The Western Association prospered during the minor league baseball boom that followed World War II
, with its clubs in Topeka, Kansas
, and St. Joseph, Missouri, drawing over 100,000 fans and most of its eight clubs tied to major league farm systems. But the bust that followed in the early 1950s, caused by the Korean War
, the advent of television
, and a retrenchment in MLB farm systems, also buffeted the WA. It finally disbanded after the 1954 season
, its champion Topeka club, a Chicago White Sox
affiliate, drawing half the number of fans the team had drawn during the late 1940s.
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...
during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League
Northwestern League
The Northwestern League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1883–1884, and again from 1886-1887. It was founded by Elias Matter in 1883.-1883-1884:...
in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887. It began operations in the 1888 season, and lasted through the 1891 season.
A separate Western Association was formed in January 1894 with clubs in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
– with a team in faraway 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...
added in 1895. This league ceased operations in 1898, but was revived again for the following season. It was renamed the Central League in 1900. In 1901, two leagues were called the Western Association. One had eight teams in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
; it folded after only one year. The other loop, confusingly located in the same geographic area, was the former Interstate League
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
; it reverted to its original identity in 1902.
The most long-lived Western Association played between 1905 and 1954. Originally the Missouri Valley League
Missouri Valley League
The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1902 through 1904.-1902:New teams in Nevada, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, Fort Scott, Kansas, Sedalia, Missouri, Joplin, Missouri, Coffeyville, Kansas, Jefferson City, Missouri, and Iola, Kansas formed...
, it existed for 42 years during that half century, suspending operations during both world wars and for one season (1933) 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...
. It was largely a Class C circuit, meaning it was a lower minor league, above only the Class D level.
1905 League
Teams in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, 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...
, Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
, 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...
, 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...
joined from the Missouri Valley League
Missouri Valley League
The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1902 through 1904.-1902:New teams in Nevada, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, Fort Scott, Kansas, Sedalia, Missouri, Joplin, Missouri, Coffeyville, Kansas, Jefferson City, Missouri, and Iola, Kansas formed...
. Teams from Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 9,925 at the 2000 census.Guthrie was the territorial and later the first state capital for Oklahoma...
, and 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...
joined from the Southwestern League
Southwestern League
The Southwestern League was the name of three former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The first league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The second league operated from 1921 to 1926...
. A new team in 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...
formed and joined the league.
1905
| Team Name | Record |
| Wichita Jobbers | 79-56 |
| Oklahoma City Mets | 77-58 |
| Leavenworth Oilers | 75-59 |
| Sedalia Gold Bugs | 70-64 |
| Guthrie Senators Guthrie Senators The Guthrie Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Guthrie, Oklahoma, USA that played in the Western Association and South Central League .... |
66-70 |
| 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.... |
65-73 |
| Topeka White Sox | 54-80 |
| Springfield Highlanders | 54-80 |
1906
The teams in Guthrie and Sedalia folded. The St. Joseph, Missouri team moved from the Western LeagueWestern League (defunct minor league)
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...
. A new team in Webb City, Missouri
Webb City, Missouri
Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,996 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Webb City is located at ....
formed and joined the league. The St. Joseph team, with a record of 16-24, moved to 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"...
, on July 12, where their record was 39-60.
| Team Name | Record |
| Topeka White Sox | 82-56 |
| Joplin Miners | 75-62 |
| Wichita Jobbers | 75-65 |
| Springfield Midgets Springfield Midgets The Springfield Midgets were a minor league baseball team that played from 1903 to 1904 in the Missouri Valley League and from 1906 to 1909 and 1921 to 1930 in the Western Association. Based in Springfield, Missouri, they were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns in 1930.-Year-by-year record:... |
72-67 |
| Oklahoma City Mets | 70-69 |
| Leavenworth Old Soldiers | 68-72 |
| Webb City Gold Bugs | 57-79 |
| St. Joseph Packers/Hutchinson Salt Packers | 55-84 |
1907
| Team Name | Record |
| Wichita Jobbers | 98-35 |
| Oklahoma City Mets | 86-54 |
| Hutchinson White Sox | 77-59 |
| Topeka White Sox | 75-65 |
| Joplin Miners | 71-64 |
| Webb City Goldbugs | 65-70 |
| Springfield Midgets | 46-92 |
| Leavenworth Convicts | 29-108 |
1908
The Leavenworth team folded, and a new team in Enid, OklahomaEnid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, formed and joined the league,
| Team Name | Record |
| Topeka Jayhawkers | 89-50 |
| Wichita Jobbers | 87-53 |
| Oklahoma City Mets | 81-58 |
| Joplin Miners | 71-65 |
| Hutchinson Salt Packers | 69-70 |
| Webb City Webfeet | 66-69 |
| Springfield Midgets | 48-85 |
| Enid Railroaders | 38-99 |
1909
Topeka and Wichita moved to the Western LeagueWestern League (defunct minor league)
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...
. Oklahoma City 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...
. Huthcinson moved to the Kansas State League
Kansas State League
Three different baseball leagues in the United States have used the name Kansas State League. All three leagues were based in the state of Kansas in the early 20th century...
. Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville is a city in Osage and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 43,070 at the 2010 census. Bartlesville is located forty-seven miles north of Tulsa and very close to Oklahoma's northern border with Kansas. It is the county seat of Washington County, in...
, and Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, joined from the Oklahoma-Kansas League
Oklahoma-Kansas League
The Oklahoma-Kansas League was a six-team minor baseball league that existed in 1908. As its name indicates, it consisted of teams from Oklahoma and Kansas....
. New teams in Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 9,925 at the 2000 census.Guthrie was the territorial and later the first state capital for Oklahoma...
, and Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:...
formed and joined the league.The Joplin team, with a record of 20-43, moved to El Reno, Oklahoma
El Reno, Oklahoma
El Reno is a city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States, in the central part of the state. A part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area, El Reno is west of downtown Oklahoma City...
on July 4, where their record was 16-46. The Webb City team, with a record of 35-39, moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census...
on July 18, where their record was 29-20.
| Team Name | Record |
| Enid Railroaders | 82-44 |
| Muskogee Navigators Muskogee Navigators The Muskogee Navigators were a Western Association baseball team based in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA that played from 1909 to 1910. Multiple major league baseball players played for them, including Pug Cavet, Dick Crutcher, Bert Graham and Paddy Mayes. They were managed by George Dalrymple in 1909 and... |
74-51 |
| Guthrie Senators | 70-55 |
| Bartlesville Boosters | 66-59 |
| Webb City Webfeet/Sapulpa Oilers | 64-59 |
| Springfield Midgets | 56-70 |
| Pittsburg Pirates | 52-73 |
| Joplin Miners, El Reno Packers | 36-89 |
1910
The Pittsburg and Springfield teams folded. New teams in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, 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 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, formed and joined the league. The Muskogee and Tulsa teams both folded on July 22, and the Bartlesville and El Reno teams both folded on July 31.
| Team Name | Record |
| Joplin Miners | 90-34 |
| Enid Railroaders | 64-53 |
| Sapulpa Oilers | 65-61 |
| Guthrie Senators | 47-73 |
| El Reno Packers | 65-43 |
| Bartlesville Boosters | 51-51 |
| Muskogee Navigators | 36-63 |
| 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... |
28-68 |
1911
The teams in Enid and Guthrie folded. New teams in Coffeyville, KansasCoffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, Independence, Kansas
Independence, Kansas
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,483.-Geography:...
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, and Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
formed and joined the league. The Joplin and Springfield teams folded May 10, the Coffeyville and Independence teams June 14, and all other teams and the league itself on June 19.
| Team Name | Record |
| Fort Smith Scouts | 29-14 (1st half winner) |
| Muskogee Redskins | 23-21 (2nd half winner) |
| Sapulpa Oilers | 23-21 |
| Tulsa Railroaders | 20-25 |
| Independence Packers | 15-22 |
| Coffeyville White Sox | 15-24 |
| Joplin Miners | 3-2 |
| Springfield Jobbers | 2-3 |
1914 League
New teams in Fort Smith, ArkansasFort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, 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...
/Webb City, Missouri
Webb City, Missouri
Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,996 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Webb City is located at ....
, McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, 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...
, and Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
formed and created the new league.
1914
Joplin-Webb City, with a record of 22-46, moved to Guthrie, OklahomaGuthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 9,925 at the 2000 census.Guthrie was the territorial and later the first state capital for Oklahoma...
on July 10, where they had a record of 2-10, and then to Henryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,096 at the 2000 census.Henryetta is notable as the high school hometown of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman...
on July 22, where they had a record of 11-36.
| Team Name | Record |
| Tulsa Oilers | 74-49 |
| Oklahoma City Booters | 75-52 (1st half winner) |
| Fort Smith Twins | 73-52 |
| Muskogee Mets | 74-54 (2nd half winner) |
| McAlester Miners McAlester Miners The McAlester Miners were a minor league baseball team based in McAlester, Oklahoma that existed on-and-off from 1907 to 1926. In 1907, they played in the Oklahoma-Arkansas-Kansas League, in 1908 they played in the Oklahoma-Kansas League, in 1912 they played in the Oklahoma State League, and from... |
47-79 |
| Joplin-Webb City Miners/Guthrie Senators/Henryetta Boosters | 35-92 |
Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 2 for the championship.
1915
Henryetta folded. Teams from Denison, TexasDenison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas is a city located northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in Lamar County, Texas, in the United States. It is situated in Northeast Texas at the western edge of the Piney Woods. Physiographically, these regions are part of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. In 1900, 9,358 people lived...
, joined from the Texas-Oklahoma League
Texas-Oklahoma League
The Texas-Oklahoma League refers the name of two Minor league baseball Class-D circuits that operated between and . The first began in 1911 and finished in 1914, while the second did not even last that long, being active only in 1921 and 1922....
. A new team formed in Sherman, Texas
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and joined the league.
| Team Name | Record |
| Denison Railroaders Denison Railroaders The Denison Railroaders were a baseball team based in Denison, Texas, USA that played from 1914 to 1917. They were known as the Denison Champions in 1914. They played in the Texas-Oklahoma League in 1914, but they joined the Western Association in 1915. Multiple major league baseball players played... |
76-53 |
| Oklahoma City Senators | 76-62 |
| Sherman Hitters | 70-65 |
| Muskogee Mets | 68-66 |
| Paris Red Snappers | 66-66 |
| Tulsa Producers | 63-71 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 61-75 |
| McAlester Miners | 57-79 |
Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for the championship.
1916
| Team Name | Record |
| Denison Railroaders | 86-49 (1st half winner) |
| Tulsa Producers | 80-58 (2nd half winner) |
| McAlester Miners | 79-58 |
| Oklahoma City Senators | 64-73 |
| Muskogee Mets | 63-77 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 61-76 |
| Sherman Lions | 61-76 |
| Paris Survivors | 56-83 |
Denison beat Tulsa 4 games to 2 for the championship.
1917
Paris, with a record of 16-12, moved to Ardmore, OklahomaArdmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694 residents...
, on May 10, where they had a record of 41-86.
| Team Name | Record |
| McAlester Miners | 95-57 |
| Muskogee Reds Muskogee Reds Muskogee Reds refers to three teams based in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. The first team played in the Missouri Valley League in 1905. The next played in the Western Association in 1917, and the third played in the Western Association from 1937 to 1942, and from 1946 to 1950... |
89-69 |
| Sherman Browns | 80-72 |
| Denison Railroaders | 79-75 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 77-82 |
| Oklahoma City Boosters | 72-80 |
| Tulsa Producers | 68-84 |
| Paris Athletics/Ardmore Foundlings | 57-98 |
All teams, and the league itself, folded.
1920 League
New teams in Chickasha, OklahomaChickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
, Drumright, Oklahoma
Drumright, Oklahoma
Drumright is a city in Creek and Payne counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 2,905 at the 2000 census.-History:The town sprang up nearly overnight in 1912 after wildcatter Tom Slick struck oil on the farm of Frank Wheeler, causing a rush of speculators, oilfield workers, and...
, Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, Henryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,096 at the 2000 census.Henryetta is notable as the high school hometown of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman...
, Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Okmulgee is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 12,321 a loss of 5.4 percent since the 2000 census figure of 13,022. It has been the capital of the Muscogee Nation since the United States Civil War. Okmulgee means "boiling waters" in the Creek...
, Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Pawhuska is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Oklahoma, United States, and the capital of the Osage Nation. The population was 3,589 at the 2010 census, a decline of 1.2 percent from 3,629 at the 2000 census. The ZIP Code for the city is 74056...
, 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...
were formed. The new American Association was formed. The team with the best record in the first half of the season played against the team with the best record in the second half of the season for the championship.
1920
| Team Name | Record |
| Okmulgree Drillers | 83-46 (1st half winner) |
| Fort Smith Twins | 80-58 |
| Enid Harvesters | 71-53 (2nd half winner) |
| Henryetta Hens | 75-56 |
| Drumright Drummers | 66-62 |
| Springfield Merchants | 58-76 |
| Chickasha Chicks | 52-72 |
| Pawhuska Huskers Pawhuska Huskers The Pawhuska Huskers were a Western Association baseball team based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma USA that played from 1920 to 1921. Over the course of their two year existence, only one known major league player played for them - Rudy Hulswitt. He also managed them in 1921.... |
33-95 |
Enid and Okmulgee tied 3 games to 3 in the championship round.
1921
| Team Name | Record |
| Springfield Midgets | 85-60 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 83-61 (2nd half winner) |
| Henryetta Hens | 77-66 |
| Pawhuska Huskers | 76-71 |
| Enid Harvesters | 77-74 |
| Chickasha Chicks | 74-74 (1st half winner) |
| Okmulgee Drillers Okmulgee Drillers The Okmulgee Drillers were a minor league baseball team that played in the Western Association from 1920 to 1927. They were based in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1922, they played at Athletic Park, and from 1923 to 1927, they played at Petrolia Park.... |
71-76 |
| Drumright Oilers | 44-105 |
Chickasha beat Fort Smith 4 games to 3 for the championship.
Springifled beat Independence (of the Southwestern League
Southwestern League
The Southwestern League was the name of three former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The first league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The second league operated from 1921 to 1926...
) 2 games to 1
Ardmore (of the Texas-Oklahoma League
Texas-Oklahoma League
The Texas-Oklahoma League refers the name of two Minor league baseball Class-D circuits that operated between and . The first began in 1911 and finished in 1914, while the second did not even last that long, being active only in 1921 and 1922....
beat Chickasha 2 games to none
1922
Chickasha moved to the Oklahoma State LeagueOklahoma State League
The Oklahoma State League was a Class-D minor baseball league based in Oklahoma that existed in 1912 and again from 1922 to 1924. Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell played in the league....
. Drumright folded. The team from 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...
joined from the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
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...
, and a new team in McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
formed and joined. The Pawhuska team folded on August 16, forfeiting the remainder of their games.
| Team Name | Record |
| Enid Harvesters | 104-27 (2nd half winner) |
| Joplin Miners | 93-42 (1st half winner) |
| Henryetta Hens | 74-56 |
| Springfield Midgets | 68-69 |
| Okmulgee Drillers | 56-79 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 54-79 |
| McAlester Miners | 49-82 |
| Pawhuska Osages | 29-93 |
1923
The team from Ardmore, OklahomaArdmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694 residents...
joined from the Texas-Oklahoma League
Texas-Oklahoma League
The Texas-Oklahoma League refers the name of two Minor league baseball Class-D circuits that operated between and . The first began in 1911 and finished in 1914, while the second did not even last that long, being active only in 1921 and 1922....
. The team in McAlester folded July 19, and the Henryetta team folded July 21.
| Team Name | Record |
| Joplin Miners | 83-60 |
| Ardmore Snappers | 82-60 (2nd half winner) |
| Okmulgee Drillers | 81-63 (1st half winner) |
| Enid Harvesters | 80-65 |
| Springfield Midgets | 70-74 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 53-92 |
| Henryetta Hens | 43-38 |
| McAlester Diggers | 27-57 |
Ardmore beat Okmulgee 4 games to 2 for the championship.
1924
Ardmore moved to the Oklahoma State LeagueOklahoma State League
The Oklahoma State League was a Class-D minor baseball league based in Oklahoma that existed in 1912 and again from 1922 to 1924. Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell played in the league....
, and Enid moved to the Southwestern League
Southwestern League
The Southwestern League was the name of three former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The first league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The second league operated from 1921 to 1926...
. Teams from Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville is a city in Osage and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 43,070 at the 2010 census. Bartlesville is located forty-seven miles north of Tulsa and very close to Oklahoma's northern border with Kansas. It is the county seat of Washington County, in...
, 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"...
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, 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...
, joined from the Southwestern League
Southwestern League
The Southwestern League was the name of three former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The first league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The second league operated from 1921 to 1926...
. The Bartlesville team, with a record of 19-23, moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma on June 8, where their record was 56-59. The Joplin team, with a record of 25-24, moved to Bartlesville on June 16, where their record was 44-63.
| Team Name | Record |
| Okmulgee Drillers | 110-48 (1st half & 2nd half winner) |
| Fort Smith Twins | 97-63 |
| Muskogee Athletics Muskogee Athletics The Muskogee Athletics were a Western Association baseball team based in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA that played from 1924 to 1926. Under the guidance of manager Gabby Street, the Athletics finished third in the league in 1924, going 97-65. In 1925, they finished in fourth place, going 79-72. They made... |
97-65 |
| Hutchinson Wheat Shockers | 81-80 |
| Bartlesville Bearcats/Ardmore Bearcats | 75-82 |
| Joplin Boosters/Bartlesville Boosters | 69-87 |
| Topeka Senators | 59-98 |
| Springfield Midgets | 47-112 |
1925
The teams in Bartlesville and Hutchinson folded. Topeka moved to the Southwestern LeagueSouthwestern League
The Southwestern League was the name of three former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The first league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The second league operated from 1921 to 1926...
. A new team in Independence, Kansas
Independence, Kansas
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,483.-Geography:...
, formed and joined the league.
| Team Name | Record |
| Fort Smith Twins | 94-56 |
| Ardmore Boomers | 86-64 (1st half winner) |
| Okmulgee Drillers | 80-71 |
| Muskogee Athletics | 79-72 (2nd half winner) |
| Springfield Midgets | 67-82 |
| Independence Producers Independence Producers The Independence Producers were a minor league baseball team based in Independence, Kansas, USA that played from 1921 to 1925 and from 1928 to 1932. From 1921 to 1924, they played in the Southwestern League, and in 1925 they played in the Western Association. They played in the Western Association... |
44-105 |
Ardmore beat Muskogee 4 games to 1 for the title.
1926
The team in Independence folded. A new team in McAlester, Oklahoma, formed and joined the league. Ardmore moved to Joplin, Missouri on July 14. The teams in McAlester and Muskogee folded on July 20.| Team Name | Record |
| Springfield Midgets | 92-66 (1st half winner) |
| Fort Smith Twins | 92-68 |
| Ardmore Boomers/Joplin Ozarks | 77-81 |
| Okmulgee Drillers | 73-85 |
| Muskogee Athletics | 51-45 |
| McAlester Miners | 28-68 |
1927
The team in Joplin folded. A team from St. Joseph, Missouri, joined from the Western LeagueWestern League (defunct minor league)
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...
, and one fro Topeka, Kansas joined from the Southwestern League
Southwestern League
The Southwestern League was the name of three former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The first league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The second league operated from 1921 to 1926...
. A new team in Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, formed and joined the league. The team in St. Joseph, with a record of 38-32, moved to Joplin on July 7, where their record was 35-28.
| Team Name | Record |
| Fort Smith Twins | 81-51 |
| Topeka Jayhawks | 74-58 |
| St. Joseph Saints/Joplin Miners | 73-60 |
| Springfield Midgets | 63-69 |
| Okmulgee Drillers | 57-75 |
| Muskogee Chiefs | 48-83 |
1928
The team in Okmulgee folded, and a new team in Independence, Kansas, formed and joined the league.| Team Name | Record |
| Fort Smith Twins | 74-63 |
| Topeka Jayhawks | 70-61 |
| Joplin Miners | 70-65 (1st half winner) |
| Independence Producers | 66-67 (2nd half winner) |
| Springfield Midgets | 61-66 |
| Muskogee Chiefs | 58-77 |
Joplin beat Independence 4 games to 2 for the title.
1929
Topeka moved to the Western LeagueWestern League (defunct minor league)
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...
. A new team in Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee is a city in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 29,857 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area; it is also the county seat of Pottawatomie County and the principal city of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical...
, formed and joined the league. The Muskogee team moved to Maud, Oklahoma
Maud, Oklahoma
Maud is a city in Pottawatomie and Seminole counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 1,048 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Maud is located at...
, on August 22.
| Team Name | Record |
| Fort Smith Twins | 88-59 (2nd half winner) |
| Shawnee Robins | 87-61 (1st half winner) |
| Springfield Midgets | 71-77 |
| Independence Producers | 71-78 |
| Joplin Miners | 60-82 |
| Muskogee Chiefs/Maud Chiefs | 61-89 |
1930
The Maud team moved back to Muskogee, Oklahoma.| Team Name | Record |
| Independence Producers | 76-56 (2nd half winner) |
| Joplin Miners | 76-59 (1st half winner) |
| Shawnee Robins | 65-71 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 64-72 |
| Springfield Midgets | 64-73 |
| Muskogee Chiefs | 60-74 |
Independence beat Joplin 5 games to 4 for the title.
1931
The Shawnee team folded. A new team in Bartlesville, Oklahoma formed.| Team Name | Record |
| Springfield Red Wings | 87-57 (1st & 2nd half winner) |
| Joplin Miners | 80-62 |
| Independence Producers | 77-69 |
| Fort Smith Twins | 74-76 |
| Muskogee Chiefs | 64-86 |
| Bartlesville Broncos | 59-91 |
1932
The Joplin team, with a record of 2-1, moved to Topeka, Kansas, on May 6, where their record was 36-37. The Independence team, with a record of 12-10, moved to Joplin, Missouri, on May 23, where their record was 7-10, to Independence, Kansas, again on June 10, where their record was 4-12, and finally to Hutchinson, Kansas, on July 20, where their record was 35-36. The Muskogee team, with a record of 18-16, moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where their record was 19-32, on June 8, and folded on July 18. The Fort Smith team, with a record of 23-29, moved to Muskogee on July 1, where their record was 25-51. The Topeka team folded July 18.| Team Name | Affiliation | |Record |
| 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... |
|79-51 (1st half winner) |
| Bartlesville Bronchos | |77-52 (2nd half winner) | |
| Independence Producers/Joplin Miners/Independence/Hutchinson | |58-68 | |
| Fort Smith Twins/Muskogee Chiefs | 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... |
|48-80 |
| Joplin Miners/Topeka Jayhawks | |38-38 | |
| Muskogee Chiefs/Hutchinson Whest Shockers | |37-48 |
Springfield beat Bartlesville 5 games to 4 for the title. The Atchinson and Springfield teams moved to the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
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...
. The Belleville and Muskogee teams, and the Western Association itself, folded.
1934 League
The new League and all six member teams were created. The season was broken into halves, with the first-half and second-half winners competing in the championship. The founding teams were in Bartlesville, OklahomaBartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville is a city in Osage and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 43,070 at the 2010 census. Bartlesville is located forty-seven miles north of Tulsa and very close to Oklahoma's northern border with Kansas. It is the county seat of Washington County, in...
, 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"...
, 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...
, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City is a small city in Kay and Osage counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, which was named after the Ponca Tribe. Located in north central Oklahoma, it lies approximately south of the Kansas border, and approximately east of Interstate 35. 25,919 people called Ponca City home at the...
, 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...
.
1934
| Team Name | Affiliation (if any) | |Final Record |
| Springfield Red Wings | 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... |
|76-58 (1st half tie) (2nd half winner) |
| Ponca City Angels | 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... |
|73-61 (1st half tie) |
| Joplin Miners | Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"... |
|66-68 |
| Hutchinson Larks | |66-68 | |
| Bartlesville Reds | 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.... |
|63-69 |
| Muskogee Tigers | |56-76 |
Ponca City defeated Springfield in a one-game playoff for the first-half title. Springfield defeated Ponca City 4 games to 3 for the league title.
1935
Springfield changed their name to the "Cardinals".| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |87-48 (1st half title) |
| Ponca City Angels | Chicago Cubs | |76-55 (2nd half title) |
| Hutchinson Larks | St. Louis Cardinals | |68-61 |
| Muskogee Tigers | |60-71 | |
| Bartlesville Reds | Cincinnati Reds | |56-79 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees New York Yankees The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division... |
|48-81 |
Ponca City beat Springfield 5 games to 4 for the championship.
1936
| Ponca City Angels | Chicago Cubs | |87-57 (2nd half title) |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |83-58 (1st half title) |
| Hutchinson Larks | 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... |
|79-65 |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |64-78 |
| Muskogee Tigers | Brooklyn Dodgers | |61-80 |
| Bartlesville Bucs | |53-81 |
Ponca City won the title over Joplin 5 games to 2.
1937
| Muskogee Reds | Cincinnati Reds | |79-61 |
| Hutchinson Larks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |78-64 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |76-66 |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |76-67 |
| Ponca City Angels | Chicago Cubs | |71-69 |
| Bartlesville Blues | New York Yankees | |45-98 |
Joplin beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 and Springfield beat Hutchinson 3 games to 1 in the first round of playoffs. Springfield beat Joplin 4 games to 3 for the title.
1938
New teams in Fort Smith, ArkansasFort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
and Salina, Kansas
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
were formed.
| Ponca City Angels | Chicago Cubs | |84-54 |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |79-56 |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
|74-65 |
| Hutchinson Larks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |70-67 |
| Muskogee Reds | Cincinnati Reds | |71-68 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |63-74 |
| Bartlesville Chiefs | |61-78 | |
| Salina Millers | |47-87 |
Ponca City beat Fort Smith 3 games to 1, and Hutchinson beat Springfield 3 games to 2, in the first round of the playoffs. Ponca City beat Hutchinson 4 games to 1 for the championship.
1939
Ponca City moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. Bartlesville folded. A new team formed in Topeka, KansasTopeka, 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...
.
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |83-50 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |81-56 |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |78-60 |
| Topeka Owls Topeka Owls The Topeka Owls were a Western Association baseball team based in Topeka, Kansas, USA that played from 1939 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1954. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns from 1939 to 1940, the Chicago Cubs from 1951 to 1952 and the Chicago White Sox from 1953 to 1954.... |
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... |
|72-65 |
| St. Joseph Angels | Chicago Cubs | |66-72 |
| Muskogee Reds | Cincinnati Reds | |60-76 |
| Salina Millers | |55-79 | |
| Hutchinson Pirates | Pittsburgh Pirates | |49-86 |
1940
| Muskogee Reds | |90-49 | |
| Topeka Owls | St. Louis Browns | |73-60 |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |70-63 |
| St. Joseph Saints | Chicago Cubs | |69-63 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |68-64 |
| Salina Millers | |60-75 | |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |56-76 |
| Hutchinson Pirates | Pittsburgh Pirates | |50-86 |
Fort Smith beat Muskogee 3 games to none, and St. Joseph beat Topeka 3 games to 1, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Fort Smith 3 games to none for the championship.
1941
On June 3, the St. Joseph Ponies (10-22) moved to Carthage, MissouriCarthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
and became the Carthage Browns and an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns. They had a record of 30-74 in Carthage, and ended in last place.
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |93-41 |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |92-43 |
| Topeka Owls | |75-58 | |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |73-60 |
| Muskogee Reds | Cincinnati Reds | |64-69 |
| Hutchinson Pirates | Pittsburgh Pirates | |53-81 |
| Salina Millers | Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona... |
|46-88 |
| St. Joseph Pony Express Riders/Carthage Browns | Chicago Cubs/St. Louis Browns | |40-96 |
1942
The two teams with the worst records of the previous year, Carthage and Salina, folded. The league returned to a 1st-half vs. 2nd-half winners championship format.| Topeka Owls | |80-53 (2nd half winners) | |
| Muskogee Reds | |76-58 | |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |68-63 (1st half winners) |
| Springfield Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |62-70 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |59-75 |
| Hutchinson Pirates | Pittsburgh Pirates | |50-76 |
Fort Smith beat Topeka 4 games to 3 for the title.
1946
Springfield moved to St. Joseph. New teams formed in Leavenworth, KansasLeavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
and Salina, Kansas
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
. Because of the playoff format, the team with the best overall record, the newly-formed Leavenworth Braves, did not qualify for the playoffs.
| Leavenworth Braves | Boston Braves Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... |
|76-57 |
| Hutchinson Cubs | Chicago Cubs | |73-56 (2nd half winner) |
| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |75-62 |
| Muskogee Reds | 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... |
|75-64 |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |67-63 (1st half winner) |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |61-73 |
| Topeka Owls | |53-79 | |
| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
|51-77 |
Hutchinson beat Fort Smith 4 games to 2 for the title.
1947
The playoffs format was changed again this year.| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies | |85-53 |
| Topeka Owls | |83-55 | |
| Muskogee Reds | St. Louis Browns | |75-64 |
| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |72-67 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |67-73 |
| Hutchinson Cubs | Chicago Cubs | |63-76 |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |59-78 |
| Leavenworth Braves | Boston Braves | |50-88 |
Muskogee beat Salina 3 games to 2, and St. Joseph beat Topeka 3 games to 2, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for the championship.
1948
The Hutchinson Cubs moved to Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
on July 21. Their record after the move, of 18-45, was worse than their record in Hutchinson, 25-42. No playoff system is known of for this year, so presumably the best overall record is the league champion.
| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |90-48 |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |82-58 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |75-57 |
| Topeka Owls | |70-66 | |
| Muskogee Reds | St. Louis Browns | |61-70 |
| Leavenworth Braves | Boston Braves | |62-75 |
| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies | |58-80 |
| Hutchinson Cubs/Springfield Cubs | Chicago Cubs | |43-87 |
1949
Springfield moved back to Hutchinson again, changing their name and losing their affiliation. This season, St. Joseph had the best winning percentage in the history of this incarnation of the league. Perhaps coincidentally, Leavenworth had the worst winning percentage in the history of this version of the league in the same year.| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |96-42 |
| Fort Smith Giants | New York Giants | |86-54 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |86-58 |
| Topeka Owls | |77-61 | |
| Muskogee Reds | St. Louis Browns | |77-62 |
| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies | |69-69 |
| Hutchinson Elks | |41-93 | |
| Leavenworth Braves | Boston Braves | |25-112 |
1950
Leavenworth, who ended the previous year with the all-time worst winning percentage in this incarnation of the league, folded. Fort Smith moved to Enid, OklahomaEnid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
and a new club from 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.
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |90-46 |
| Hutchinson Elks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |77-60 |
| Springfield Cubs | Chicago Cubs | |74-61 |
| Enid Giants | New York Giants | |71-63 |
| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |67-69 |
| Topeka Owls | |58-81 | |
| Muskogee Reds | |52-79 | |
| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies | |53-83 |
1951
Springfield folded, and a new team started up in Fort Smith.| Topeka Owls | Chicago Cubs | |74-44 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |77-48 |
| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |69-51 |
| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies | |63-58 |
| Muskogee Giants | New York Giants | |61-63 |
| Hutchinson Elks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |57-66 |
| Enid Buffalos | |45-79 | |
| Fort Smith Indians | Cleveland Indians | |43-80 |
1952
This year, the league returned to the 1st-half winner vs. 2nd-half winner playoff format.| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |87-52 (2nd half winner) |
| Muskogee Giants | New York Giants | |73-66 (1st half winner) |
| Hutchinson Elks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |70-66 |
| Topeka Owls | Chicago Cubs | |63-76 |
| Salina Blue Jays | Philadelphia Phillies | |61-77 |
| Fort Smith Indians | Cleveland Indians | |60-77 |
1953
Salina folded, having made the playoffs only once in its seven years of existence. The Fort Smith Indians changed their name to the Fort Smith-Van Buren Twins, and a new team started in St. Joseph, Missouri with a bang.| St. Joseph Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |83-57 |
| Hutchinson Elks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |80-60 |
| Topeka Owls | Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans... |
|78-62 |
| Joplin Miners | New York Yankees | |71-68 |
| Muskogee Giants | New York Giants | |57-81 |
| Fort Smith-Van Buren Twins | |49-90 |
St. Joseph beat Joplin and Hutchinson beat Topeka in the first rounds of the playoffs by 3 games to zero each. Hutchinson beat St. Joseph for the championship 4 games to 1.
1954
After having changed its name and finishing with the worst record in the league the previous season, Fort Smith folded. New teams started up in Blackwell, OklahomaBlackwell, Oklahoma
Blackwell is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 177 and State Highway 11 along Interstate 35. The population was 7,668 at the 2000 census. Blackwell was established following the September 16, 1893 Cherokee Outlet land run by A. J. Blackwell...
, Iola, Kansas
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
, and Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City is a small city in Kay and Osage counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, which was named after the Ponca Tribe. Located in north central Oklahoma, it lies approximately south of the Kansas border, and approximately east of Interstate 35. 25,919 people called Ponca City home at the...
.
| Topeka Owls | Chicago White Sox | |87-51 |
| Muskogee Giants | New York Giants | |85-54 |
| St. Joseph Saints | New York Yankees | |82-57 |
| Blackwell Broncos | Chicago Cubs | |79-61 |
| Hutchinson Elks | Pittsburgh Pirates | |72-67 |
| Ponca City Jets | |62-76 | |
| Joplin Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals | |50-89 |
| Iola Indians | |39-101 |
Blackwell beat Topeka 3 games to zero, and St. Joseph beat Muskogee 3 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. Blackwell beat St. Joseph 4 games to 1 for the title. After the season, Blackwell joined the Sooner State League
Sooner State League
The Sooner State League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the League folded on February 12,...
, and the other seven teams, and the league itself, folded.
The Western Association prospered during the minor league baseball boom that followed World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with its clubs 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 St. Joseph, Missouri, drawing over 100,000 fans and most of its eight clubs tied to major league farm systems. But the bust that followed in the early 1950s, caused by the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the advent of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, and a retrenchment in MLB farm systems, also buffeted the WA. It finally disbanded after the 1954 season
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
, its champion Topeka club, a Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
affiliate, drawing half the number of fans the team had drawn during the late 1940s.