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Western International League

Western International League
ClassificationClass B  (1922, 1937–1942; 1946–1951)
Class A  (1952–1954)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1922, 1937
Ceased1954
Replaced byNorthwest League
PresidentRoger Peck (1937)
F.H. Knickerbocker
(1938–1939)
Stanley A. Webster (1940)
Robert Abel (1941–1954)
No. of teams13
CountryCanada
United States
Most titles4
Spokane Indians
Vancouver Capilanos
Related
competitions		Western Canada League
Pacific Coast International League
Official websitenorthwestleague.com

The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level minor league baseball circuit in the Pacific Northwest United States and western Canada that operated in 1922, 1937 to 1942, and 1946 to 1954. In 1955, the Western International League evolved to become the Northwest League, which is still playing today.

History

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Informally known as the "Willy" loop,[1][2] The Western International League operated in 1922, 1937 to 1942, and 1946 to 1954.[3][4] In 1955, the league changed its name to become the Northwest League,[5] and operated through 2019 as a Class A-Short Season loop under that name. In the minor league reorganization of 2021, most Northwest League teams became members of the High-A West circuit, before resuming the former name in 2022

The WIL consisted of teams in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.[1] It was a Class B league through 1951 and was upgraded to Class A in 1952. In its final season in 1954, it started with ten teams in Calgary, Edmonton, Lewiston, Salem, Spokane, Kennewick–Richland–Pasco (playing as "Tri-City"), Vancouver, Victoria, Wenatchee, and Yakima.[6] Three teams did not finish the season (Spokane, Victoria, Calgary).[7] The final champion was the Vancouver Capilanos, who swept the Lewiston Broncs in four games. Vancouver was the first half champion while third-year Lewiston won the second half.[8]

Throughout much of the 1930s and 1940s, its teams were largely unaffiliated with major league farm systems and provided talent to the strong Pacific Coast League of the era.

Cities represented

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League champions

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Lewiston OK's enlargement of Willy loop". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). October 23, 1952. p. 10. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  2. ^ "Willy loop race tighter". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). Associated Press. July 17, 1953. p. 6. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "Spokane gets berth in new ball league". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 8, 1954. p. 18. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  4. ^ "Indians "on first" in baseball plans". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 9, 1954. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  5. ^ Missildine, Harry (April 20, 1972). "Northwest League goes back to 1890". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 22. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "Baseball standings: Western International". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. May 1, 1954. p. 8. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  7. ^ "Pennant progress: Western International". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 8, 1954. p. 17. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "Vancouver takes WIL crown, 12-2". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 13, 1954. p. 11. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2015.