Northwestern League

This article is about the 19th-century central U.S. league. For the Pacific Northwest league of the early 20th century, see Northwestern League (1905–1917).
Not to be confused with Northwest League or North West League (disambiguation).
Northwestern League
SportBaseball
First season1879
Ceased1891
No. of teams4 to 12 each season
CountryUnited States

The Northwestern League was a sports league that operated in the Central United States during the early years of professional baseball for six seasons: 1879, 1883–1884, 1886–1887, and 1891. After the 1887 season, the league was replaced by the Western Association,[1] although the Northwestern League returned for its final season in 1891 as an independent baseball league.

The Northwestern League of 1883–1884 is considered the first baseball "minor league", as it was party to the National Agreement of 1883, along with the National League and American Association, whereby the leagues agreed to honor each other's suspensions, expulsions, and player reserve clauses, and established territorial rights.[2]

An unrelated Northwestern League, located in the Pacific Northwest, later formed in 1905.

  1. ^ Thornly, Stew (2006). Baseball in Minnesota: The Definitive History. ISBN 978-0-87351-551-1.
  2. ^ "How Minor League Baseball Teams Work: History of the Minors". howstuffworks.com. April 2000. Retrieved April 21, 2021.