Volume 13 , Issue 29

Western Association (Baseball)

The Western Association was the name of 5 different leagues in American Minor League baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries. The oldest league (established as the Northwestern League in 1883) was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887. It began operations in 1888 season, lasting through 1891 season.

From 1888-1891 and 1893, the Western League was known as the Western Association. The Western Association that was from 1894-1897 and 1899 was renamed the Central League in 1900. It was centered around Illinois and Iowa, reaching to Nebraska and Denver, Colorado early. In 1901, another Western Association was stared around Ohio and Indiana, but only lasted one year.

In 1905, the Missouri Valley League was renamed the Western Association, designated as Class-C until 1911 when it was given a D rating, operating in this class from 1914-1917 and also in 1920-21. It was not until 1922 that the league regained its class C status, operating from 1922-1932 and 1934-1942, when it and other baseball teams shut down during WWII. Cities Represented 1905-1911.

[Photo on the left is the Enid Railroaders; Photo on the right is the Guthrie 1909 Baseball team.]

Enid Pro-Baseball (Western Association)

Did you know the town of Enid, in central Oklahoma, joined the ranks of pro baseball in 1904? It was known as the Enid Evangelists, who won a first half title in the Class D Southwestern League, finishing with a combined 46-37 record in their sole year in the league. This NW Okie has photos of her grandpa Bill (a.k.a. Parsons) McGill who played for the Enid Railroaders (190?) and the Guthrie Senators (1909).

It was four years later that Enid joined the Class C Western Association (league which featured teams in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri). The Railroaders finished dead last with a record of 38-99 in their first season. The team then enjoyed a turnaround in 1909, winning the pennant with an 82-44 mark. The team dropped out of the league after a second place finish the following year. SEE ALSO History - 1922 Enid Harvesters.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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