Northern League (1933-1971)

Tombstone

Formed: October 19, 1932
Folded: 1972

Levels: 

  • 1933-1940: Class D
  • 1941-1942 & 1946-1962: Class C
  • 1963-1971: Class A

First Game: May 4, 1933
Last Game: September 3, 1971

Seasons: 46
States & Provinces:

Leadership

Trophy Case

 

Background

The Northern League was a low-level minor league loop that operated from 1933 to 1962.  Originally designated as a Class D league from 1933 to 1940, the Northern League moved up a rung to the Class C ranking for the 1941 season.  Like many minor baseball leagues, the Northern League went dark for three summers (1943-1945) during the height of World War II.

In 1963 the minor league baseball classification system was reorganized and the “Class C” designation was done away with.  the Northern League became a Single A league for the remainder of its existence.  By 1971 the league was reduced to just four clubs in Minnesota and South Dakota.  The Northern League ceased operations after the 1971 season.

Several other leagues have used the Northern League name over the years.  The name was used intermittently by Class C and D leagues operating in Minnesota, the Dakotas and Manitoba, Canada between 1902 and 1917.   In 1993, a group of prominent minor league investors revived the Northern League name for the launch of an independent league, which enjoyed a long run from 1993 to 2010. Several old Northern League franchise identities were revived for the 1990’s independent league, including the Sioux Falls Canaries (1942, 1946-1953) and the Winnipeg Goldeyes (1954-1964, 1969).

Northern League Franchise List

FRANCHISEYEARS ACTIVELEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Aberdeen Pheasants1946-19711949, 1961 & 1964
Bismarck-Mandan Pards1962-1964 & 1966Never
Brainerd Blues1935Never
Brainerd Muskies1933Never
Brainerd-Little Falls Muskies1934Never
Brandon Grays1933Never
Crookston Pirates1933-1941Never
Duluth Dukes1934-1942 & 1946-19551937-1938
Duluth-Superior Dukes1960-19701969 & 1970
Duluth-Superior White Sox1956-19591956
East Grand Forks Colts1933Never
Eau Claire Bears1934-1942 & 1946-19531936 & 1941
Eau Claire Braves1954-19621962
Eau Claire Cardinals1933Never
Fargo-Moorhead Twins1933-1942 & 1946-19601934, 1953, 1954 & 1958
Grand Forks Chiefs1938-1942 & 1946-19641940, 1948, 1951 & 1963
Huron Cubs1969-1970Never
Huron Phillies1965-1968Never
Jamestown Jimmies1936-1937Never
Mankato Mets1967-1968Never
Minot Mallards1958-1960 & 1962Never
Sioux Falls Canaries1942 & 1946-19531947 & 1950
Sioux Falls Packers1966-1971Never
St. Cloud Rox1946-19711946, 1955, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 & 1971
Superior Blues1933-1942 & 1946-19551933 & 1952
Watertown Expos1970-1971Never
Wausau Lumberjacks1956-1957Never
Winnipeg Goldeyes1954-19641957, 1959 & 1960
Winnipeg Goldeyes1969Never
Winnipeg Maroons1933-19421935, 1939 & 1942

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Comments

8 Responses

  1. There is discussion of a revived Northern League after the most recent version folded after the 2010 independent league season.

    1. Yeah, we’ll see. The family backing the effort to revive the Northern League name has a bleak track record at attempting to launch low-budget pro sports teams. Previous failures in indy ball on the West Coast and in Atlantic City, along with a misfire on a box lacrosse franchise in New Jersey last summer.

  2. I am searching for information on a pitcher for the 1936 Jamestown Jimmies – Northern League. He pitched only four games. I don’t know if he was right-handed or left-handed. I need help on this one.

  3. Nice article.

    Hello,

    I am researching baseball teams that played in my home town Portland, Maine. The Portland Gulls played here in 1946 and the Portland Pilots from 1947-1949.

    On those rosters was a player named Gilbert Neumann, he played for Wausau Timberjacks from 1937-1939?

    Do you have any photos, team photos, team programs or newspaper articles on him?

    Here are he’s stats at Baseball Reference:

    https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=neuman001gil

    I am not a professional researcher or video maker and my end result is to make a video of those team’s history to honor the players.

    Here is a sample video that I made regarding Maine Baseball Hall of Famers, the Pilots video would be similar:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN-VxcyAelc&t=182s

    Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

  4. My dad played in the northern league in the 30’s, I know he played for Eau Claire in 1935-1936 and then a canadian team. I have newspaper articles but does anyone know if there is an archive somewhere of old video clips or radio broadcasts? I am looking for pictures or anything to put together memorabilia during that time so it doesn’t get lost in history. I never knew as a child that he played pro ball. I found it while I was researching after he was gone. His name is James (Jimmy) Winn. They have his birthdate wrong on the MLB as 1915 but it was really 1912. Any help would be so very appreciated

    1. Hi MJ….you might Google the Eau Claire baseball HOF..they might have some stuff…or maybe Ron Buckli who forever was their newspapers sportswriter and baseball historian…if you’re ever in the area…you need to check out old Carson Park…where your Dad played…it’s still beautiful with the old grandstand
      ..pretty nostalgic…

  5. My brother (Jim Coady) started his minor league career with the Sioux Falls Packers back in 1968. I would love to locate a team picture or any other information about his team.

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