Bellingham Chinooks

The Bellingham Chinooks were a minor league baseball team based in Bellingham, Washington. In 1938 and 1939, the Chinooks played as members of the Class B level Western International League, winning the 1938 league championship and hosting home games at Battersby Park. The Bellingham Chinooks were succeeded in Bellingham by the 1973 Bellingham Dodgers, who began play as members of the Northwest League.

Bellingham Chinooks
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass B (1938–1939)
LeagueWestern International League (1938–1939)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1938
Wild card berths (1)1938
Team data
NameBellingham Chinooks (1938–1939)
BallparkBattersby Park (1938–1939)

History

In 1905, the Bellingham Gillnetters were the first minor league baseball team in Bellingham, Washington, playing the season as members of the four–team Class B level Northwestern League before folding.[1][2][3]

Minor league baseball resumed in Bellingham in 1938 with a championship season.[4] The Bellingham Chinooks became members of the six–team Class B level Western International League and captured the league championship under manager Ken Penner. With a 68–65 regular season record, the Chinooks placed second in the regular season standings, finishing 9.5 games behind the first place Yakima Pippins. In the 1938 playoffs, the Bellingham Chinooks defeated the Vancouver Maple Leafs three games to one and advanced. In the Final, Bellingham defeated the Yakima Pippins four games to three to become league champions.[1][5][6][7][8][9]

After winning the championship in 1938, the 1939 Bellingham Chinooks finished in last place in the Western International League standings. The franchise subsequently folded after the season.[10][11] With a 40–102 regular season record, the Chinooks placed sixth in the six-team standings, playing the season under managers Ken Penner, Jimmie Reese and Al Lightner. Bellingham finished behind the Wenatchee Chiefs (86–57), Tacoma Tigers (78–63), Vancouver Capilanos (76–63), Spokane Indians (75–69) and Yakima Pippins (72–73) in the final standings.[1][12][13]

After the 1938 season, the Bellingham franchise was replaced in 1940 Western League play by the Salem Senators.[14]

Bellingham was without minor league baseball until 1973, when the Bellingham Dodgers began play as members of the Class A level Northwest League.[15]

The ballpark

The Bellingham Chinooks hosted home minor league games at Battersby Park. Battersby Park had a capacity of 3,000 and dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 290–350–435. The ballpark was torn down in 1968.[16] Today, Battersby Park is still in use as a public Park.[17]

(2018) Whatcom Creek And Maritime Heritage Park. Bellingham, Washington

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1938–19392Bellingham ChinooksClass BWestern International LeagueBattersby Park

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
193868–652ndKen PennerLeague Champions
193940–1026thKen Penner
Jimmie Reese / Al Lightner		Did not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Bellingham Chinooks players

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "1905 Bellingham Gillnetters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1905 Northwestern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "1938 Bellingham Chinooks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1938 Western International League (WIL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1939 Bellingham Chinooks". NWSABR. February 8, 2016.
  7. "1938 Bellingham Chinooks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1938 Western International League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "Exploring Baseball History of WCL North Cities". January 15, 2020.
  10. "1939 Bellingham Chinooks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1939 Bellingham Chinooks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1939 Western International League (WIL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1939 Western International League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "1940 Western International League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Bellingham, Washington Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "Battersby Park in Bellingham, WA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. Benoit, Matt (April 28, 2022). "A Look Back at the 'Ghost Fields' of Bellingham Baseball".
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