Western Tri-State League

In 1912, the Western Tri-State League was recognized by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, and classified as a Class D league.[1][2] The league president was W. N. Sweet.[3] The league opened with four teams: the Boise Irrigators, who represented Boise, Idaho; the La Grande Pippins, who represented La Grande, Oregon; the Pendleton Buckaroos, who represented Pendleton, Oregon; and the Walla Walla Bears, who represented Walla Walla, Washington.[2] At the end of the 1912 season, the Pendleton Buckaroos won the league championship with a .622 winning percentage.[1] Four players in the Western Tri-State League that season would eventually go on to play in Major League Baseball. Those players were Bob Smith, and Carl Mays of the Boise Irrigators; and Bob Jones, and Paul Strand of the Walla Walla Bears.[4][5][6]

At the start of the 1913 season, it was announced that there would be an addition of two teams to the Western Tri-State League.[3] Those teams were the Baker City Golddiggers, of Baker City, Oregon; and the North Yakima Braves, of Yakima, Washington.[7] Furthermore, the La Grande club changed their name from the Pippins to the Spuds.[7] The league had considered adding a team in Spokane, Washington, but ruled it out until the 1914 season.[8] W. N. Sweet returned as the league president.[3] Early in the year, it was announced that two teams would be dropped from the league, to make it more economically effective to run the circuit.[3] The teams that were cut were the newly formed Baker City Golddiggers, and the established Pendleton Buckaroos.[7] In May, it was announced by league officials that the league's season would be split up into two halves.[3] The intention of this move was to stimulate interests, and lower the cost of operation.[3]

The Walla Walla Bears won the 1913 Western Tri-State League Pennant.

The Walla Walla Bears finished the first half of the season in first place with a record of 45–20.[3] They were followed by the Boise Irrigators (40–23) in second, the Pendleton Buckaroos in third (31–29), and the North Yakima Braves (30–34) in fourth.[3] During the second half of the season, the Boise club took home the pennant, finishing with a 32–22 record.[3] They were followed by the second-place North Yakima club (27–27), the third-place Walla Walla club (26–28), and the fourth-place Pendleton club (23–31).[3] Eight players who spent the 1913 season in the Western Tri-State League went on to play in Major League Baseball. Those players were Con Starkel of the Baker City club; Dad Clark, and Steve Melter of the Boise club; Milo Netzel of the North Yakima club; Howie Haworth, and Don Rader of the Pendleton club; and Elmer Leonard, and Earl Sheely of the Walla Walla club.[9][10][11][12]

Before the start of the 1914 season, it was announced that the Boise Irrigators were leaving the Western Tri-State League, and joining the Union Association.[13] Therefore, W. N. Sweet, the president of the league, and president of the Boise club resigned his post.[13] Before the start of the season, L. M. Brown, the secretary of the Western Tri-State League, announced that the league would be adopting a 98-game schedule, and that they would be adding another team due to the absence of Boise.[14] Over a dozen requests were sent to secretary Brown requesting a baseball team.[15] Brown selected Baker City, Oregon as the location for the new franchise.[15]

Local reports speculated that the 1914 season would be the league's most successful.[16] In Walla Walla, Washington, the cities public schools were dismissed early, and admitted to the Walla Walla Bears game for free.[16] There was also a parade, which led to the ball park.[16] Attendance for all of the clubs opening day games were record-breaking that year.[16] The Pendleton Walla Walla, Washington Minor League City Encyclopedia won the league title that season with a 59–37 record.[3] In second place were the Walla Walla Bears with a record of 53–43.[3] Behind them were the Baker City Miners with a 44–52 record.[3] The North Yakima Braves, with a record of 36–50, finished last.[3] Four players in the league that season had an MLB appearance some time in their professional career. Those players were: Ray French, and Suds Sutherland of the Baker City club; Ed Mensor of the Pendleton club; and Earl Sheely of the Walla Walla club.[17][18][19]

Before the start of the 1915 season, the Western Tri-State League failed to raise enough money to operate their league, effectively ending the league.[20] League president R. W. Ritner later stated that the failure of the league was due to the North Yakama, and Walla Walla clubs who did not want to work together.[21]