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
| FRANCHISE | YEARS ACTIVE | LEAGUE CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Pheasants | 1946-1971 | 1949, 1961 & 1964 |
| Bismarck-Mandan Pards | 1962-1964 & 1966 | Never |
| Brainerd Blues | 1935 | Never |
| Brainerd Muskies | 1933 | Never |
| Brainerd-Little Falls Muskies | 1934 | Never |
| Brandon Grays | 1933 | Never |
| Crookston Pirates | 1933-1941 | Never |
| Duluth Dukes | 1934-1942 & 1946-1955 | 1937-1938 |
| Duluth-Superior Dukes | 1960-1970 | 1969 & 1970 |
| Duluth-Superior White Sox | 1956-1959 | 1956 |
| East Grand Forks Colts | 1933 | Never |
| Eau Claire Bears | 1934-1942 & 1946-1953 | 1936 & 1941 |
| Eau Claire Braves | 1954-1962 | 1962 |
| Eau Claire Cardinals | 1933 | Never |
| Fargo-Moorhead Twins | 1933-1942 & 1946-1960 | 1934, 1953, 1954 & 1958 |
| Grand Forks Chiefs | 1938-1942 & 1946-1964 | 1940, 1948, 1951 & 1963 |
| Huron Cubs | 1969-1970 | Never |
| Huron Phillies | 1965-1968 | Never |
| Jamestown Jimmies | 1936-1937 | Never |
| Mankato Mets | 1967-1968 | Never |
| Minot Mallards | 1958-1960 & 1962 | Never |
| Sioux Falls Canaries | 1942 & 1946-1953 | 1947 & 1950 |
| Sioux Falls Packers | 1966-1971 | Never |
| St. Cloud Rox | 1946-1971 | 1946, 1955, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 & 1971 |
| Superior Blues | 1933-1942 & 1946-1955 | 1933 & 1952 |
| Watertown Expos | 1970-1971 | Never |
| Wausau Lumberjacks | 1956-1957 | Never |
| Winnipeg Goldeyes | 1954-1964 | 1957, 1959 & 1960 |
| Winnipeg Goldeyes | 1969 | Never |
| Winnipeg Maroons | 1933-1942 | 1935, 1939 & 1942 |
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8 Responses
There is discussion of a revived Northern League after the most recent version folded after the 2010 independent league season.
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.
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.
Well, I usually look on Baseball-Reference.com for that kind of info.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=0a59512a
I suspect you’ve already been there, but they do list a pitcher named Al Aaberg who pitched in four games. Quick web search doesn’t turn up much else though.
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.
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
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…
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.