Northwest League
The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Northwestern United States and Western Canada. A Class A Short Season league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league temporarily operated as the High-A West for the 2021 season before reassuming its original moniker in 2022. History. The Northwest League (or the "Northwestern League") has existed in various forms since 1890, and has been in its current incarnation since 1955. The current NWL is  the descendant of the Western International League (WIL), a Class B league from 1937 to 1951 (with a stoppage during World War II) and Class A from 1952 to 1954. The league reformed as the Northwest League and dropped to Class B for the 1955 season. The WIL had ten teams in its final season, with four in Canada. In 1955, the Northwest League was formed, with seven charter teams: Salem Senators, Eugene Emeralds, Yakima Bears, Spokane Indians, Tri-City Braves, Wenatchee Chiefs, and Lewiston Broncs. The Northwest League switched to the short season schedule in 1966. Between 1966 and  1982 the league fluctuated between four, six, and eight clubs. In 1983, the league returned to an eight team circuit, which it maintained through the 2019 season. The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North America before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Northwest League was promoted to High-A, reduced to six teams, and temporarily renamed the "High-A West" for the 2021 season. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor  leagues, the High-A West was renamed the Northwest League effective with the 2022 season. Current teams. <onlyinclude> </onlyinclude> Champions. League champions have been determined by different means since the Northwest League's formation in 1955. Except for 1956, 1960, and from 1966 to 1973, all seasons have ended with playoffs to determine a league champion. The Spokane Indians and Yakima Bears have each won 8 championships, the most among all teams in the league, followed by the Eugene Emeralds (7) and Boise Hawks (6). Northwest League teams (1955–present). Cities that have hosted NWL teams . Washington. Eugene is the most-tenured city in the NWL, having fielded a team in all but five of the NWL's seasons (from 1969–73, they had a PCL franchise). Hall of Fame alumni. Eight alumni of the Northwest League are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame: