Portland Webfoots Explained

Portland Webfoots
Firstseason:1901
Lastseason:1902
Allyears:1901, 1902
City:Portland, Oregon
Past Class Level:Class B
League:Pacific Northwest League
Pastmajorleague:None
Pastnames:Portland Webfeet
Pastparks:Vaughn Street Ballpark

The Portland Webfoots were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were based in Portland, Oregon and were active for only two years, and . They played at Vaughn Street Ballpark.

When the Pacific Northwest League and the California League merged to create the Pacific Coast League in the Webfoots disbanded and the Portland Browns were created.

History

In the Webfoots first year of competition, it was reported that they had trouble keeping attendance up at their home field.[1] This began a debate over whether or not Portland should hold a team in the league expansion with the California League into the Pacific Coast League, something that the Webfoots President Jack Marshal opposed.[1] Some newspapers claimed that Marshal's opposition was due in large part to his personal dislike of Pacific Northwest League President William Henry Lucas.[1]

This led to a long debate over the inclusion of the Portland team in the Pacific Coast League.[2] Both the Portland and Seattle clubs first wanted to create a rival league to the Pacific Coast League.[3] The Portland team was accepted into the Pacific Coast League but not before a lawsuit filed by the Portland team against the Pacific Northwest League that said the league harassed the Portland team into throwing the league pennant to the Butte, Montana baseball team.[4]

Year-by-year record

Year League Affiliation Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1901 none 73-35 1st League Champions
1902 none 58-62 4th none

Notable players

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Merry fight on over baseball . The Deseret News . December 12, 1902 . January 10, 2010 .
  2. News: Bolters given pretty hard jolt . The Deseret News . January 6, 1903 . January 10, 2010 .
  3. News: Magnates talk baseball merge . The Deseret News . February 19, 1903 . January 10, 2010 .
  4. News: Carried into court . The Deseret News . March 10, 1903 . January 10, 2010 .