Western Association

The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887.^[1] It began operations in the 1888 season, and lasted through the 1891 season.^[1]

A separate Western Association was formed in January 1894 with clubs in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri – with a team in faraway Denver, Colorado added in 1895. This league ceased operations in 1898, but was revived again for the following season.^[1] It was renamed the Central League in 1900. In 1901, two leagues were called the Western Association. One had eight teams in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana; it folded after only one year. The other loop, confusingly located in the same geographic area, was the former Interstate League; it reverted to its original identity in 1902.^[1]

The most long-lived Western Association played between 1905 and 1954.^[1] Originally the Missouri Valley League, it existed for 42 years during that half century, suspending operations during both world wars and for one season (1933) during the Great Depression. It was largely a Class C circuit, meaning it was a lower minor league, above only the Class D level.

1905 League

Teams in Joplin, Missouri, Leavenworth, Kansas, Sedalia, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas joined from the Missouri Valley League. Teams from Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma joined from the Southwestern League. A new team in Wichita, Kansas formed and joined the league.

1905

Team Name	Record
Wichita Jobbers	79-56
Oklahoma City Mets	77-58
Leavenworth Oilers	75-59
Sedalia Gold Bugs	70-64
Guthrie Senators	66-70
Joplin Miners	65-73
Topeka White Sox	54-80
Springfield Highlanders	54-80

1906

The teams in Guthrie and Sedalia folded. The St. Joseph, Missouri team moved from the Western League. A new team in Webb City, Missouri formed and joined the league. The St. Joseph team, with a record of 16-24, moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, on July 12, where their record was 39-60.

Team Name	Record
Topeka White Sox	82-56
Joplin Miners	75-62
Wichita Jobbers	75-65
Springfield Midgets	72-67
Oklahoma City Mets	70-69
Leavenworth Old Soldiers	68-72
Webb City Gold Bugs	57-79
St. Joseph Packers/Hutchinson Salt Packers	55-84

1907

Team Name	Record
Wichita Jobbers	98-35
Oklahoma City Mets	86-54
Hutchinson White Sox	77-59
Topeka White Sox	75-65
Joplin Miners	71-64
Webb City Goldbugs	65-70
Springfield Midgets	46-92
Leavenworth Convicts	29-108

1908

The Leavenworth team folded, and a new team in Enid, Oklahoma, formed and joined the league,

Team Name	Record
Topeka Jayhawkers	89-50
Wichita Jobbers	87-53
Oklahoma City Mets	81-58
Joplin Miners	71-65
Hutchinson Salt Packers	69-70
Webb City Webfeet	66-69
Springfield Midgets	48-85
Enid Railroaders	38-99

1909

Topeka and Wichita moved to the Western League. Oklahoma City moved to the Texas League. Huthcinson moved to the Kansas State League. Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Muskogee, Oklahoma, joined from the Oklahoma–Kansas League. New teams in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Pittsburg, Kansas formed and joined the league.The Joplin team, with a record of 20-43, moved to El Reno, Oklahoma on July 4, where their record was 16-46. The Webb City team, with a record of 35-39, moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma on July 18, where their record was 29-20.

Team Name	Record
Enid Railroaders	82-44
Muskogee Navigators	74-51
Guthrie Senators	70-55
Bartlesville Boosters	66-59
Webb City Webfeet/Sapulpa Oilers	64-59
Springfield Midgets	56-70
Pittsburg Pirates	52-73
Joplin Miners, El Reno Packers	36-89

1910

The Pittsburg and Springfield teams folded. New teams in Joplin, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, formed and joined the league. The Muskogee and Tulsa teams both folded on July 22, and the Bartlesville and El Reno teams both folded on July 31.

Team Name	Record
Joplin Miners	90-34
Enid Railroaders	64-53
Sapulpa Oilers	65-61
Guthrie Senators	47-73
El Reno Packers	65-43
Bartlesville Boosters	51-51
Muskogee Navigators	36-63
Tulsa Oilers	28-68

1911

The teams in Enid and Guthrie folded. New teams in Coffeyville, Kansas, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Independence, Kansas, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Tulsa, Oklahoma formed and joined the league. The Joplin and Springfield teams folded May 10, the Coffeyville and Independence teams June 14, and all other teams and the league itself on June 19.

Team Name	Record
Fort Smith Scouts	29-14 (1st half winner)
Muskogee Redskins	23-21 (2nd half winner)
Sapulpa Oilers	23-21
Tulsa Railroaders	20-25
Independence Packers	15-22
Coffeyville White Sox	15-24
Joplin Miners	3-2
Springfield Jobbers	2-3

1914 League

New teams in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joplin, Missouri/Webb City, Missouri, McAlester, Oklahoma, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Tulsa, Oklahoma formed and created the new league.

1914

Joplin-Webb City, with a record of 22-46, moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma on July 10, where they had a record of 2-10, and then to Henryetta, Oklahoma on July 22, where they had a record of 11-36.

Team Name	Record
Tulsa Oilers	74-49
Oklahoma City Booters	75-52 (1st half winner)
Fort Smith Twins	73-52
Muskogee Mets	74-54 (2nd half winner)
McAlester Miners	47-79
Joplin-Webb City Miners/Guthrie Senators/Henryetta Boosters	35-92

Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 2 for the championship.

1915

Henryetta folded. Teams from Denison, Texas, and Paris, Texas, joined from the Texas–Oklahoma League. A new team formed in Sherman, Texas, and joined the league.

Team Name	Record
Denison Railroaders	76-53
Oklahoma City Senators	76-62
Sherman Hitters	70-65
Muskogee Mets	68-66
Paris Red Snappers	66-66
Tulsa Producers	63-71
Fort Smith Twins	61-75
McAlester Miners	57-79

Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for the championship.

1916

Team Name	Record
Denison Railroaders	86-49 (1st half winner)
Tulsa Producers	80-58 (2nd half winner)
McAlester Miners	79-58
Oklahoma City Senators	64-73
Muskogee Mets	63-77
Fort Smith Twins	61-76
Sherman Lions	61-76
Paris Survivors	56-83

Denison beat Tulsa 4 games to 2 for the championship.

1917

Paris, with a record of 16-12, moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma, on May 10, where they had a record of 41-86.

Team Name	Record
McAlester Miners	95-57
Muskogee Reds	89-69
Sherman Browns	80-72
Denison Railroaders	79-75
Fort Smith Twins	77-82
Oklahoma City Boosters	72-80
Tulsa Producers	68-84
Paris Athletics/Ardmore Foundlings	57-98

All teams, and the league itself, folded.

1920 League

New teams in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Drumright, Oklahoma, Enid, Oklahoma, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Henryetta, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and Springfield, Missouri were formed. The new American Association was formed. The team with the best record in the first half of the season played against the team with the best record in the second half of the season for the championship.

1920

Team Name	Record
Okmulgree Drillers	83-46 (1st half winner)
Fort Smith Twins	80-58
Enid Harvesters	71-53 (2nd half winner)
Henryetta Hens	75-56
Drumright Drummers	66-62
Springfield Merchants	58-76
Chickasha Chicks	52-72
Pawhuska Huskers	33-95

Enid and Okmulgee tied 3 games to 3 in the championship round.

1921

Team Name	Record
Springfield Midgets	85-60
Fort Smith Twins	83-61 (2nd half winner)
Henryetta Hens	77-66
Pawhuska Huskers	76-71
Enid Harvesters	77-74
Chickasha Chicks	74-74 (1st half winner)
Okmulgee Drillers	71-76
Drumright Oilers	44-105

Chickasha beat Fort Smith 4 games to 3 for the championship. Springifled beat Independence (of the Southwestern League) 2 games to 1 Ardmore (of the Texas–Oklahoma League) beat Chickasha 2 games to none

1922

Chickasha moved to the Oklahoma State League. Drumright folded. The team from Joplin, Missouri joined from the Western League, and a new team in McAlester, Oklahoma formed and joined. The Pawhuska team folded on August 16, forfeiting the remainder of their games.

Team Name	Record
Enid Harvesters	104-27 (2nd half winner)
Joplin Miners	93-42 (1st half winner)
Henryetta Hens	74-56
Springfield Midgets	68-69
Okmulgee Drillers	56-79
Fort Smith Twins	54-79
McAlester Miners	49-82
Pawhuska Osages	29-93

1923

The team from Ardmore, Oklahoma joined from the Texas–Oklahoma League. The team in McAlester folded July 19, and the Henryetta team folded July 21.

Team Name	Record
Joplin Miners	83-60
Ardmore Snappers	82-60 (2nd half winner)
Okmulgee Drillers	81-63 (1st half winner)
Enid Harvesters	80-65
Springfield Midgets	70-74
Fort Smith Twins	53-92
Henryetta Hens	43-38
McAlester Diggers	27-57

Ardmore beat Okmulgee 4 games to 2 for the championship.

1924

Ardmore moved to the Oklahoma State League, and Enid moved to the Southwestern League. Teams from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Hutchinson, Kansas, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Topeka, Kansas, joined from the Southwestern League. The Bartlesville team, with a record of 19-23, moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma on June 8, where their record was 56-59. The Joplin team, with a record of 25-24, moved to Bartlesville on June 16, where their record was 44-63.

Team Name	Record
Okmulgee Drillers	110-48 (1st half & 2nd half winner)
Fort Smith Twins	97-63
Muskogee Athletics	97-65
Hutchinson Wheat Shockers	81-80
Bartlesville Bearcats/Ardmore Bearcats	75-82
Joplin Boosters/Bartlesville Boosters	69-87
Topeka Senators	59-98
Springfield Midgets	47-112

1925

The teams in Bartlesville and Hutchinson folded. Topeka moved to the Southwestern League. A new team in Independence, Kansas, formed and joined the league.

Team Name	Record
Fort Smith Twins	94-56
Ardmore Boomers	86-64 (1st half winner)
Okmulgee Drillers	80-71
Muskogee Athletics	79-72 (2nd half winner)
Springfield Midgets	67-82
Independence Producers	44-105

Ardmore beat Muskogee 4 games to 1 for the title.

1926

The team in Independence folded. A new team in McAlester, Oklahoma, formed and joined the league. Ardmore moved to Joplin, Missouri on July 14. The teams in McAlester and Muskogee folded on July 20.

Team Name	Record
Springfield Midgets	92-66 (1st half winner)
Fort Smith Twins	92-68
Ardmore Boomers/Joplin Ozarks	77-81
Okmulgee Drillers	73-85
Muskogee Athletics	51-45
McAlester Miners	28-68

1927

The team in Joplin folded. A team from St. Joseph, Missouri, joined from the Western League, and one from Topeka, Kansas joined from the Southwestern League. A new team in Muskogee, Oklahoma, formed and joined the league. The team in St. Joseph, with a record of 38-32, moved to Joplin on July 7, where their record was 35-28.

Team Name	Record
Fort Smith Twins	81-51
Topeka Jayhawks	74-58
St. Joseph Saints/Joplin Miners	73-60
Springfield Midgets	63-69
Okmulgee Drillers	57-75
Muskogee Chiefs	48-83

1928

The team in Okmulgee folded, and a new team in Independence, Kansas, formed and joined the league.

Team Name	Record
Fort Smith Twins	74-63
Topeka Jayhawks	70-61
Joplin Miners	70-65 (1st half winner)
Independence Producers	66-67 (2nd half winner)
Springfield Midgets	61-66
Muskogee Chiefs	58-77

Joplin beat Independence 4 games to 2 for the title.

1929

Topeka moved to the Western League. A new team in Shawnee, Oklahoma, formed and joined the league. The Muskogee team moved to Maud, Oklahoma, on August 22.

Team Name	Record
Fort Smith Twins	88-59 (2nd half winner)
Shawnee Robins	87-61 (1st half winner)
Springfield Midgets	71-77
Independence Producers	71-78
Joplin Miners	60-82
Muskogee Chiefs/Maud Chiefs	61-89

1930

The Maud team moved back to Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Independence Producers played the first Night game in the history of Organized Baseball.

Team Name	Record
Independence Producers	76-56 (2nd half winner)
Joplin Miners	76-59 (1st half winner)
Shawnee Robins	65-71
Fort Smith Twins	64-72
Springfield Midgets	64-73
Muskogee Chiefs	60-74

Independence beat Joplin 5 games to 4 for the title.

1931

The Shawnee team folded. A new team in Bartlesville, Oklahoma formed.

Team Name	Record
Springfield Red Wings	87-57 (1st & 2nd half winner)
Joplin Miners	80-62
Independence Producers	77-69
Fort Smith Twins	74-76
Muskogee Chiefs	64-86
Bartlesville Broncos	59-91

1932

The Joplin team, with a record of 2-1, moved to Topeka, Kansas, on May 6, where their record was 36-37. The Independence team, with a record of 12-10, moved to Joplin, Missouri, on May 23, where their record was 7-10, to Independence, Kansas, again on June 10, where their record was 4-12, and finally to Hutchinson, Kansas, on July 20, where their record was 35-36. The Muskogee team, with a record of 18-16, moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where their record was 19-32, on June 8, and folded on July 18. The Fort Smith team, with a record of 23-29, moved to Muskogee on July 1, where their record was 25-51. The Topeka team folded July 18.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	79-51 (1st half winner)
Bartlesville Bronchos		77-52 (2nd half winner)
Independence Producers/Joplin Miners/Independence/Hutchinson		58-68
Fort Smith Twins/Muskogee Chiefs	St. Louis Browns	48-80
Joplin Miners/Topeka Jayhawks		38-38
Muskogee Chiefs/Hutchinson Whest Shockers		37-48

Springfield beat Bartlesville 5 games to 4 for the title. The Atchinson and Springfield teams moved to the Western League. The Belleville and Muskogee teams, and the Western Association itself, folded.

1934 League

The new League and all six member teams were created. The season was broken into halves, with the first-half and second-half winners competing in the championship. The founding teams were in Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Hutchinson, Kansas; Joplin, Missouri; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Ponca City, Oklahoma; Springfield, Missouri; and rumor had it Tahlequah, Oklahoma (the Indians) played special games with the league teams in the duration of the 1930s, but was not officially part of the 1930s Western Association.

1934

Team Name	Affiliation (if any)	Final Record
Springfield Red Wings	St. Louis Cardinals	76-58 (1st half tie) (2nd half winner)
Ponca City Angels	Chicago Cubs	73-61 (1st half tie)
Joplin Miners	Boston Red Sox	66-68
Hutchinson Larks		66-68
Bartlesville Reds	Cincinnati Reds	63-69
Muskogee Tigers		56-76

Ponca City defeated Springfield in a one-game playoff for the first-half title. Springfield defeated Ponca City 4 games to 3 for the league title.

1935

Springfield changed their name to the "Cardinals".

Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	87-48 (1st half title)
Ponca City Angels	Chicago Cubs	76-55 (2nd half title)
Hutchinson Larks	St. Louis Cardinals	68-61
Muskogee Tigers		60-71
Bartlesville Reds	Cincinnati Reds	56-79
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	48-81

Ponca City beat Springfield 5 games to 4 for the championship.

1936

Ponca City Angels	Chicago Cubs	87-57 (2nd half title)
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	83-58 (1st half title)
Hutchinson Larks	Pittsburgh Pirates	79-65
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	64-78
Muskogee Tigers	Brooklyn Dodgers	61-80
Bartlesville Bucs		53-81

Ponca City won the title over Joplin 5 games to 2.

1937

Muskogee Reds	Cincinnati Reds	79-61
Hutchinson Larks	Pittsburgh Pirates	78-64
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	76-66
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	76-67
Ponca City Angels	Chicago Cubs	71-69
Bartlesville Blues	New York Yankees	45-98

Joplin beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 and Springfield beat Hutchinson 3 games to 1 in the first round of playoffs. Springfield beat Joplin 4 games to 3 for the title.

1938

New teams in Fort Smith, Arkansas and Salina, Kansas were formed.

Ponca City Angels	Chicago Cubs	84-54
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	79-56
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	74-65
Hutchinson Larks	Pittsburgh Pirates	70-67
Muskogee Reds	Cincinnati Reds	71-68
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	63-74
Bartlesville Chiefs		61-78
Salina Millers		47-87

Ponca City beat Fort Smith 3 games to 1, and Hutchinson beat Springfield 3 games to 2, in the first round of the playoffs. Ponca City beat Hutchinson 4 games to 1 for the championship.

1939

Ponca City moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. Bartlesville folded. A new team formed in Topeka, Kansas.

Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	83-50
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	81-56
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	78-60
Topeka Owls	St. Louis Browns	72-65
St. Joseph Angels	Chicago Cubs	66-72
Muskogee Reds	Cincinnati Reds	60-76
Salina Millers		55-79
Hutchinson Pirates	Pittsburgh Pirates	49-86

1940

Muskogee Reds		90-49
Topeka Owls	St. Louis Browns	73-60
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	70-63
St. Joseph Saints	Chicago Cubs	69-63
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	68-64
Salina Millers		60-75
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	56-76
Hutchinson Pirates	Pittsburgh Pirates	50-86

Fort Smith beat Muskogee 3 games to none, and St. Joseph beat Topeka 3 games to 1, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Fort Smith 3 games to none for the championship.

1941

On June 3, the St. Joseph Ponies (10-22) moved to Carthage, Missouri and became the Carthage Browns and an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns. They had a record of 30-74 in Carthage, and ended in last place.

Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	93-41
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	92-43
Topeka Owls		75-58
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	73-60
Muskogee Reds	Cincinnati Reds	64-69
Hutchinson Pirates	Pittsburgh Pirates	53-81
Salina Millers	Cleveland Indians	46-88
St. Joseph Pony Express Riders/Carthage Browns	Chicago Cubs/St. Louis Browns	40-96

1942

The two teams with the worst records of the previous year, Carthage and Salina, folded. The league returned to a 1st-half vs. 2nd-half winners championship format.

Topeka Owls		80-53 (2nd half winners)
Muskogee Reds		76-58
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	68-63 (1st half winners)
Springfield Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	62-70
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	59-75
Hutchinson Pirates	Pittsburgh Pirates	50-76

Fort Smith beat Topeka 4 games to 3 for the title.

1943–1945

The League suspended play because of World War II.

1946

Springfield moved to St. Joseph. New teams formed in Leavenworth, Kansas and Salina, Kansas. Because of the playoff format, the team with the best overall record, the newly formed Leavenworth Braves, did not qualify for the playoffs.

Leavenworth Braves	Boston Braves	76-57
Hutchinson Cubs	Chicago Cubs	73-56 (2nd half winner)
St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	75-62
Muskogee Reds	Detroit Tigers	75-64
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	67-63 (1st half winner)
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	61-73
Topeka Owls		53-79
Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	51-77

Hutchinson beat Fort Smith 4 games to 2 for the title.

1947

The playoffs format was changed again this year.

Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	85-53
Topeka Owls		83-55
Muskogee Reds	St. Louis Browns	75-64
St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	72-67
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	67-73
Hutchinson Cubs	Chicago Cubs	63-76
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	59-78
Leavenworth Braves	Boston Braves	50-88

Muskogee beat Salina 3 games to 2, and St. Joseph beat Topeka 3 games to 2, in the first round of the playoffs. St. Joseph beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for the championship.

1948

The Hutchinson Cubs moved to Springfield, Illinois on July 21. Their record after the move, of 18-45, was worse than their record in Hutchinson, 25-42. No playoff system is known of for this year, so presumably the best overall record is the league champion.

St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	90-48
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	82-58
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	75-57
Topeka Owls		70-66
Muskogee Reds	St. Louis Browns	61-70
Leavenworth Braves	Boston Braves	62-75
Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	58-80
Hutchinson Cubs/Springfield Cubs	Chicago Cubs	43-87

1949

Springfield moved back to Hutchinson again, changing their name and losing their affiliation. This season, St. Joseph had the best winning percentage in the history of this incarnation of the league. Perhaps coincidentally, Leavenworth had the worst winning percentage in the history of this version of the league in the same year.

St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	96-42
Fort Smith Giants	New York Giants	86-54
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	86-58
Topeka Owls		77-61
Muskogee Reds	St. Louis Browns	77-62
Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	69-69
Hutchinson Elks		41-93
Leavenworth Braves	Boston Braves	25-112

1950

Leavenworth, who ended the previous year with the all-time worst winning percentage in this incarnation of the league, folded. Fort Smith moved to Enid, Oklahoma and a new club from Springfield, Missouri joined.

Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	90-46
Hutchinson Elks	Pittsburgh Pirates	77-60
Springfield Cubs	Chicago Cubs	74-61
Enid Giants	New York Giants	71-63
St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	67-69
Topeka Owls		58-81
Muskogee Reds		52-79
Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	53-83

1951

Springfield folded, and a new team started up in Fort Smith.

Topeka Owls	Chicago Cubs	74-44
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	77-48
St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	69-51
Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	63-58
Muskogee Giants	New York Giants	61-63
Hutchinson Elks	Pittsburgh Pirates	57-66
Enid Buffalos	Houston Buffaloes	45-79
Fort Smith Indians	Cleveland Indians	43-80

1952

This year, the league returned to the 1st-half winner vs. 2nd-half winner playoff format.

Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	87-52 (2nd half winner)
Muskogee Giants	New York Giants	73-66 (1st half winner)
Hutchinson Elks	Pittsburgh Pirates	70-66
Topeka Owls	Chicago Cubs	63-76
Salina Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies	61-77
Fort Smith Indians	Cleveland Indians	60-77

1953

Salina folded, having made the playoffs only once in its seven years of existence. The Fort Smith Indians changed their name to the Fort Smith-Van Buren Twins, and a new team started in St. Joseph, Missouri with a bang.

St. Joseph Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	83-57
Hutchinson Elks	Pittsburgh Pirates	80-60
Topeka Owls	Chicago White Sox	78-62
Joplin Miners	New York Yankees	71-68
Muskogee Giants	New York Giants	57-81
Fort Smith-Van Buren Twins		49-90

St. Joseph beat Joplin and Hutchinson beat Topeka in the first rounds of the playoffs by 3 games to zero each. Hutchinson beat St. Joseph for the championship 4 games to 1.

1954

After having changed its name and finishing with the worst record in the league the previous season, Fort Smith folded. New teams started up in Blackwell, Oklahoma, Iola, Kansas, and Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Topeka Owls	Chicago White Sox	87-51
Muskogee Giants	New York Giants	85-54
St. Joseph Saints	New York Yankees	82-57
Blackwell Broncos	Chicago Cubs	79-61
Hutchinson Elks	Pittsburgh Pirates	72-67
Ponca City Jets		62-76
Joplin Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	50-89
Iola Indians		39-101

Blackwell beat Topeka 3 games to zero, and St. Joseph beat Muskogee 3 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. Blackwell beat St. Joseph 4 games to 1 for the title. After the season, Blackwell joined the Sooner State League, and the other seven teams, and the league itself, folded.

The Western Association prospered during the minor league baseball boom that followed World War II, with its clubs in Topeka, Kansas, and St. Joseph, Missouri, drawing over 100,000 fans and most of its eight clubs tied to major league farm systems. But the bust that followed in the early 1950s, caused by the Korean War, the advent of television, and a retrenchment in MLB farm systems, also buffeted the WA. It finally disbanded after the 1954 season, its champion Topeka club, a Chicago White Sox affiliate, drawing half the number of fans the team had drawn during the late 1940s.

References

• Johnson, Lloyd and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997.
• Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings:All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0781-6

1. "Western League versus Western Association" (PDF), SABR Minor League Newsletter, June 2002, retrieved 2009-10-12