The Bellingham Chinooks were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Bellingham, Washington Bellingham ( ) is the county seat of Whatcom County, Washington, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. It lies south of the Canada–United States border, U.S.–Canada border, between Vancouver, British Columbia, ...

. In 1938 and 1939, the Chinooks played as members of the Class B level

Western International League The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level minor league baseball circuit in the Pacific Northwest United States and western Canada that operated in 1922, 1937 to 1942, and 1946 to 1954. In 1955, the Western International League ...

, winning the 1938 league championship and hosting home games at Battersby Park. The Bellingham Chinooks were succeeded in Bellingham by the 1973

Bellingham Dodgers The Bellingham Dodgers were a Minor League Baseball team in the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, based in Bellingham, Washington. The franchise played four season as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1973 to 1976. In 1977 the tea ...

, who began play as members of the

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 Baseba ...

History

In 1905, the Bellingham Gillnetters were the first

team in Bellingham, Washington, playing the season as members of the four–team Class B level

Northwestern League The Northwestern League was a sports league that operated in the Central United States during the early years of professional baseball for six seasons: 1879, 1883–1884, 1886–1887, and 1891. After the 1887 season, the league was replaced by t ...

before folding. Minor league baseball resumed in Bellingham in 1938 with a championship season. The Bellingham Chinooks became members of the six–team Class B level

and captured the league championship under manager Ken Penner. With a 68–65 regular season record, the Chinooks placed second in the regular season standings, finishing 9.5 games behind the first place

Yakima Pippins Yakima ( or ) is a city in and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the state's 11th most populous city. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728. The ...

. In the 1938 playoffs, the Bellingham Chinooks defeated the Vancouver Maple Leafs three games to one and advanced. In the Final, Bellingham defeated the Yakima Pippins four games to three to become league champions. After winning the championship in 1938, the 1939 Bellingham Chinooks finished in last place in the Western International League standings. The franchise subsequently folded after the season. With a 40–102 regular season record, the Chinooks placed sixth in the six-team standings, playing the season under managers Ken Penner,

Jimmie Reese James Herman "Jimmie" Reese (born Hyman Solomon; October 1, 1901 – July 13, 1994) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder. He played second baseman, second base, third baseman, third base, and then Coach (baseball), coached at s ...

and Al Lightner. Bellingham finished behind the Wenatchee Chiefs (86–57), Tacoma Tigers (78–63), Vancouver Capilanos (76–63), Spokane Indians (75–69) and Yakima Pippins (72–73) in the final standings. After the 1938 season, the Bellingham franchise was replaced in 1940 Western League play by the

Salem Senators The Salem Senators are the longest lasting name used by several minor league baseball teams based in Salem in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team name derived from Salem being the capital of Oregon. The team was founded in 1940. The current inca ...

. Bellingham was without minor league baseball until 1973, when the

began play as members of the Class A level

The ballpark

The Bellingham Chinooks hosted home minor league games at Battersby Park. Battersby Park had a capacity of 3,000 and dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 290–350–435. The ballpark was torn down in 1968. Today, Battersby Park is still in use as a public Park. Whatcom-Creek-And-Maritime-Heritage-Park

Whatcom-Creek-And-Maritime-Heritage-Park

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Rugger Ardizoia Rinaldo Joseph "Rugger" Ardizoia (November 20, 1919 – July 19, 2015) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The 5"11", 180 lb. right-hander was one of only seven Italian natives to ever play in the big leagues. He appeared in one game for th ...

(1938) *

Cliff Dapper Clifford Roland Dapper (January 2, 1920 – February 8, 2011) was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1942 season. Listed at , , he batted and threw right-handed. Born in Los Angeles, Dap ...

(1938) *

Bill Fleming Leslie Fletchard "Bill" Fleming (July 31, 1913 – June 4, 2006) was an American professional baseball pitcher. A right-hander, the native of Rowland Heights, California, stood tall and weighed , and attended Saint Mary's College of Californi ...

(1938) * Billy Kelsey (1905) *

Dave Odom George David Odom (born October 9, 1942) is an American retired men's college basketball coach. He served as the head coach of the East Carolina Pirates, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and South Carolina Gamecocks. Playing career Odom began h ...

(1938) * Ken Penner (1938–1939, MGR) *

(1939, MGR) Los Angeles Angels Hall of Fame *

Bill Rigney William Joseph Rigney (January 29, 1918 – February 20, 2001) was an American professional infielder and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). A 26-year veteran in the major leagues, Rigney played for the New York Giants from to , then spent ...

(1939) MLB All-Star *

Wes Schulmerich Edward Wesley Schulmerich (August 21, 1901 – June 26, 1985) was an American Major League Baseball player from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he played baseball and football at what is now Oregon State University where he partic ...

(1938) *

Bud Stewart Edward Perry "Bud" Stewart (June 15, 1916 – June 21, 2000) was an American professional baseball player. He had a nine-season (1941–1942; 1948–1954) career in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and pinch hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirate ...

(1939) *

Jim Tyack James Frederick Tyack (January 9, 1911 – January 3, 1995) was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played in 54 games for the Philadelphia Athletics, all during the 1943 season. He was born in Florence, Montana Florence (Salish: čp̓úƛ ...

(1938)

References

{{reflist

External links

Bellingham - Baseball Reference1939 team photoBattersby Park photo
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Washington (state) Baseball teams established in 1938 Baseball teams disestablished in 1939 Bellingham, Washington Whatcom County, Washington Western International League teams

History

The ballpark

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links