Spokane Indians#The 1946 Spokane bus tragedy

File:1909 Spokane Indians.jpeg

Spokane's minor league history dates to 1890, when it fielded a team in the Pacific Northwest League. The Spokane Club won the Northwest League pennant in its first season, overcoming teams from Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma, among others. The nickname Indians dates to 1903, when Spokane joined the Pacific National League, a predecessor to the Pacific Coast League and, at Class A, an elite minor league of the period, equivalent to Triple-A today. The Indians lasted only two seasons at that higher level before dropping to the Class B Northwestern League, which folded during World War I.

In 1937, Spokane became a charter member of the Class B Western International League (WIL),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dgwSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uvIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5574%2C291053 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Price |first=Jim |title=Beginnings and sad endings |date=June 21, 2003 |page=H4}} the predecessor of the Northwest League. They played at Ferris Field from 1937 through 1942 and 1946 until folding during the 1954 season on June 21.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oR5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8uMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6611%2C4223255 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=May |first=Danny |title=What the outfielders saw of Spokane's largest crowd at Ferris Field |agency=(photo) |date=June 13, 1939 |page=1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uOVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kvYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7051%2C3097248 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=WI loop to carry on with 8 teams |date=June 22, 1954 |page=19 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=opspAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TOYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=976%2C4418654 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Indians return home but not to play tilts |date=June 23, 1954 |page=16 }}

Spokane was a charter member of the Northwest League, which debuted in 1955 as a Class B league. These Indians also played at Ferris Field,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=udInAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1708%2C292000|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=May |first=Danny |title=Chiefs nip Tribe in opener, 8–7 |date=May 1, 1955 |page=1, sports}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FtMnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2042%2C2557614 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=May |first=Danny |title=Tribe drops finale at Ferris Field, 8–5 |date=September 8, 1956 |page=12}} but folded after just two seasons, and the city went without minor league baseball in 1957.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YfxXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6PYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4278%2C3791976 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=May |first=Danny |title=Spokane Indians fold; need $75,000 miracle |date=February 16, 1957 |page=8}}

In 1946, the WIL Indians were victims of the worst transit accident in the history of American professional sport. On June 24, the team was on its way west to Bremerton by bus to play the Bluejackets. While crossing the Cascade Mountains on a rain-slickened Snoqualmie Pass Highway (then U.S. Route 10), the bus driver swerved to avoid an oncoming car. The Indians' vehicle veered off the road and down an embankment, then crashed and burst into flames.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9tpXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6050%2C4953252| newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington|title=8 Spokane baseball players dead in crash of their bus |date=June 25, 1946|page=1}}

Nine men died—six of them instantly—and seven were injured. Many of the injured had burn injuries. The dead were catcher/manager Mel Cole (age 32), pitchers Bob Kinnaman (28) and George Lyden (23), catcher Chris Hartje (31),{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=99pXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4516,5245121|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington|title=Hartje, driver still in danger|date=June 26, 1946|page=1}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RIIRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4827%2C5572135|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|title=WIL resumes play, Tigers move up|date=June 27, 1946|page=12 }} infielders Fred Martinez (24), Vic Picetti (18) and George Risk (25), and outfielders Bob James (25) and Bob Paterson (23). Despite a severe head wound, infielder Ben Geraghty was able to struggle back up the mountainside to signal for help. Injured survivors also included pitchers Pete Barisoff, Gus Hallbourg and Dick Powers, catcher Irv Konopka, outfielder Levi McCormack, and bus driver Glen Berg.J. G. Taylor Spink, ed., 1947 Baseball Guide and Record Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1947, p. 207

One player from the 1946 team, future major league infielder Jack "Lucky" Lohrke, missed the tragedy because his contract was sold to the PCL San Diego Padres on June 24 and he departed the ill-fated bus during a late lunch stop in Ellensburg, not long before the accident, thus helping to earn his nickname.{{cite web|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7959|publisher=HistoryLink.org|title=Spokane Indians baseball team bus crash kills nine on Snoqualmie Pass on June 24, 1946|last=Colford|first=Ann M.|date=September 23, 2006|access-date=February 28, 2013}} (Lohrke had previously averted tragedy when he was bumped from a military transport plane which later crashed.) Two Indians' pitchers, Milt Cadinha and Joe Faria, were making the trip to Bremerton by automobile and were not aboard the team bus when it crashed.

The Indians, relying on players loaned from other teams, managed to finish the season and placed seventh in the league. A special charity, the Spokane Baseball Benefit Association, donated $114,800 to the injured survivors and dependents of the nine players who died.

Beth Bollinger of Spokane wrote a novel titled Until the End of the Ninth, which is based on the true story of the 1946 bus crash and its aftermath.

When the Los Angeles Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to the west coast in 1958, they moved their PCL affiliate, the Los Angeles Angels, north to Spokane. While with the Dodgers for 14 seasons, the Indians won league titles in 1960 and 1970, and were runners-up in 1963, 1967, and 1968.

The 1970 Indians, managed by Tommy Lasorda,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qVJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ie0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4784%2C791684 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Playoff-bound Indians dominate All-Star lineup |agency=(photo)|date=September 4, 1970 |page=1}} won 94 of 146 games ({{winning percentage|94|52}}) in the regular season to win the northern division by 26 games,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qVJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ie0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7038%2C878300 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Pacific Coast League: final standings |date=September 4, 1970 |page=17}} then swept the Hawaii Islanders in four games in the PCL playoffs.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rlJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ie0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7095%2C2335886|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Indians return to Spokane after sweep of Islanders |date=September 9, 1970 |page=12}} The team included Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey, Bobby Valentine (PCL MVP), Tom Paciorek, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, and Doyle Alexander.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qVJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ie0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6018%2C874182 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Bobby Valentine gets Coast MVP |date=September 4, 1970 |page=16}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=4b6c2834 |publisher=Baseball Reference |title=1970 Spokane Indians |access-date=November 5, 2015}}

Following the 1971 season, the club was moved south to New Mexico and became the Albuquerque Dukes. Spokane, which had been in the Northwest League for its first two seasons in 1955 and 1956, returned to the NWL in 1972 as a Dodger affiliate,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SxtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5579%2C5536299 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Baseball set for Spokane |last=Missildine |first=Harry |date=December 13, 1971 |page=1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e9kvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Su0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7052%2C746087 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Ken Merkel heads club |last=Lynch |first=Mike |date=February 3, 1972 |page=15 }} but only for one season, as a new PCL franchise arrived in 1973 from Portland, becoming the affiliate of the Texas Rangers.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G6hYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6222%2C3849363 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Ex-POW will toss 1st ball tomorrow |date=April 12, 1973 |page=29 }} The 1973 team, which included Bill Madlock and Lenny Randle, won the west division by eleven games and swept Tucson in three games in the championship series.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U7wzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5380%2C1892191 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Celebration sedate one for PCL champ Indians |date=September 7, 1973 |page=13 }} The following year's club successfully defended the title with another three-game sweep, this time over Albuquerque.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vqdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7107%2C1851506 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Stewart |first=Chuck |title=Spokane captures PCL flag; busy Dunning hurls victory |date=September 7, 1974 |page=10 }}

The Indians' second stint in Triple-A lasted ten seasons and included affiliations with the Rangers, which changed to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976, Seattle Mariners in 1979, and California Angels in 1982. Taking their first division crown since 1974,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BcYSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5404%2C816579|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |last=Washington |title=PCL: final standings |date=September 2, 1982 |page=32}} the Indians defeated Tacoma in the first round,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ul1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6336%2C1502888 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Tribe ready to put up Dukes |last=Blanchette |first=John |date=September 2, 1982 |page=17}} but fell to Albuquerque in the championship series in six games.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WF1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7002%2C3629219 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Indians make it difficult, but Dukes win PCL again |last=Blanchette |first=John |date=September 13, 1982 |page=20 }} Soon after that season,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XVVOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2u4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6651%2C5961695 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Indians gambling on Vegas |last=Blanchette |first=John |date=September 14, 1982 |page=23}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=In9UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bo8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5752%2C7351679 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=Washington |agency=UPI |title=Spokane team move okayed |date=September 15, 1982|page=15}} the team moved south to Las Vegas and became the Stars. The team's general manager was Larry Koentopp, former head coach and athletic director at Gonzaga.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XfUjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=we0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6873%2C4641224 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Jordan |first=Jeff |title=Koentopp quits Gonzaga baseball position |date=May 10, 1977 |page=15 }} He was the leader of a local ownership group that purchased the team after the 1978 season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c7IvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5445%2C3828294 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |last=Washington |title=Tribe purchased by local group |date=September 30, 1978 |page=11}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-wNMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7258%2C2108168 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Stewart |first=Chuck |title='Fun' subsided fast |date=January 24, 1983 |page=18 }} The team was purchased for $259,000 in 1978 and was sold in 1993 for $6.1 million.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dWJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tvEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1851%2C6444511 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Koentopp family hires detective in search of missing woman |date=August 29, 1996 |page=C5 }}

File:Spokane Indians tag out.jpg at Avista Stadium]]

A new NWL franchise was awarded to Spokane for the 1983 season and the Indians have won eight league titles; the first four were consecutive, from 1987 through 1990.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g2tXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6616%2C4991202 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Stalwick |first=Howie |title=Indians win record fourth straight title |date=September 8, 1990 |page=B1 }} The Indians won their seventh NWL championship in 2005, despite a 37–39 ({{winning percentage|37|39}}) record during the regular season. They became only the second team in league history (after the 1982 Salem Angels) to win the championship with a losing regular season record. Spokane won the east division,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s7cyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DPMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6725%2C5772053|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Somehow, some way, Indians make playoffs |last=Larson|first=J.D.|date=September 8, 2005 |page=C1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s7cyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DPMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6083%2C5783793 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=NWL: final standings |date=September 8, 2005 |page=C4}} then beat league-leading Vancouver on the road in games four and five of the championship series to win the title.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PGdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FvMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6096%2C3435816|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=It's only appropriate: Indians win |last=Larson |first=J.D. |date=September 12, 2005 |page=C1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PWdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FvMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6336%2C3592054|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Indians win NWL pennant|last=Larson|first=J.D.|date=September 13, 2005|page=C1}}

In 2008, the Indians captured their eighth league title with a thrilling four-game series victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. After dropping the first game, Spokane rallied to an 11–10 win in 10 innings to even the series. In game three, the Indians fell behind 10–2 before rallying for nine unanswered runs to win again 11–10. Spokane won the title with a 6–5 victory in 10 innings in the fourth game.

The Indians were featured in the "Spokane Alphabet" reverse glass painting by Washington artist Melinda Curtin. They were the "I" in the alphabet, cementing their place as an important part of the city of Spokane.

Following the 1985 season, the team was bought by the Brett brothers (John, Ken, Bobby, and George).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ew0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M-8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5424%2C5136423 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Stalwick |first=Howie |title=It's official: Bretts owners |date=November 9, 1985 |page=C5}}

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Indians were organized into the High-A West along with five other teams previously of the Northwest League.{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}} They qualified for the playoffs by finishing with a second-place 67–49 record,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=0fcaaa77 |title=2021 High-A West |website=Baseball-Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=October 9, 2021}} but they were defeated by the Eugene Emeralds, 3–1, in the best-of-five championship series.{{cite news |last=Terranova |first=Rob |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/eugene-emeralds-claim-third-championship-in-5-seasons |title=Emeralds Claim Third Championship in Five Seasons |website=Minor League Baseball |date=September 25, 2021 |accessdate=October 9, 2021}} The franchise was recognized with the Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/spokane-indians-named-milb-organization-of-the-year|title=Spokane Indians Named MiLB Organization of the Year|website=Minor League Baseball|date=December 7, 2021|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206210942/https://www.milb.com/news/spokane-indians-named-milb-organization-of-the-year|url-status=live}}

The High-A West was rebranded back to the Northwest League in March 2022, as MLB moved to revert all of its Minor Leagues to their historical names.{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Benjamin |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-return-in-2022 |title=Historical Team Names Return to the Minors |website=Minor League Baseball| date=March 16, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}

File:2013 Jr. Lilac Parade-66 (8738175885).jpg

• 1987: Defeated Everett 2–1 to win championship
• 1988: Defeated Southern Oregon 2–1 to win championship
• 1989: Defeated Southern Oregon 2–1 to win championship
• 1990: Defeated Boise 2–1 to win championship
• 1999: Defeated Portland 3–0 to win championship
• 2003: Defeated Salem-Keizer 3–0 to win championship
• 2005: Defeated Vancouver 3–2 to win championship
• 2008: Defeated Salem-Keizer 3–1 to win championship
• 2010: Defeated Yakima 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Everett 2–1 in finals
• 2018: Defeated Everett 2–1 in semifinals; lost to Eugene 3–0 in finals
• 2019: Lost to Tri-City 2–1 in semifinals
• 2021: Lost to Eugene 3–1 in finals
• 2024: Defeated Vancouver 3-1 to win championship

The team's colors are red, navy blue, light blue, and beige. In the 2006 offseason, the Indians began a process to redesign their logo and uniforms. As per tradition{{Clarification needed|date=October 2024}}, they began by avoiding the use of any American Indian imagery; however, early in the process, the Spokane Nation contacted the team about officially supporting the team. In the process, the tribe gave permission to the team to adopt subtle and tasteful imagery, in order to pay homage to the team's history and new connection with the tribe. The cooperation included the creation of a secondary logo written in Salish, the traditional language of the Spokane.{{Cite web |last=Caputo |first=Paul |date=2020-07-19 |title=Authenticity, Collaboration, Respect: The Story Behind the Spokane Indians |url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2020/07/19/authenticity-collaboration-respect-the-story-behind-the-spokane-indians/baseball/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=SportsLogos.Net News}}

{{Spokane Indians roster}}

{{Div col}}

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

• Tommy Lasorda (1969–1971, manager) inducted 1997
• Duke Snider (1965, manager) inducted 1980
• Don Sutton (1968) inducted 1998
• Hoyt Wilhelm (1971) inducted 1985

Notable alumni

• Sandy Alomar Jr. (1984) 1990 MLB Rookie of the Year; 6-time MLB All Star
• Carlos Beltrán (1996) 1999 AL Rookie of the Year; 9-time MLB All Star
• Bruce Bochy (1989, manager) Manager: 4-time World Series Champion – San Francisco Giants (2010, 2012, 2014), Texas Rangers (2023)
• Bill Buckner (1969–1970) MLB All-Star; 1982 NL batting title
• Dolph Camilli (1948, manager) 2-time MLB All-Star; 1941, NL Most Valuable Player
• Ron Cey (1971) 6-time MLB All-Star
• Gino Cimoli (1965) MLB All-Star
• Matt Clement (1994) MLB All-Star
• Joey Cora (1985) MLB All-Star
• Roger Craig (1959)
• Chris Davis (2006) MLB All-Star; MLB home run leader: 2013, 2015
• Willie Davis (1960) 2 Time MLB All-Star; (1960) Minor League MVP
• Ron Fairly (1960) 2 Time MLB All-Star
• Neftalí Feliz, MLB All-Star
• Steve Garvey (1970) 10-time MLB All-Star; 1974 NL Most Valuable Player
• Zack Greinke (2002) 2009 AL Cy Young Award; 4-time MLB All-Star
• Brad Gulden
• Ian Kinsler (2003) 4-time MLB All Star
• Davey Lopes (1971) 4-time MLB All-Star
• Gary Matthews Jr. (1994) MLB All-Star
• Tony Mullane (1902)
• Jerry Narron, MLB player, coach, and manager
• Don Newcombe (1961) 4-time MLB All-Star; 1949 NL Rookie of the Year; 1956 NL Cy Young Award; 1956 NL Most Valuable Player
• Gorman Thomas (1972) MLB All-Star
• Roy White (1967) 2-time MLB All-Star
• Mitch Williams (1983) MLB All-Star
• Maury Wills (1959) 7-time MLB All-Star; 1962 NL Most Valuable Player
• Ned Yost (1978) manager: 2015 World Series Champion – Kansas City Royals

{{Div col end}}

• Spokane Indians players
• Spokane Hawks players (1937–1940)

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Spokane&state=WA&country=US Statistics] from Baseball Reference
• [http://www.untiltheendoftheninth.com Until the End of the Ninth]
• [http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060624/SPORTS/606240331/1004 The Last Survivor – Interview with Gus Hallbourg about the 1946 bus crash]

{{Colorado Rockies}}

{{Northwest League}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spokane Indians}}

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