In 1922, the Western International League (known today as the Single-A Northwest League), ran aground. It wasn't the fault of the Vancouver Athletics, as the entire league
ran into trouble and eventually disbanded. Bob Brown had a beautiful stadium
and great ballclub with no league to play in. The only other league in the Pacific
Northwest was the Triple-A Pacific Coast League but at this time it was still strictly a United States based organization; whereas
the Western International League at the time of its demise had 3 of its 4 teams
based out of Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver)... Tacoma being the lone
U.S. franchise. With nowhere to turn, Bob Brown's Athletic Park would go dark to professional baseball for 15 years. Vancouver sporting fans turned
to lacrosse and soccer instead. |