Northwest League starts 50th season

This year marks the 50th anniversary season of Northwest League baseball.

While managers of the league’s eight teams don’t go back that far, they do have a certain familiarity with the league.

All but one are in at least their second year at the helms of the teams. And new Boise manager Tom Beyers has a history with the league.

Beyers spent the last three seasons as the Hawks hitting coach and was manager of Salem for two years (1988-89), compiling an 84-68 record. He’s also managed four other teams, including AA San Antonio in the Texas League, and his overall managerial record is 379-323.

Salem-Keizer returns Joe Strain, who is in his 29th year in baseball. Back for their second seasons are Spokane manager Darryl Kennedy, Yakima’s Bill Plummer, Tri-City’s Ron Gideon, Eugene’s Roy Howell, Everett’s Pedro Grifol and Vancouver’s Dennis Rogers.

“I wouldn’t say that makes it any easier,” said Kennedy of working against the same peers as last season. “But it is good to know what you’re up against and what their styles are.”

Of course, every manager will have new players to work with, which may alter what they can do.

Kennedy and Strain will manage the 50th Anniversary All-Star Game in Spokane on Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. The teams, representing the East and West Divisions, will have 24 players each, who will be selected in late July.

The league hasn’t played All-Star games and this one is intended as a one-time event.

For six of the past nine seasons the short-season A league has surpassed one million in attendance.

The Spokane Indians won the 2003 championship, their first since 1999 and sixth since 1987. Over that 17-year span, Boise won four titles between 1991 and 1995 and a fifth in 2002. Bellingham, Portland, Yakima and Salem-Keizer, twice each, have been the other league champs.

Most teams have new looks from last season, with a blend of a handful of returnees, organizational veterans and recent draft picks and signees.

The league season begins on Friday with Vancouver at Everett, Eugene at Salem, Yakima at Tri-City and Spokane in Boise for three-game series.

The travelers come home for five-game sets that begin on Monday.