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{{Short description|Minor league baseball team}}
{{for|the Native American tribe|Spokane people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name             = Spokane Indians
| founded          = 1890
| city             = Spokane, Washington
| logo             = Spokane Indians logo.svg
| uniformlogo      = Spokane Indians cap.PNG
| class level      = [[High-A]] (2021–present)
| past class level = {{plainlist|
*[[Class A Short Season]] (1972, 1983–2020)
*[[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] (1958–1971, 1973–1982)
*[[Class B (baseball)|Class B]] (1892, 1902, 1904–1918, 1920, 1937–1942, 1946–1951, 1955–1956)
*[[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] (1952–1954)
*[[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] (1901)
*Class F (1898)
}}
| current league = [[Northwest League]] (1983–present)
| division= 
| past league    = {{plainlist|
*[[Pacific Coast League]] (1973–1982)
*[[Northwest League]] (1972)
*[[Pacific Coast League]] (1958–1971)
*[[Northwest League]] (1955–1956)
*[[Western International League]] (1937–1942, 1946–1954)
*[[Pacific Coast International League]] (1918, 1920)
*[[Northwestern League (1905–1917)|Northwestern League]] (1905–1917)
*[[Pacific National League]] (1903–1904)
*[[Pacific Northwest League]] (1892, 1898, 1901–1904)
*[[Pacific Northwestern League]] (1891)
*[[Pacific Northwest League]] (1890)
}}
| majorleague     = [[Colorado Rockies]] (2021–present)
| pastmajorleague = {{plainlist|
*[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] (2003–2020)
*[[Kansas City Royals]] (1995–2002)
*[[San Diego Padres]] (1983–1994)
*[[California Angels]] (1982)
*[[Seattle Mariners]] (1979–1981)
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] (1976–1978)
*[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] (1973–1975)
*[[Los Angeles Dodgers]] (1958–1972)
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1953)
*[[Brooklyn Dodgers]] (1947)
}}
| nickname        = Spokane Indians (1903–1920, 1940–present)
| pastnames       = {{plainlist|
*Spokane Hawks (1937–1939)
*Spokane Smoke Eaters (1902)
*Spokane Blue Stockings (1901)
*Spokane Bunchgrassers (1892)
*Spokane Bunch Grassers (1891)
}}
| mascots         = Otto, Doris the Spokanasaurus, Recycle Man, Ribby the [[Redband Trout]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Spokane Indians, KC The Stratotanker Mascots|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-194761606|website=Spokane Indians|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>
| ballpark        = [[Avista Stadium]] (1958–present)
| pastparks       = [[Playfair Race Course#Ferris Field|Ferris Field]] (1936–1956)
| colors          = Red, navy, light blue, beige<br>{{color box|#BA0C2F}} {{color box|#041E42}} {{color box|#69B3E7}} {{color box|#F3CFB3}}
| leaguenum       = 14  <!--- PCL=4, NWL=8 -->
| leaguechamps    = {{hlist|1890|1960|1970|1973|1974|1987|1988|1989|1990|1999|2003|2005|2008|2024}}
| divnum          = 18  <!--- PCL=7 (div began in 1963), NWL=11-->
| divisionchamps  = {{hlist|1963|1967|1968|1970|1973|1974|1982|1987|1988|1989|1990|1998|1999|2003|2005|2008|2010|2018|2019}}
| firsthalfnum    = 2
| firsthalfchamps = {{hlist|2019|2024}}
| secondhalfnum   = 0
| secondhalfchamps = none
| owner           = Brett Sports & Entertainment
| gm              = Kyle Day
| manager         = [[Robinson Cancel]]
| website         = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/spokane|milb.com/spokane}}
}}

The '''Spokane Indians''' are a [[Minor League Baseball]] team located in [[Spokane Valley, Washington|Spokane Valley]], the city immediately east of [[Spokane]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], in the [[Pacific Northwest]]. The Indians are members of the [[High-A]] [[Northwest League]] (NWL) as an affiliate of the [[Colorado Rockies]]. Spokane plays its home games at [[Avista Stadium]], which opened in 1958 and has a seating capacity of 6,752.

From 1958 through 1982, excluding 1972, the Indians were in the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL). They were members of the [[Class A Short Season]] Northwest League from 1955 to 1956, in 1972, and from 1983 to 2020. The NWL operated as the [[High-A West]] in 2021 and was elevated to the High-A level. They have won 12 league titles: four in the PCL and nine in the NWL. The Spokane region has over a century of history in Minor League Baseball, dating back to the 1890s.<ref name=bothin>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dgwSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uvIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3864%2C282739 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane Valley, Washington |last=Price |first=Jim |title=Birth of the Indians |date=June 21, 2003 |page=H2}}</ref>

==History==

===Before 1958===
[[File:1909 Spokane Indians.jpeg|thumb|left|The 1909 Spokane Indians]]
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 (baseball)|Class A]], an elite minor league of the period, equivalent to [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] today. The Indians lasted only two seasons at that higher level before dropping to the [[Class B (baseball)|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),<ref name=begsadend>{{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}}</ref> the predecessor of the Northwest League. They played at [[Playfair Race Course#Ferris Field|Ferris Field]] from 1937 through 1942 and 1946 until folding during the 1954 season on June 21.<ref name=wtosaw>{{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}}</ref><ref name=cronwet>{{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 }}</ref><ref name=irhntptl>{{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 }}</ref>

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,<ref name=cntiopnr55>{{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}}</ref><ref name=tdpfnle>{{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}}</ref> but folded after just two seasons, and the city went without minor league baseball in 1957.<ref name=spffeb57>{{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}}</ref>

====The 1946 Spokane bus tragedy====
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, Washington|Bremerton]] by bus to play the Bluejackets. While crossing the [[Cascade Mountains]] on a rain-slickened [[Snoqualmie Pass]] Highway (then [[U.S. Route 10 in Washington|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.<ref name=begsadend/><ref name=esbpdic>{{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}}</ref>

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),<ref name=hdsid>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="koty">J. G. Taylor Spink, ed., ''1947 Baseball Guide and Record Book.'' St. Louis, Missouri: [[The Sporting News]], 1947, p. 207</ref>

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 (PCL)|San Diego Padres]] on June 24 and he departed the ill-fated bus during a late lunch stop in [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]], not long before the accident, thus helping to earn his nickname.<ref name=sitbcosp>{{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}}</ref> (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.<ref name="koty"/>

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.<ref name="koty"/>

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.

===Pacific Coast League (1958–1971, 1973–1982)===

When the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] moved from [[1957 Brooklyn Dodgers season|Brooklyn]] to the [[West Coast of the United States|west coast]] in [[1958 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1958]], they moved their PCL affiliate, the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|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]],<ref name=pobdi>{{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}}</ref> won 94 of 146 games ({{winning percentage|94|52}}) in the regular season to win the northern division by 26 games,<ref name=nsvtyfs>{{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}}</ref> then swept the [[Hawaii Islanders]] in four games in the PCL playoffs.<ref name=swpoisl>{{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}}</ref> The team included [[Bill Buckner]], [[Steve Garvey]], [[Bobby Valentine]] (PCL MVP), [[Tom Paciorek]], [[Davey Lopes]], [[Bill Russell (shortstop)|Bill Russell]], and [[Doyle Alexander]].<ref name=swpoisl/><ref name=bvgcmvp>{{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}}</ref><ref name=spoinsvnt>{{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}}</ref>

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,<ref name=bbsfspok>{{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}}</ref><ref name=kmhdsclb>{{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 }}</ref> but only for one season, as a new PCL franchise arrived in 1973 from [[Portland Beavers|Portland]], becoming the affiliate of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref name=expow>{{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 }}</ref> The 1973 team, which included [[Bill Madlock]] and [[Lenny Randle]], won the west division by eleven games and swept [[Tucson Toros|Tucson]] in three games in the championship series.<ref name=sedate>{{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 }}</ref> The following year's club successfully defended the title with another three-game sweep, this time over Albuquerque.<ref name=spcapflg>{{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 }}</ref>

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,<ref name=pclfstgs>{{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}}</ref> the Indians defeated [[Tacoma Rainiers|Tacoma]] in the first round,<ref name=trtpuduk>{{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}}</ref> but fell to Albuquerque in the championship series in six games.<ref name=dwipagn>{{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 }}</ref> Soon after that season,<ref name=igonveg>{{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}}</ref><ref name=stmokdupi>{{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}}</ref> the team moved south to [[Las Vegas]] and became the [[Las Vegas Stars (baseball)|Stars]]. The team's general manager was [[Larry Koentopp]], former head coach and athletic director at [[Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball|Gonzaga]].<ref name=kqgbas>{{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 }}</ref> He was the leader of a local ownership group that purchased the team after the 1978 season.<ref name=trbpurlg>{{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}}</ref><ref name=fsebsfst>{{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 }}</ref> The team was purchased for $259,000 in 1978 and was sold in 1993 for $6.1 million.<ref name=ktfhdet>{{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 }}</ref>

===Northwest League (1983–2020)===
[[File:Spokane Indians tag out.jpg|thumb|right|Season opener at a 2008 Indians game against the [[Everett AquaSox]] 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.<ref name=iwrfst>{{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 }}</ref> 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,<ref name=shswimpl>{{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}}</ref><ref name=nwlfs>{{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}}</ref> then beat league-leading [[Vancouver Canadians|Vancouver]] on the road in games four and five of the championship series to win the title.<ref name=ioapp>{{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}}</ref><ref name=iwnwlpnt>{{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}}</ref>

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 Brett|Ken]], Bobby, and [[George Brett|George]]).<ref name=itsoffl>{{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}}</ref>

===High-A West and back to the Northwest League (2021–present)===
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.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{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}}</ref> They qualified for the playoffs by finishing with a second-place 67–49 record,<ref name=BR2021league>{{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}}</ref> but they were defeated by the [[Eugene Emeralds]], 3–1, in the best-of-five championship series.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The franchise was recognized with the [[Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Playoffs==
[[File:2013 Jr. Lilac Parade-66 (8738175885).jpg|thumb|Otto, one of the many mascots of the Spokane Indians]]

*1987: Defeated [[Everett Giants|Everett]] 2–1 to win championship
*1988: Defeated [[Southern Oregon Athletics|Southern Oregon]] 2–1 to win championship
*1989: Defeated [[Southern Oregon Athletics|Southern Oregon]] 2–1 to win championship
*1990: Defeated [[Boise Hawks|Boise]] 2–1 to win championship
*1999: Defeated [[Portland Rockies|Portland]] 3–0 to win championship
*2003: Defeated [[Salem-Keizer Volcanoes|Salem-Keizer]] 3–0 to win championship
*2005: Defeated [[Vancouver Canadians|Vancouver]] 3–2 to win championship
*2008: Defeated [[Salem-Keizer Volcanoes|Salem-Keizer]] 3–1 to win championship
*2010: Defeated [[Yakima Bears|Yakima]] 2–0 in semifinals; lost to [[Everett AquaSox|Everett]] 2–1 in finals
*2018: Defeated [[Everett AquaSox|Everett]] 2–1 in semifinals; lost to [[Eugene Emeralds|Eugene]] 3–0 in finals
*2019: Lost to [[Tri-City Dust Devils|Tri-City]] 2–1 in semifinals
*2021: Lost to [[Eugene Emeralds|Eugene]] 3–1 in finals
*2024: Defeated [[Vancouver Canadians|Vancouver]] 3-1 to win championship

==Logos and uniforms==
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 people|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 [[Salishan languages|Salish]], the traditional language of the Spokane.<ref name="Salish">{{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}}</ref>

==Roster==
{{Spokane Indians roster}}

==Notable alumni==
{{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 [[All Star|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 (baseball)|Roger Craig]] (1959)
* [[Chris Davis (baseball)|Chris Davis]] (2006) MLB All-Star; MLB home run leader: 2013, 2015
* [[Willie Davis (baseball)|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}}

===See also===
*[[:Category:Spokane Indians players|Spokane Indians players]]
*[[:Category:Spokane Hawks players|Spokane Hawks players]] (1937–1940)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{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}}
{{Washington Sports}}

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