WIL is Back For 1946

WIL Teams Resume Play
SEATTLE, July 22—The Western International League, which ceased play at the close of the 1942 season, will resume operations as a class B league in 1946, league president Robert D. Abel of Tacoma, has announced.
Abel said the league is assured of six, possibly eight, teams.
Present franchises are located in Vancouver, B. C., Salem, Ore., and Spokane and Tacoma.
Sunday's board of directors meeting was the first for W. H. Klepper of the Portland club of the Pacific Coast League which — Saturday — acquired the franchise of the Salem club.
"The league," the directors said in a statement, "is proud to welcome the Portland baseball club as the owner of the Salem franchise and W.H. Klepper as a member of the Western International League’s board of directors.
Abel said the board had received inquiries from several cities interested in league franchises. These he listed as Victoria, B.C., Bellingham, Bremerton, Yakima, Wenatchee, Pasco-Kennewick in Washington, and Lewiston-Clarkston and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Bellingham, Yakima, Wenatchee and Lewiston all at one time fielded W.I. league teams.
Attending Sunday's board meeting were Bob Brown, Vancouver, B.C., W. P. Ulrich and Hugh Pace, Spokane, Roger W. Peck, Tacoma, Mrs. George Waters, Salem, and Klepper and Abel.

WIL To Resume Next Season
[Vancouver News-Herald, July 23, 1945]
After a lapse of three years, professional baseball will return to Vancouver next year when the Western International League resumes play.
Announcement that the Class B loops would function next season with six or eight teams was made by Bob Abel of Tacoma, president of the WIL, following a meeting of directors in Seattle Sunday.
FARM TEAM
Another hook up with the Coast League was made when Portland of the Coast League, acquired the Salem franchise from Mrs. George Waters. W.H. Klepper, business manager of the Portland Beavers, attended the meeting and was made a director of the league.
George Norgan, prominent Vancouver sportsman, is president of the Beavers and has been seeking the Salem franchise for some time
“The league,” Abel said, “is proud to welcome the Portland baseball club as the owner of the Salem franchise.”
Abel said the board had received inquiries from several cities interested in league franchises. These he listed as Victoria, Bellingham, Bremerton, Yakima, Wenatchee, Pasco-Kennewick in Washington and Lewiston-Clarkston and Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
Bellingham, Yakima, Wenatchee and Lewiston all at one time fielded W-I League teams.
Attending the board meeting were Bob Brown, Vancouver; W.P. Ulrich and Hugh Page, Spokane; Roger W. Peck, Tacoma; and Mrs. George Waters, Klepper and Abel.