{{Short description|Independent baseball league in the 1990s}} {{Infobox sports league |last_season = 1997 Prairie League season |logo = |pixels = |caption = |sport = Baseball |founded = {{by|1995}} |folded = {{by|1997}} |motto = |teams = 12 (Total) |country = United States, Canada |most_champs = Minot Mallards (2) |champion = Minot Mallards (1997) |website = }} The '''Prairie League''' was an independent baseball league that existed from 1995 to 1997. It was based in the Canadian prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the U.S. states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The eight-team league was founded in 1995 following the demise of the North Central League. Three teams migrated from the North Central League (Minneapolis, Regina, and Saskatoon), and five new teams formed (Aberdeen, Brandon, Dakota, Minot, and Moose Jaw). In the first season, the teams were divided into two four-team divisions by country. The U.S. winners and the Canadian winners competed in best-of-five championship, with the Regina Cyclones winning 3-1.<ref name=Sumner>{{cite book |last1=Sumner |first1=Benjamin Barrett |title=Minor league baseball standings : all North American leagues, through 1999 |date=2000 |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, N.C. |isbn=978-0-7864-0781-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/minorleaguebaseb0000sumn |access-date=June 3, 2025 |page=489}}</ref>

In 1996, the league expanded, adding teams in Brainerd, Minnesota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Minneapolis Loons relocated to Austin, Minnesota, becoming the Southern Minny Stars. With more American team than Canadian teams, the league was reorganized into Northern and Southern divisions, and the Minot Mallards won the 1996 championship.<ref name=Sumner /><ref>{{cite web |title=Minot Baseball History |url=https://northwoodsleague.com/minot-hot-tots/history/ |website=Minot Hot Tots |access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref>

The (Bismarck) Dakota Rattlers folded before the 1997 season, and the Green Bay Sultans left for the Heartland League.<ref name=Sumner/> Minot once again won the league championship, but the league ceased operations after the 1997 season due to financial troubles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eisen |first1=Alex |title=Remembering the Mallards |url=https://www.minotdailynews.com/sports/local-sports/2017/07/remembering-the-mallards/ |access-date=June 3, 2025 |work=Minot Daily News |date=July 23, 2017}}</ref>

==Cities represented== {{Location map many | United States | width = 400 | float = | border = | caption = Locations of Prairie League teams | alt = | relief = | AlternativeMap =

| label1 = Aberdeen | link1 = Aberdeen Pheasants (Prairie League) | coordinates1= {{coord|45|27|53|N|98|29|11|W}} | mark1 = Blue pog.svg |pos1=left

| label2 = Austin | link2 = Austin, Minnesota | coordinates2= {{coord|43|40|00|N|92|58|29|W}} | mark2 = Blue pog.svg |pos2=left

| label3 = Saskatoon | link3 = Saskatoon Stallions | coordinates3= {{coord|52|8|23|n|106|41|10|W}} | mark3 = Blue pog.svg | position3 = left

| label4 = Bismarck | link4 = Bismarck, North Dakota | coordinates4= {{Coord|46|48|30|N|100|47|1|W}} | mark4 = Blue pog.svg |position4=left

| label5 = Brainerd | link5 = Brainerd, Minnesota | coordinates5= {{Coord|46|21|9|N|94|12|3|W}} | mark5 = Blue pog.svg

| label6 = Brandon | link6 = Brandon, Manitoba | coordinates6= {{coord|49|50|49|N|99|57|8|W}} | mark6 = Blue pog.svg | position6 = right

| label7 = Grand Forks | link7 = Grand Forks, North Dakota | coordinates7= {{coord|47|55|31|N|97|1|57|W}} | mark7 = Blue pog.svg |position7=right

| label8 = Green Bay | link8 = Green Bay Sultans | coordinates8= {{coord|44|30|48|N|88|0|57|W}} | mark8 = Blue pog.svg |pos8=bottom

| label9 = Minneapolis | link9 = Minneapolis | coordinates9= {{coord|44|58|55|N|93|16|09|W}} | mark9 = Blue pog.svg |pos9=right

| label10 = Minot | link10 = Minot Mallards | coordinates10= {{coord|48|13|54|N|101|16|31|W}} | mark10 = Blue pog.svg |pos10=left

| label11 = Moose Jaw | link11 = Moose Jaw | coordinates11= {{Coord|50|23|36|N|105|33|07|W}} | mark11 = Blue pog.svg |pos11=left

| label13 = Regina | link13 = Regina, Saskatchewan | coordinates13= {{coord|50|27|17|N|104|36|24|W}} | mark13 = Blue pog.svg |position13=right}} * Aberdeen, SD: Aberdeen Pheasants 1995–1997<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waltman |first1=Scott |title=Marker Commemorating Aberdeen Pheasants Unveiled {{!}} Aberdeen Insider |url=https://aberdeeninsider.com/marker-commemorating-aberdeen-pheasants-unveiled/ |website=Aberdeen Insider |access-date=June 3, 2025 |date=June 10, 2024}}</ref> * Austin, MN: Southern Minny Stars 1996–1997 * Bismarck, ND: Dakota Rattlers 1995–1996 * Brainerd, MN: Brainerd Bobcats 1997 * Brandon, MB: Brandon Grey Owls 1995–1996; West Manitoba Wranglers 1997 * Grand Forks, ND: Grand Forks Varmints 1996–1997 * Green Bay, WI: Green Bay Sultans 1996 * Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Loons 1995 * Minot, ND: Minot Mallards 1995–1997 * Moose Jaw, SK: Moose Jaw Diamond Dogs 1995–1997 * Regina, SK: Regina Cyclones 1995–1997 * Saskatoon, SK: Saskatoon Riot (1995); Smokin' Guns (1996); Stallions (1997)

==Notable league alumni== {{Famous|date=May 2023}} * Chris Coste * Kerry Ligtenberg * Shawn Wooten * Curt Ford

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Sports leagues established in 1995 Category:Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Category:Defunct independent baseball leagues in the United States Category:Organizations disestablished in 1997 Category:Defunct baseball leagues in Canada