The Duluth–Superior Dukes were a re-incarnation of previous minor league teams based in the Twin Ports.

The Duluth Dukes and Superior Blues both played in earlier versions of the Northern League, with the two teams merging after the 1955 season.

The Dukes became one of six original teams that began play in the 1993 season, along with the St. Paul Saints, the Sioux Falls Canaries, the Sioux City Explorers, the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks and the Rochester Aces (who moved after one season and become the Winnipeg Goldeyes).

Catcher/outfielder Jeff Grotewold, who was on the Dukes roster in 1994 and had played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992, would return to the majors in 1995 with the Kansas City Royals.

[1] In 1995, catcher Pete Kuld (acquired in a mid-season trade with Thunder Bay) would go on to lead the league in home runs with 24.

The team was powered by Mike Meggers (acquired in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg), who would lead the league with 32 home runs.

With the series tied at 2, the Dukes would win the deciding game 3–1 in front of a sold-out Wade Stadium to claim the league championship.

League championship series MVP Allen Halley, who was the winning pitcher in the deciding game against Winnipeg, died from a seizure in March 1998.

History was made in the Northern League in 1997 when the St. Paul Saints signed Ila Borders, who became one of the first women to pitch in men's professional baseball.

After not pitching much in the first half of the season, Borders would become the first woman to start a men's professional baseball game on July 7, 1998.

After losing to Madison in 1996, the Dukes would not let history repeat itself, as they beat the Black Wolf to claim their second ever playoff berth.

First baseman Anthony "Big Papa" Lewis (in his third season with the team), designated hitter Tony Mitchell, and outfielder Jim Rushford powered the offense.

[6] Pitcher Terry Pearson would sign with the Detroit Tigers organization and would pitch in four games during the 2002 season.

[7] The turn of the century brought numerous changes to the league, as teams left struggling markets and moved to more prosperous ones.