LEAGUES

NLB LEAGUES:  

NLB_L_NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE_PART_1 (1920 – 1931):

The NNL was founded on February 14, 1920 at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City.  Before this day black teams cropped up here and there with little structured guidance and motivation. “Rube” Foster (known as the Father of Negro League Baseball) was the man behind the creation of the Negro National League.  Eight teams were represented and committed to the league that day.  These teams were the Chicago American Giants, Chicago Giants, Cuban Stars, Dayton Marcos, Detroit Stars, Indianapolis ABC’s, and the St. Louis Giants. Before the start of the 1932 season, as the nation plunged further into financial crisis brought on by the Great Depression the Negro National League was disbanded.

NLB_L_NEGRO SOUTHERN LEAGUE NSL (1920/1932):

After the 1920 season the Negro Southern League was considered to be the most important of the lesser minor league teams. Its primary function was to provide talented prospects to the Negro National League and Independent Northern teams.  The league operated for many years, and was noted “major league” once again in 1932 after picking up the Chicago American Giants and the Indianapolis ABC’s of the defunct Negro National League. Which all-star pitcher began his professional career with the NSL’s Chattanooga Black Lookouts in 1926? Leroy “Satchel” Paige

NLB_L_EASTERN COLORED LEAGUE (1923 – 1928):

Ed Bolden, owner of the Philadelphia Stars and the Hilldale Daisies assembled the teams of the Eastern Colored League to challenge the teams of the Negro National League.  This League was comprised teams located in cities along the East Coast including New York, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.  They ran schedules with the Negro National League until they were strangled by the Great Depression in 1928.

NLB_AMERICAN COLORED LEAGUE (1929):

The American Colored League made a short lived attempt to establish a presence in professional black- baseball in 1929.  The ACL had absorbed members of the Eastern Colored League that was disbanded the previous year. After one brief year, the league failed to return in 1930.  In 1914, a former minor league made an attempt to establish itself as a major league by signing men away from the majors. What was the name of this organization?  The Federal League – some believe it could have had a better chance to survive had it challenged the unwritten racial divide rules of the majors.  It lasted a mere two years before it bowed out.

EAST-WEST LEAGUE (1932):

Under the direction of the Grays Cumberland Posey, the East - West League was formed in 1932 consisting of the Homestead Grays, Hilldale, Cuban Stars, Baltimore Black Sox, Newark Browns, Washington Pilots, Cleveland Stars and the Detroit Wolves.  The league began with great optimism but by late June was buried by economic distress.  Which two of the teams these teams pressed on as barnstorming clubs for the remainder of the season?  The Grays and the Cuban Stars

NLB_NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE_PART_2 (1933 – 1948):

Restaurant owner and entrepreneur “Gus” Greenlee had created the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1932 to compete with the Homestead Grays.  He sat out of the fledgling East – West League in 1932 and led the charge to resurrect the Negro National League a year later. Greenlee brought prospective team owners together before the start of the 1933 season.  Cole’s American Giants, the Homestead Grays, the Indianapolis ABC’s, the Detroit Stars, and the Columbus Bluebirds joined his Pittsburgh Crawfords to make the new Negro National League.  The Nashville Elite Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox replaced two of these teams before the season ended. Which of these teams were replaced and why?   Grays were kicked out of the league for raiding opponent’s rosters and Indianapolis was unable to meet expenses.

NEGRO AMERICAN LEAGUE (1937 – 1963):

H. G. Hall, owner of the Chicago American Giants, orchestrated the development of the Negro American League several years before it came to fruition in 1937.  The league hosted to teams from Midwest and the Southern cities, including Chicago, Kansas City, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Memphis, and Birmingham.  The K. C. Monarchs beat the Chicago American Giants for championship honors the first year.  In 1949 the NAL Eastern Division absorbed the Louisville Buckeyes, the Baltimore Elite Giants, the New York Cubans, the Philadelphia Stars, and the Indianapolis Clowns of the defunct Negro National League.  The Western Division picked up the Houston Eagles. Which team captured the NAL championship in 1949? The Baltimore Elite Giants rocked the Chicago American Giants for the honor.