TEAMS

NLB_TEAMS_SPOTLIGHTED:

Baltimore Elite Giants:

The Elite Giants came to Baltimore by way of Nashville in 1938.  After a mediocre inaugural season, the Elite Giants rose to the challenge in 1939 and were declared champions after beating the Newark Eagles and the Homestead Grays in a disputed elimination tournament.  Champion status evaded Baltimore for a decade, then returned in 1949 as the Elite Giants, now aligned with the Negro American League, captured the eastern title and defeated the western title winning Chicago American Giants for the championship.  In what year did the Baltimore Elite Giants bow out of the Negro Leagues?  After the 1951 Season ended.

Birmingham Black Barons:

The Birmingham Black Barons were established in the Negro Southern League in 1920. The team became a legitimate NNL team in 1924.  After sitting out the 1926 season, they returned to shake up the NNL with Satchel Paige in 1927 only to lose the NNL title to the Chicago American Giants in four straight. The Black Barons claimed the NAL championships in both 1943 and 1948 but lost the title to the Homestead Grays both years.  This seventeen year old phenomenon debuted in 1948 and made his way to major league greatness via Birmingham?  Willie Mays – Willie beat out a two out - bases loaded – eleventh inning infield hit to secure the 1948 NAL Championship Title

Chicago American Giants:

Rube Foster’s Chicago American Giants gained strength by acquiring talent while barnstorming the south prior to 1920.  In 1920 the Negro National League was born and the CAG’s were charter members. The team won the NNL championship honors for three years running.  The NNL’s demise following the 1931 season sent Chicago’s team to the Negro Southern League.  CAG led the competition in 1932 to claim another championship title.  In 1937, Chicago’s owner H. G. Hall led the organizational effort to establish the Negro American League.  They played into the early 1950’s without ever claiming another championship title.

Indianapolis Clowns:

In an effort to attract large crowds, Syd Pollock put a major league twist of comedy into his Ethiopian Clowns barnstorming club. Despite the team’s display of talent and ability to win, its antics were often denounced by the black baseball community.  In 1943, after agreeing to abandon the comedy, the Clowns, operating out of Cincinnati were accepted into the NAL.  In 1946 the Clowns called Indianapolis home.  The team was a dominant force in the early 1950’s winning several NAL titles before leaving the league to return to its barnstorming past.

This major league record holding slugger started his baseball career within the line-up of the 1952 Indianapolis Clowns? This slugger is major league home-run king Henry Aaron.

Kansas City Monarchs:

The Kansas City Monarchs under the direction of longtime leader and owner J. L. Wilkinson, enjoyed great success as charter team in Rube Fosters Negro National League.  The Monarchs captured four NNL Pennants and a World Series win in 1924.  In 1937, the Kansas City Organization was once again a charter member of a new league, this time the Negro American League.  Wilkinson’s team won six NAL Pennants and the World Series title in 1942.  Which teams were defeated in the Monarchs World Series wins?  Hillsdale of the Eastern Colored League was defeated in 1924 and the Homestead Grays were swept in 1942.

Memphis Red Sox:

Dr. Martin’s Memphis Red Sox were charter members of the Negro Southern League (NSL) in 1920.  In the mid 1920’s, the Sox jumped to and from the NNL before producing their best effort re-aligned with the NSL in 1932.  In 1937, the team was accepted by the new Negro American League and a year later edged the Atlanta Black Crackers for the disputed 1938 title. This Memphis organization remained a fixture in the league throughout the 1950’s.  This Memphis right-hander sang his way to stardom in the years that followed his baseball career?  Charlie Pride became a household name in the world of country music.

Detroit Stars:

Rube Foster directed the formation of the Detroit Stars in 1919 and led them into the Negro National League in 1920.  The Stars dismantled along with the NNL in 1931.  The following year “Cum” Posey introduced a powerful but short lived Detroit Wolves team to the East-West League before assimilating the talent into his Homestead Grays squad. Norman “Turkey” Stearnes returned to Detroit several years later for a performance in the Negro American League in 1937.  Ted Rasberry fielded his Detroit Stars with the NAL in 1954.

This future hall of fame player was the soul of the Stars for from 1923 to 1929?  Norman “Turkey” Stearnes came to Detroit in 1923 via the Montgomery Grey Sox.

Newark Eagles:

In 1936, Abe and Effa Manley moved their Brooklyn Eagles to Newark to replace the obsolete Dodgers.  The team struggled for years before earning a title shot against Baltimore in 1939.  In the years that followed, the Eagles settled for second and third place finishes.  In 1946, with all-stars Leon Day and Monte Irvin at their best, the team from Newark finished with 47 wins and 16 losses.  The Eagles beat the Monarchs of Kansas City in four out of seven to capture championship honors.  A repeat in 1947 was cut short by the New York Cubans.

Cleveland Buckeyes:

Ernie Wright’s Cleveland Buckeyes came to the Negro American League by way of Cincinnati in 1942.  Their young cast of pitchers became a dominant force in 1945.  The bullpen, backed by a base hitting lineup featuring Batting Crown winner Sam Jethroe, captured the NAL pennant by winning both halves of a split season.   Post season match-up pitted the Buckeyes in a head to head duel with the Legendary Homestead Grays.  The Buckeye’s staked their claim to the ‘45 World Series Title, sweeping the Grays in 4, outscoring them 15 to1.  

This player/manager led the young Buckeye’s to unprecedented success in 1945?  Seasoned veteran Quincy Trouppe

Washington Homestead Grays:

The Homestead Grays, an independent club established in 1910, were originally comprised of Pittsburgh Steelworkers.  Under the leadership of Cum Posey, the Gray’s became one of the most celebrated teams of black baseball history.  They first entered the Negro big leagues in 1929 (ANL) and by 1933 associated with the Negro National League set upon a winning streak of epic proportions. The Grays captured 9 consecutive NNL Pennants from 1937 to 1945. These legendary Grays earmarked “Thunder Twins” were the core of this team’s long standing dynasty?  Hall of Fame inductees Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard led the Gray’s successful effort.

NLB Teams:

Each of the teams listed made an appearance at some point within the structure of professional black-baseball commonly referred to as Negro Leagues Baseball.

Atlanta Black Crackers

Atlantic City Bacharachs

Baltimore Elite Giants

Baltimore Black Sox

Birmingham Black Barons

Brooklyn Royal Giants

Chattanooga Black Lookouts

Chattanooga Choo Choos

Chicago American Giants

Chicago Giants

Cincinnati Clowns

Cincinnati Cuban Stars

Cincinnati Tigers

Cincinnati Cubans

Cincinnati Buckeyes

Cleveland Bears

Cleveland Red Sox

Cleveland Stars

Cleveland Cubs

Cleveland Tigers

Cleveland Hornets

Cleveland Elite Giants

Cleveland Tate Stars

Cleveland Buckeyes

Cleveland Browns

Columbus Blue Birds

Cuban Stars

Dayton Marcos

Detroit Stars

Detroit Wolves

Harrisburg Giants

Homestead Grays

Houston Eagles

Indianapolis ABC’s

Indianapolis Clowns pg. 322

Indianapolis Athletics

Indianapolis Crawfords

Jacksonville Red Caps

Kansas City Monarchs

Knoxville Giants

Louisiana White Sox

Louisiana Black Colonels

Louisiana Buckeyes

Louisiana Redcaps

Memphis Red Sox

Milwaukee Bears

Montgomery Gray Sox

Nashville Elite Giants

New York Lincoln Giants

New York Black Yankees

New York Bacharach Giants

New York Cubans

Newark Eagles

Newark Stars

Newark Browns

Newark Dodgers

Philadelphia Hillsdales

Pittsburgh Crawfords

Pittsburgh Keystones

Raleigh Tigers

St. Louis Stars

St. Louis Giants

Toledo Crawfords

Toledo Tigers

Washington Homestead Grays

Washington Grays

Washington Potomacs

Washington Black Senators

Washington Pilots