Baseball “Negro Leagues” – Topics on Newspapers.com

St. Louis Giants, 1916

The “Negro Leagues” were organized circuits for black professional baseball teams, operating most successfully between 1920 and 1940 in the Eastern, Midwest, and Southern United States.

Ancient history

After the American Civil War, baseball became increasingly popular in the United States, and professional teams and leagues began to emerge. Initially, there were a few instances of racially integrated teams and leagues, but by the turn of the 19th century, racism had led to total segregation in organized baseball.

The first black professional baseball team in the United States was the Cuban Giants, formed in 1885. Black teams took by storm around the country (and internationally) to play baseball. Although white professional leagues became segregated, black teams competed not only against each other, but also against local teams. white teams of all levels in non-league matches.

In 1920, Rube Foster organized the first successful professional black baseball league – the Negro National League (1920-1931) – with 8 initial teams. It was followed a few years later by Ed BoldenEastern Colored League (1923-1928).

Golden age

The economic difficulties of Great Depression caused a decline in black professional baseball, but the game saw a resurgence in the 1930s and 1940s. leagues were created during this time, including a new Negro National League (1933-1948) and the Negro American League (1937-1960). The most anticipated match each year was the East-West All-Star Game (1933-1948), which attracted tens of thousands of fans to Comiskey Park in Chicago. THE Black World Series (1924-27, 1942-48).

The Negro baseball leagues were incredibly home to talented playerssuch as Paige bag, Josh Gibson, “Cool Dad” bell, Buck Leonard, Martin Dihigo, “Türkiye” StearnesAnd Oscar Charleston-among many others. Although the leagues were primarily comprised of Black American men, there were a few Latin Americans as well as a few women (such as Tony Pierre).

Teams from this era included the Kansas City Monarchs, Farmhouse Gray, Black Barons of Birmingham, New York Cubansand much more.

Decline

Even though black players competed in the highest skill levelthey were rod of Major League Baseball because of race. This began to change in 1947, when Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Other MLB teams also began recruiting black players. evacuation the best talents of black teams. In 1966, the Indianapolis Clowns were the only black team remaining, until finally folding in 1989.

Learn more about “Negro Leagues” baseball through historical newspapers in our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images and other primary sources below.

Articles and press clippings on “Negro Leagues” baseball

Account of Rube Foster pitching for the Philadelphia Giants in a 1904 game Tue July 26, 1904 – 5 · The Morning Post (Camden, New Jersey) · Journals.comPhotos of Rube Foster published in a 1912 newspaper Wednesday October 30, 1912 – 32 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Journals.comManagers of black baseball teams will meet in Kansas City to plan a home run, 1920 Saturday February 14, 1920 – Page 6 · The Tulsa Star (Tulsa, Oklahoma) · Journals.comSpotlight on Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, who would play with the Knoxville Giants, 1920 Sun September 5, 1920 – 54 · The Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, Tennessee) · Journals.comOscar Charleston (manager of the Harrisburg Giants) is called “the most popular baseball player in the country” Saturday October 3, 1925 – Page 14 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.com1926 interview with Rube Foster about his early baseball years Saturday January 16, 1926 – Page 12 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comBallot allowing fans to vote on players and batting order for the 1933 East-West All-Star Game Saturday August 12, 1933 – Page 14 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comPhoto of Satchel Paige published in a 1934 newspaper after an East-West match Saturday September 1, 1934 – Page 14 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.com1936 photo and article about Martín Dihigo of the New York Cubans of the Negro National League Saturday March 7, 1936 – Page 15 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comList of black baseball players hitting .300 or higher, 1937 Saturday July 10, 1937 – Page 17 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.com1937 newspaper photo of “Cool Papa” Bell published while he played for a Dominican Republic team Wed. July 21, 1937 – 17 · Quad-City Timetable (Davenport, Iowa) · Journals.comEditorial that “black teams should not be allowed to compete in a tournament with whites” Mon August 9, 1937 – Page 5 · Pampa Daily News (Pampa, Texas) · Journals.comSpotlight on Buck Leonard in a 1938 newspaper Saturday July 23, 1938 – Page 16 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.com1938 newspaper article titled “Big Leagues Ignore Aces of Color” Sun September 11, 1938 – 172 · Daily News (New York, New York) · Journals.comRandy Dixon wrote in 1939 about what he considered some of the best black baseball teams. Saturday May 27, 1939 – Page 16 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comPittsburgh Pirates players weigh in on the “color ban” in major league baseball, 1939 Saturday September 2, 1939 – Page 16 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comWendell Smith lists some of the black baseball players he considers to be major league level, 1942. Saturday August 15, 1942 – Page 17 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.com1943 photo of Negro National League leaders including Abe Manley, Ed Bolden and Cum Posey Saturday January 30, 1943 – Page 17 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comSatchel Paige talks about his early days in baseball and describes his match against Josh Gibson Saturday May 8, 1943 – Page 19 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comNewspaper reprints 1943 Time Magazine article about Josh Gibson Wed. July 21, 1943 – 12 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Journals.comKC Monarchs owners criticize Branch Rickey for signing Jackie Robinson without consulting them Friday March 5, 1948 – 6 · Alabama Tribune (Montgomery, Alabama) · Journals.comNewark Eagles Owner Effa Manley Responds to Jackie Robinson’s Criticism of Black Baseball Teams Saturday May 22, 1948 – 9 · The Morning Call (Paterson, New Jersey) · Journals.comFrom an obituary of Ed Bolden following his death in September 1950 Friday September 29, 1950 – Page 1 · Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comWendell Smith asks fans to continue supporting the Negro American League, 1951 Saturday May 5, 1951 – Page 14 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.comWendell Smith writes about the importance and history of the East-West Classic and Gus Greenlee Saturday August 11, 1951 – Page 14 · The Pittsburgh Mail (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Journals.com1953 photo of Toni Stone (of the Indianapolis Clowns), first woman to join the Negro American League Tue August 11, 1953 – 9 · The Ponca City News (Ponca City, Oklahoma) · Journals.comBill Burke writes about Negro American League players, 1954 Sunday May 30, 1954 – Page 16 · The Salina Journal (Salina, Kansas) · Journals.com