Negro National League (the first)
Encyclopedia
The Negro National League (NNL) was one of the several Negro leagues
which were established during the period in the United States
in which organized baseball was segregated. Led by Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants
, the NNL was established on February 13, 1920 by a coalition of team owners at a meeting in a Kansas City YMCA. The new league was the first African-American baseball circuit to achieve stability and last more than one season. At first the league operated mainly in midwestern cities, ranging from Kansas City in the west to Pittsburgh in the east; in 1924 it expanded into the south, adding franchises in Birmingham and Memphis.
The two most important east coast clubs, the Hilldale Club
of Darby, Pennsylvania
, and the Bacharach Giants
of Atlantic City, were affiliated with the NNL as associate clubs from 1920 to 1922, but did not compete for the championship. In 1923 they and four other eastern teams formed the Eastern Colored League
(ECL) and raided the NNL for many of its top players, including Oscar Charleston
, John Henry Lloyd
, Biz Mackey
, Heavy Johnson, George Scales
, George Carr, Clint Thomas, and Reuben Currie. The war between the two leagues came to an end in 1924, when they agreed to respect one another's contracts and arranged for the Negro League World Series
between their champions.
The NNL survived controversies over umpiring, scheduling, and what some perceived as league president Rube Foster's disproportionate influence and favoritism toward his own team. It also outlasted Foster's decline into mental illness in 1926, and its eastern rival, the ECL, which folded in early 1928. The NNL finally fell apart in 1931 under the economic stress of the Great Depression
.
A new Negro National League was organized in 1933
, but eventually became concentrated on the east coast. The Negro American League
, founded in 1937 and including several of the same teams that played in the original Negro National League, would eventually carry on as the western circuit of black baseball.
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
which were established during the period in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in which organized baseball was segregated. Led by Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...
, the NNL was established on February 13, 1920 by a coalition of team owners at a meeting in a Kansas City YMCA. The new league was the first African-American baseball circuit to achieve stability and last more than one season. At first the league operated mainly in midwestern cities, ranging from Kansas City in the west to Pittsburgh in the east; in 1924 it expanded into the south, adding franchises in Birmingham and Memphis.
The two most important east coast clubs, the Hilldale Club
Hilldale Club
The Hilldale Athletic Club was an African American professional baseball team based in Darby, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia....
of Darby, Pennsylvania
Darby, Pennsylvania
Darby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, along Darby Creek southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It has a public library founded in 1743 and a cemetery more than 300 years old. The Quakers lived there early in the colonial era. Darby was settled about 1660 and was...
, and the Bacharach Giants
Bacharach Giants
The Bacharach Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.- Founding :The club was founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor...
of Atlantic City, were affiliated with the NNL as associate clubs from 1920 to 1922, but did not compete for the championship. In 1923 they and four other eastern teams formed the Eastern Colored League
Eastern Colored League
The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs, more commonly known as the Eastern Colored League , was one of the several Negro leagues, which operated during the time organized baseball was segregated.- History :...
(ECL) and raided the NNL for many of its top players, including Oscar Charleston
Oscar Charleston
Oscar McKinley Charleston was an American center fielder and manager in baseball's Negro leagues from to ....
, John Henry Lloyd
John Henry Lloyd
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was an American baseball player and manager in the Negro leagues. He is generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro league history, and both Babe Ruth and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, reportedly believed Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever.He was a...
, Biz Mackey
Biz Mackey
James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey was an American catcher and manager in Negro league baseball. He came to be regarded as black baseball's premier catcher in the late 1920s and early 1930s...
, Heavy Johnson, George Scales
George Scales
George Walter Scales , nicknamed "Tubby", was an American second baseman and manager in Negro league baseball, most notably with the New York Lincoln Giants and Baltimore Elite Giants. Born in Talladega, Alabama, he batted .321 over a 25-year career during which he played several positions...
, George Carr, Clint Thomas, and Reuben Currie. The war between the two leagues came to an end in 1924, when they agreed to respect one another's contracts and arranged for the Negro League World Series
Negro League World Series
The Negro League World Series was a post-season baseball tournament which was held from 1924-1927 and from 1942-1948 between the champions of the Negro leagues, matching the mid-western winners against their east coast counterparts....
between their champions.
The NNL survived controversies over umpiring, scheduling, and what some perceived as league president Rube Foster's disproportionate influence and favoritism toward his own team. It also outlasted Foster's decline into mental illness in 1926, and its eastern rival, the ECL, which folded in early 1928. The NNL finally fell apart in 1931 under the economic stress of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
A new Negro National League was organized in 1933
1933 in sports
-Alpine skiing:Events* Taft Slalom, the first racing trail in North America, is cut on Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire-American football:NFL championship...
, but eventually became concentrated on the east coast. The Negro American League
Negro American League
The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues which were created during the time organized baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and continued to exist until 1960...
, founded in 1937 and including several of the same teams that played in the original Negro National League, would eventually carry on as the western circuit of black baseball.
Negro National League Franchises
- Annual final standings: 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931
- Chicago American GiantsChicago American GiantsChicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...
(1920–1931) — Known as the Chicago Columbia Giants in 1931. - Chicago GiantsChicago GiantsThe Chicago Giants were a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois which played in the Negro Leagues. The team was founded by Frank Leland after he and his partner, Rube Foster, split up the Leland Giants in 1910. The new club was sometimes also known as the Leland Giants...
(1920–1921) - Cuban StarsCuban Stars (West)The Cuban Stars were a team of Cuban professional baseball players that competed in the United States Negro leagues from 1907 to 1932. The team was also sometimes known as the Stars of Cuba, the Cuban All-Stars, the Havana Reds, the Almendares Blues, or simply as the Cubans. For one season, 1921,...
(1920–1930) — Known as the Cincinnati Cubans in 1921. - Dayton MarcosDayton MarcosThe Dayton Marcos were a Negro League baseball team that is now defunct along with the Negro League. They were based from Dayton, Ohio.- Founding :The Dayton Marcos history does go back farther than the Negro League though...
(1920, 1926) - Detroit StarsDetroit StarsThe Detroit Stars were a United States baseball team in the Negro leagues and played at historic Mack Park.- Founding :Founded in 1919 by Tenny Blount with the help of Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants, the Detroit Stars immediately established themselves as one of the...
(1920–1931) - Indianapolis ABCsIndianapolis ABCsThe Indianapolis ABCs were a Negro League baseball team that played both as an independent club and as a charter member of the first Negro National League . They claimed the western championship of black baseball in 1915 and 1916, and finished second in the 1922 NNL...
(1920–1924, 1925–1926) — Dropped from league mid-season 1924 but returned the following season. - Kansas City MonarchsKansas City MonarchsThe Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. J.L. Wilkinson was the first Caucasian owner at the time...
(1920–1931) - St. Louis GiantsSt. Louis GiantsThe St. Louis Giants were a Negro League baseball team that competed independently from as early as 1906 to 1919, and joined the Negro National League for the 1920 and 1921 seasons. After the 1921 season, the franchise was sold to another group of investors, who built a new park and renamed the...
(1920–1921) — Replaced by St. Louis Stars in 1922, which was virtually the same team with new owners. - Columbus Buckeyes (1921)
- St. Louis StarsSt. Louis Stars (baseball)The St. Louis Stars were a Negro League baseball team that competed in the Negro National League from 1922 to 1931. Founded when Dick Kent and Dr. Sam Sheppard took over the St...
(1922–1931) — Replaced the St. Louis Giants. - Cleveland Tate StarsCleveland Tate StarsThe Cleveland Tate Stars were a baseball team in the Negro National League in 1922. In their only season, they finished last of eight clubs with a 17-29 record in league play....
(1922–1923) — Dropped out mid-season 1923. - Pittsburgh Keystones (1922)
- Milwaukee BearsMilwaukee BearsThe Milwaukee Bears were a Negro National League team that operated during the 1923 season, its only season in the league, representing Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
(1923) - Toledo TigersToledo TigersThe Toledo Tigers were a Negro National League team that operated during the season, its only season in the league, representing Toledo, Ohio. It played its home games at Toledo's Swayne Field, home of the minor league Mud Hens....
(1923) — Mid-season replacement for Cleveland Tate Stars. - Birmingham Black BaronsBirmingham Black BaronsThe Birmingham Black Barons played professional baseball for Birmingham, Alabama, in the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1960 when the Major Leagues successfully integrated...
(1924–1925, 1927–1930) - Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns (Negro Leagues)The Cleveland Browns were a baseball team in the Negro National League, based in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1924. In their only season, they finished with a 17-34 record in league play.Their manager that year was Baseball Hall of Fame member Sol White....
(1924) - Memphis Red SoxMemphis Red SoxThe Memphis Red Sox were a professional Negro League baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee from the 1920s until the end of segregated baseball....
(1924–1925, 1927–1930) — Mid-season replacement in 1924 for Indianapolis ABCs. - Cleveland Elites (1926) — Closely related to both Cleveland Hornets and Cleveland Tigers.
- Cleveland HornetsCleveland HornetsThe Cleveland Hornets were a baseball team in the Negro National League, based in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1927. In their only season, they finished with a 17-42 record in league play....
(1927) — Closely related to both Cleveland Elites and Cleveland Tigers. - Cleveland Tigers (1928) — Closely related to both Cleveland Hornets and Cleveland Elites.
- Nashville Elite Giants (1930–1931) — Became Cleveland Cubs for 1931 season.
- Indianapolis ABCs (2nd team) (1931)
- Louisville White SoxLouisville White SoxThe Louisville White Sox were a baseball team in the Negro National League in 1931, based in Louisville, Kentucky. In their only season, they finished with a 19–23 record in league play.After the 1931 season, they were replaced by the Louisville Black Caps....
(1931)
Member timetable
- 1920: Formation of NNL consisting of 8 teams - Chicago American Giants, Detroit Stars, Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis ABCs, St. Louis Giants, Cuban Stars, Dayton Marcos and Chicago Giants.
- 1921: Dropped Dayton Marcos; Added Columbus Buckeyes.
- 1922: Dropped Columbus Buckeyes, Chicago Giants, St. Louis Giants; Added Cleveland Tate Stars, Pittsburgh Keystones, St. Louis Stars.
- 1923: Dropped Cleveland Tate Stars (mid-season), Pittsburgh Keystones; Added Toledo Tigers (mid-season), Milwaukee Bears.
- 1924: Dropped Toledo Tigers, Milwaukee Bears, Indianapolis ABCs (mid-season); Added Cleveland Browns, Birmingham Black Barons, Memphis Red Sox (mid-season).
- 1925: Dropped Cleveland Browns; Added Indianapolis ABCs.
- 1926: Dropped Memphis Red Sox, Birmingham Black Barons; Added Dayton Marcos, Cleveland Elites.
- 1927: Dropped Dayton Marcos, Indianapolis ABCs; Added Birmingham Black Barons, Memphis Red Sox.
- 1929: Dropped Cleveland Tigers.
- 1930: Added Nashville Elite Giants.
- 1931: Dropped Memphis Red Sox, Birmingham Black Barons, Cuban Stars; Added Louisville White Sox, (new) Indianapolis ABCs. League fell apart before season end.
Champions
- 1920 Chicago American Giants
- 1921 Chicago American Giants
- 1922 Chicago American Giants
- 1923 Kansas City Monarchs
- 1924 Kansas City Monarchs
- 1925 Kansas City Monarchs
- 1926 Chicago American Giants
- 1927 Chicago American Giants
- 1928 St. Louis Stars
- 1929 Kansas City Monarchs
- 1930 St. Louis Stars
- 1931 St. Louis Stars (season did not finish; Stars had best record among league members and were declared the champions, though non-member Pittsburgh CrawfordsPittsburgh CrawfordsThe Pittsburgh Crawfords, popularly known as the Craws, were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Named after the Crawford Grill, a club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh owned by Gus Greenlee, the Crawfords were originally a youth semipro team sponsored by...
disputed title)