Black Baseball History



 Records back to 1885 indicate that the first professional black baseball team was from Babylon, NY and were called the Argyle Athletics. They later changed their name to the New York Cuban Giants. Here are some Pre-1920 official un-official championship proclamations and title series of Black baseball.  Sometimes teams were declared the champions of their respective areas (Eastern or Western). And sometimes teams played each other in a series for that distinction. There were also years where the Eastern Champ would play the Western Champ in a series. And even other years where no champion was declared at all.

Early Championship Results (1887-1922)

Year Early Championship Results
1887 Trenton Cuban Giants were proclaimed Champions
1888 NY Cuban Giants defeated New York Gormans in a series for the Eastern Championship (4-1)
Chicago Unions Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1889 NY Gormans defeated Trenton Cuban Giants in a series for the Eastern Championship (2-0)
Chicago Union Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1890 NY Cuban Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Union Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1891 NY Big Gormans (100-4) were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Union Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1892 no information available
1893 no information available
1894 Cuban Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Union Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1895 Cuban Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Adrian (MI) Page Fence Giants (118-36) were proclaimed Western Champions
1896 Adrian (MI) Page Fence Giants (West) defeated Cuban X Giants (East) in a series (10-5)
1897 Cuban X Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Adrian (MI) Page Fence Giants (125-12) were proclaimed Western Champions
1898 Cuban X Giants defeated Cuban Giants in a series for the Eastern Championship (2-1)
Adrian (MI) Page Fence Giants and Chicago Union Giants both claimed the Western Championship
1899 Cuban X Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Columbia Giants and Chicago Union Giants both claimed the Western Championship
1900 Cuban X Giants were proclaimed Champions
Chicago Columbia Giants and Chicago Union Giants both claimed the Western Championship
1901 Cuban X Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Union Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1902 Cuban X Giants and Philadelphia Giants (81-43) were proclaimed Eastern Co-Champions
Chicago Union Giants and Algona (IA) Brownies were proclaimed Western Co-Champions
1903 Cuban X Giants defeated Philadelphia Giants (89-37) in a series for the Eastern Championship  (5-2)
Algonia (IA) Brownies defeated Chicago Union Giants in a series for the Western Championship
1904 Philadelphia Giants (95-41) defeated Cuban X Giants in a series for the Eastern Championship  (2-1)
Chicago Union Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1905 Philadelphia Giants (134-21) defeated Brooklyn Royal Giants in a series for the Eastern Championship (3-0)
Chicago Leland Giants (112-10) were proclaimed Western Champions
1906 Philadelphia Giants (134-21) beat Cuban X Giants 3-2 in the Eastern Negro Championship Cup
Chicago Leland Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1907 Philadelphia Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Leland Giants (110-10) were proclaimed Western Champions
1908 Philadelphia Giants (East) played Chicago Leland Giants (64-21) West) to a (3-3) tie in a series
1909 Philadelphia Giants (East ) defeated Chicago Leland Giants (West) in a series (3-1)
1910 Brooklyn Royal Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago Leland Giants (123-6) were proclaimed Western Champions
1911 NY Lincoln Giants (108-12) were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago American Giants (106-7) were proclaimed Western Champions
1912 NY Lincoln Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago American Giants and St. Louis Giants were proclaimed Western Co-Champions
1913 NY Lincoln Giants (108-12)  (East) defeated Chicago American Giants (West) in a series
1914 Chicago American Giants (West) defeated Brooklyn Royal Giants (East) in a series  (4-0)
1915 Chicago American Giants (West) played NY Lincoln Stars (East) to a (5-5) tie in a series
1916 Brooklyn Royal Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Indianapolis ABC’s defeated Chicago American Giants in a series for the Western Championship  (5-4)
1917 Chicago American Giants (West) defeated NY Lincoln Stars (East) in a series  (4-3)
1918 NY Lincoln Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago American Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1919 NY Lincoln Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions
Chicago American Giants were proclaimed Western Champions
1920 Brooklyn Royal Giants played Hilldale (PA) Daisies to a (2-2) tie in a series for the Eastern Championship
1921 Hilldale (PA) Daisies played Atlantic City Bacharach Giants to a (2-2) tie in a series for the Eastern Championship
1922 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants were proclaimed Eastern Champions

Note:  Rube Foster reportedly had these records:
1902; 51-3
1903; 59-1
1904; 51-4
1905; 50-4

Negro National League (NNL)  1920-1948

Year Negro National League Champs
1920 Chicago American Giants (31-15) awarded title - best regular season record
1921 Chicago American Giants (50-27) awarded title - best regular season record
1922 Chicago American Giants (36-23) awarded title - best regular season record
1923 Kansas City Monarchs (57-33) awarded title - best regular season record
1924 Kansas City Monarchs (60-27) awarded title - best regular season record
  NNL had split divisions from 1925-36, the 1st half winner to face the 2nd half for the title
1925 Kansas City Monarchs (31-12) defeated St. Louis Stars (38-12) in title series (4-3)
1926 Chicago American Giants (29-7) defeated Kansas City Monarchs (35-12) in title series (5-4)
1927 Chicago American Giants (32-14) defeated Birmingham Black Barons (29-15) in title series (4-0)
1928 St. Louis Stars (32-8) defeated Chicago American Giants (30-17) in title series (5-4)
1929 Kansas City Monarchs won both halves (28-11 and 34-6) and were declared champions
1930 St. Louis Stars (41-15) defeated Detroit Stars (24-7) in title series (4-3)
1931 St. Louis Stars won both halves (11-11 and 16-6) and were declared champions
1932 NO LEAGUE  (Some teams played in the East-West League and the Negro Southern League)
1933 Chicago-Cole’s American Giants (21-7) won the first half; 2nd half never completed, 
Chicago American Giants awarded title even though Pittsburgh Crawfords claimed title (20-8)
1934 Philadelphia Stars (11-4) defeated Chicago-Cole’s American Giants (17-6) in title series (4-3)
1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords (26-6) defeated New York Cubans (20-7) in title series (4-3)
1936 Pittsburgh Crawfords (36-24) awarded title with best over-all record; no playoffs were held
Washington Elite Giants won 1st half (14-10) and Pittsburgh Crawfords won 2nd half (20-9)
1937 Washington Homestead Grays (31-13) awarded title - best regular season record
1938 Washington Homestead Grays (27-10) awarded title - best regular season record
1939 Washington Homestead Grays (33-14) awarded title - best regular season record; 
Baltimore Elite Giants defeated Washington Homestead Grays for the Ruppert Cup Title
1940 Washington Homestead Grays (42-23) awarded title - best regular season record
1941 Washington Homestead Grays (17-9) defeated New York Cubans (4-2) in title series (2-0)
1942 Washington Homestead Grays (21-11) awarded title - best regular season record
1943 Washington Homestead Grays (44-15) awarded title - best regular season record
1944 Washington Homestead Grays (32-12) awarded title - best regular season record
1945 Washington Homestead Grays (32-13) awarded title - best regular season record
1946 Newark Eagles (47-16) awarded title - best regular season record
1947 New York Cubans (42-16) awarded title - best regular season record
1948 Washington Homestead Grays defeated Baltimore Elite Giants in title series (3-0)
1949 LEAGUE DISBANDED;    (The remaining Teams joined the NAL)
 

Eastern Colored League (ECL) 1923-27

Year Eastern Colored League Champs
1923 Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies (32-17) awarded title - best regular season record
1924 Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies (58-24) awarded title - best regular season record
1925 Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies (65-26) awarded title - best regular season record
1926 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (63-15) awarded title - best regular season record
1927 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (64-39) awarded title - best regular season record
1928 LEAGUE DISBANDED in mid-season:
Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (32-23) in first place when league disbanded
 

American Negro League (ANL) 1929-31

Replacement League for the Eastern Colored League

Year American Negro League Champs
1929 Baltimore Black Sox won both halves (24-11 and 25-10) and were declared champions
1930 Washington Homestead Gray’s defeated NY Lincoln Giants in a series (6-4)
1931 Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies (44-16) awarded title - best regular season record
 

Negro Southern League (NSL) 1931-32

Replacement League for the Negro National League

Year Negro Southern League Champ
1931 Nashville Elite Giants (22-11) awarded title - best regular season record
1932 Chicago American Giants (34-7) defeated Nashville Elite Giants (24-15) in title series (4-3)
 

East-West League (NEWL) 1932-35

Replacement League for the Negro National League

Year East-West League Champs
1932 Detroit Wolves (29-13) won the 2nd half and were awarded the title;
Baltimore Black Sox won the 1st half (20-9), then disbanded.
1933 Pittsburgh Crawfords (49-31) awarded title - best regular season record
1934 Pittsburgh Crawfords (64-22) awarded title - best regular season record
1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords (34-17) awarded title - best regular season record
 

Other Championship Proclamations

Year Other Championship Proclamations
1931 Homestead Grays barnstormed throughout the country during the season and went 136-17 on the year;
(Josh Gibson batted .623 and hit 75 HRs and Cool Papa Bell stole 175 bases)
1932 Pittsburgh Crawford’s also traveled around the country during the season and went 99-36 on the year;
(Their roster included Satchel Paige, Judy Johnson, Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell and Josh Gibson.
Satchel Paige went 32-7 on the year and Gibson batted .380 and hit 34 HRs)

 Notes: During subsequent barnstorming years, these stats were recorded: Josh Gibson hit 68 HRs (.467 Avg) in 1933, 69 HRs in 1934 and 84 HRs in 1936. Satchel Paige went 32-7 in 1932, 31-4 in 1933, 10-1 in 1934 and 24-3 in 1936.

Negro American League (NAL) 1936-61

Year Negro American League Champs
1936 Kansas City Monarchs (7-0) awarded title - best regular season record
1937 Kansas City Monarchs (19-8) defeated Chicago American Giants (18-8) in title series (4-1)
1938 Memphis Red Sox (21-4) and Atlanta Black Crackers (12-4) never completed title series;
The title was declared a No Contest, Memphis was ahead in the series (2-0)
1939 Kansas City Monarchs (25-13) defeated Cleveland Bears (22-4) in title series (3-2)
1940 Kansas City Monarchs (28-7) awarded title - best regular season record
1941 Kansas City Monarchs (24-6) awarded title - best regular season record
1942 Kansas City Monarchs (28-10) awarded title - best regular season record
NAL had split divisions from 1943-48, and 1952 the 1st half winner to face the 2nd half for the title
1943 Birmingham Black Barons (?-?) defeated Chicago American Giants (13-5) in title series (3-2)
1944 Birmingham Black Barons won both halves (24-9 and 24-13) and were declared champions
1945 Cleveland Buckeyes won both halves (31-9 and 22-7) and were declared champions
1946 Kansas City Monarchs won both halves (27-8 and 16-6) and were declared champions
1947 Cleveland Buckeyes won both halves (54-23 total) and were declared champions
1948 Birmingham Black Barons (38-14) defeated Kansas City Monarchs (19-7) in title series (4-3)
NAL had split divisions from 1949-51, the East winner to face the West winner for the title
1949 Baltimore Elite Giants (24-12 (East) defeated Chicago American Giants (23-15) (West) in title series (4-0)
1950 Kansas City Monarchs (52-21) (West) and Indianapolis Clowns (29-17) (East) never played the title series
1951 Indianapolis Clowns (53-26) (East) defeated Kansas City Monarchs (42-28) (West) in title series
1952 Indianapolis Clowns (26-18) defeated Birmingham Black Barons (23-15) in title series (7-5 )
1953 Kansas City Monarchs (56-21) awarded title - best regular season record
1954 Indianapolis Clowns (43-22) awarded title - best regular season record
1955 Kansas City Monarchs (?-?) awarded title - best regular season record
1956 Detroit Stars (?-?) awarded title - best regular season record
1957 Kansas City Monarchs (96-45) awarded title - best regular season record
1958 Kansas City Monarchs (?-?) awarded title - best regular season record
1959 no information available
1960 no information available
1961 no information available

 Note: The last Black World Series was played in 1948; the black leagues started to lose its good ball players to the Major Leagues, But the NAL stuck around until 1963. The NAL absorbed the remaining NNL teams after that league folded and the NAL was split into the Eastern and Western Divisions; with each division title decided by the winners of the two half seasons to meet for the Division title, and these two winners to meet for the NAL title. The scenario took place from 1949 through 1951 and then The NAL went to a split season in 1952; with the division title decided by the winners of the two half seasons to meet for the championship. The NAL then went to one division in 1953; with best over-all record determining the Champion. By 1959 the NAL had dropped down to 4 remaining teams; Kansas City Monarchs, Birmingham Black Barons, Detroit-New Orleans Stars and the Raleigh, NC Tigers. The league frequently did not keep records of the last remaining years from 1959-1961. Below are the results of the split seasons between 1949 and 1951.

 

1949
Baltimore Elite Giants defeated Chicago American Giants in title series 4-0
East 1st half - Baltimore Elite Giants (24-12)
East 2nd half - Baltimore Elite Giants (?-?)
Eastern title series - Baltimore Elite Giants won both halves
West 1st half - Kansas City Monarchs (?-?)
West 2nd half - Chicago American Giants (23-15)
Western title series - Kansas City refused to play Chicago because many players were missing, Chicago declared the western champion

1950
Kansas City Monarchs and Indianapolis Clowns never played the NAL title series
East 1st half - Indianapolis Clowns (29-17)
East 2nd half - New York Cubans (6-3)
Eastern title series - Indianapolis declared the eastern champ because NY did play the required number of games to win the 2nd half title; Indianapolis had best over-all record (47-38)
West 1st half - Kansas City Monarchs (30-11)
West 2nd half - Kansas City Monarchs (22-10)
Western title series - Kansas City Monarchs won both halves and best over-all record (52-21)

1951
Indianapolis Clowns defeated Kansas City Monarchs in title series
East 1st half - Indianapolis Clowns (29-12)
East 2nd half - Indianapolis Clowns (24-14)
Eastern title series - Indianapolis Clowns won both halves and best over-all record (53-26)
West 1st half - Kansas City Monarchs (28-15)
West 2nd half - Kansas City Monarchs (14-13)
Western title series - Kansas City Monarchs won both halves and best over-all record (42-28)

Negro World Series Results

Year East vs West
1896 Adrian (MI) Page Fence Giants (West) defeated Cuban X Giants (East) in a series (10-5)
1908 Philadelphia Giants (East) played Chicago Leland Giants (64-21) (West) to a (3-3) tie in a series
  MVP - Rube Foster, Philadelphia Giants
1909 Philadelphia Giants (East defeated Chicago Leland Giants (West) in a series (3-1)
  MVP - Bugs Hayman, Philadelphia Giants
1913 NY Lincoln Giants (108-12)  (East) defeated Chicago American Giants (West) in a series
1914 Chicago American Giants (West) defeated Brooklyn Royal Giants (East) in a series  (4-0)
1915 Chicago American Giants (West) played NY Lincoln Stars (East) to a (5-5) tie in a series
1917 Chicago American Giants (West) defeated NY Lincoln Stars (East) in a series  (4-3)
Year Negro National League (NNL) vs East
1922 Chicago American Giants (NNL) played Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (East) to a (2-2) tie in a series
Year Negro National League (NNL) vs Eastern Colored League (ECL)
1924 Kansas City Monarchs (NNL) defeated Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies (ECL);  (5-4)
  MVP - Jose Mendez, Kansas City Monarchs
1925 Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies (ECL) defeated Kansas City Monarchs (NNL);  (5-1)
 MVP - Rube Currie, Philadelphia Hilldale Daisies
1926 Chicago American Giants (NNL) defeated Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (ECL);  (5-3)
 MVP - Bill Foster, Chicago American Giants
1927 Chicago American Giants (NNL) defeated Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (ECL);  (5-3)
 MVP - Steel Arm Davis, Chicago American Giants
1928 SERIES DISBANDED when the ECL folds during 1928 season
Year Negro National League vs Negro American League
1942 Kansas City Monarchs (NAL) defeated Washington Homestead Grays (NNL);  (4-1)
 MVP - Satchel Paige, Kansas City Monarchs
1943 Washington Homestead Grays (NNL) defeated Birmingham Black Barons (NAL);  (5-3)
 MVP - Ray Brown, Washington Homestead Grays
1944 Washington Homestead Grays (NNL) defeated Birmingham Black Barons (NAL);  (4-1)
 MVP - Roy Welmaker, Washington Homestead Grays
1945 Cleveland Buckeyes (NAL) defeated Washington Homestead Grays (NNL);  (4-0)
 MVP - Quincy Trouppe, Cleveland Buckeyes
1946 Newark Eagles (NNL) defeated Kansas City Monarch (NAL);  (4-3)
 MVP - Monte Irvin, Newark Eagles
1947 New York Cubans (NNL) defeated Cleveland Buckeyes (NAL);  (4-2)
 MVP - Orestos Minoso, New York Cubans
1948 Washington Homestead Grays (NNL) defeated Birmingham Black Barons (NAL);  (4-1)
 MVP - none awarded
1949 SERIES DISBANDED when the NNL folds

 

Annual Statistical Leaders

Batting

Year Player, Team HR/Avg League Leader
1903 Jap Payne, Cuban X Giants 0.344 West
1906 Pete Hill, Philadelphia Giants 0.452 East
1909 Pete Duncan, Philadelphia Giants 0.500 East
Walter Bell, Chicago Leland Giants 0.383 West
1910 Luis Bustamante, Philadelphia Stars 0.373 East
Pete Hill, Chi-American Giants 0.457 West
1911 George Wright, NY Lincoln Giants 0.417 East
Jimmie Lyons, Chi-American Giants 0.375 West
1912 Louis Santop, NY Lincoln Giants 0.412 East
Kiko Magrinat, Cuban Stars 0.440 West
1913 Home Run Johnson, NY Lincoln Giants 0.387 East
Joe Hewitt, St. Louis Giants 0.567 West
Cristobal Torriente, Cuban Stars 3 West
1914 Louis Santop, NY Lincoln Giants 0.517 East
Jules Thomas, Brooklyn Royal Giants 2 East
George Shively, Indianapolis ABCs 0.372 West
Ben Taylor, Indianapolis ABCs 7 West
1915 Bill Pierce and Bill Kindle NY Lincoln Stars 0.370 East
Manuel Villa, Cuban Stars 0.422 West
Bingo Demoss, Indianapolis ABCs 2 West
1916 Zack Pettus, NY Lincoln Giants 0.315 East
Pop Lloyd, Chi-American Giants 0.373 West
1917 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 0.474 East
George Shively, Indianapolis ABCs 0.352 West
1918 Pelayo Chacon, Cuban Stars 0.542 East
Oscar Charleston, Indianapolis ABCs 0.429 West
1919 Todd Allen, NY Lincoln Giants 0.434 East
Pete Hill, Detroit Stars 0.368 West
1920 Edgar Wesley, Detroit Stars 13 NNL
Jimmy Lyons, Detroit Stars 0.399 NNL
Jesse Barbour, Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 0.409 East
1921 Oscar Charleston, St. Louis Giants 17 NNL
Charles Blackwell, St. Louis Giants 0.484 NNL
Louis Santop, Philadelphia Hilldales 8 East
Dick Lundy, A.C. Bacharach Giants 0.361 East
1922 Oscar Charleston, Indianapolis ABC’s 20 NNL
Heavy Johnson, K.C. Monarchs 0.453 NNL
Alejandro Oms, Cuban Stars 2 East
Louis Santop, Philadelphia Hilldales 0.404 East
1923 Heavy Johnson, K.C. Monarchs 20 NNL
George Scales, St. Louis Stars 0.433 NNL
Charlie Mason, A.C. Bacharach Giants 12 ECL
Biz Mackey, Philadelphia Hilldales 0.441 ECL
1924 Turkey Stearns, Detroit Stars 10 NNL
Dobie Moore, K.C. Monarchs 10 NNL
Bullet Joe Rogan, K.C. Monarchs 0.466 NNL
Oscar Charleston, Harrisburg. Giants 14 ECL
John Beckwith, Baltimore Black Sox 0.382 ECL
1925 Edgar Wesley, Detroit Stars 18 NNL
Turkey Stearns, Detroit Stars 18 NNL
Mule Suttles, St. Louis Stars 0.428 NNL
John Beckwith, Baltimore Black Sox 24 ECL
Jud Wilson, Harrisburg Giants 0.441 ECL
1926 Mule Suttles, St. Louis Stars 27 NNL
Mule Suttles, St. Louis Stars 0.498 NNL
Martin Dihigo, Cuban Stars 11 ECL
Jud Wilson, Harrisburg Giants 0.351 ECL
1927 Willie Wells, St. Louis Stars 23 NNL
Red Parnell, Birm. Black Barons 0.429 NNL
Chino Smith, N.Y. Lincoln Giants 11 ECL
Chino Smith, N.Y. Lincoln Giants 0.435 ECL
1928 Turkey Stearns, Detroit Stars 24 NNL
Pythias Russ, Chi. American Giants 0.405 NNL
Luther Farrell, A.C. Bacharach Giants 13 ECL
Pop Lloyd, N.Y. Lincoln Giants 0.563 ECL
1929 Willie Wells, St. Louis Stars 27 NNL
Clarence Smith, St. Louis Stars 0.390 NNL
Chino Smith, N.Y. Lincoln Giants 23 ANL
Chino Smith, N.Y. Lincoln Giants 0.464 ANL
1930 Willie Wells, St. Louis Stars 15 NNL
Mule Suttles, St. Louis Stars 0.408 NNL
John Beckwith, Baltimore Black Sox 19 ANL
Chino Smith, N.Y. Lincoln Giants 0.492 ANL
1931 Turkey Stearns, Detroit-Kansas City-Chicago 11 NNL
Lou Dials, Detroit Stars 0.382 NNL
John Beckwith, Baltimore Black Sox 16 ANL
Biz Mackey, Philadelphia Hilldales 0.359 ANL
Larry Brown, Memphis Red Sox 2 NSL
George McAllister, Birmingham Black Barons 0.373 NSL
1932 Josh Gibson, Pittsburgh Crawfords 10 NEWL
Oscar Charleston, Pittsburgh Crawfords 10 NEWL
Cool Papa Bell, Detroit Wolves 0.384 NEWL
Turkey Stearns, Chic-American Giants 7 NSL
Willie Scott, Indianapolis 0.394 NSL
1933 Josh Gibson, Pittsburgh Crawfords 23 NNL
Oscar Charleston, Pittsburgh Crawfords 0.372 NNL
1934 Josh Gibson, Pittsburgh Crawfords 16 NNL
Ray Dandridge, Newark Eagles 0.408 NNL
1935 Josh Gibson, Pittsburgh Crawfords 16 NNL
Leroy Morney, Nashville Elite Giants 0.419 NNL
1936 Josh Gibson, Pittsburgh Crawfords 20 NNL
Josh Gibson, Pittsburgh Crawfords 0.457 NNL
1937 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 21 NNL
Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 0.462 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 9 NAL
Speed Whatley, K.C. Monarchs 0.428 NAL
1938 Mule Suttles, Newark Eagles 14 NNL
Willie Wells, Newark Eagles 0.404 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 6 NAL
Pep Young, K.C. Monarchs 0.400 NAL
1939 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 17 NNL
Ed Stone, Newark Eagles 0.423 NNL
Ed Mayweatjer, St. Louis Stars 3 NAL
Turkey Stearns, K.C. Monarchs 0.453 NAL
1940 Buck Leonard, Homestead Grays 11 NNL
Leonard Pearson, Newark Eagles 0.396 NNL
Dan Reeves, Chicago American Giants 7 NAL
Jesse Willis, K.C. Monarchs 0.430 NAL
1941 Buck Leonard, Homestead Grays 9 NNL
Monty Irvin, Newark Eagles 0.382 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 2 NAL
Lyman Bostock, Sr., K.C. Monarchs 0.441 NAL
1942 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 14 NNL
Larry Doby, Newark Eagles 0.427 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 9 NAL
Bonnie Serrell, K.C. Monarchs 0.406 NAL
1943 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 16 NNL
Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 0.517 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 6 NAL
Sam Jethroe, Cleveland Buckeyes 0.353 NAL
1944 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 17 NNL
Jim West, Philadelphia Stars 0.447 NNL
Alex Radcliff, Ind-Cinn Clowns 7 NAL
Sam Jethroe, Cleveland Buckeyes 0.353 NAL
1945 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 11 NNL
Ed Stone, Homestead Grays 0.430 NNL
Jackie Robinson, Cincinnati Clowns 7 NAL
Sam Jethroe, Cleveland Buckeyes 0.393 NAL
1946 Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays 17 NNL
Frank Austin, Philadelphia Stars 0.454 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 13 NAL
Buck O’Neil, K.C.  Monarchs 0.350 NAL
1947 Larry Doby, Newark Eagles 14 NNL
Monte Irvin, Newark Eagles 14 NNL
Luis Marquez, Homestead Grays 0.417 NNL
Bob Boyd, Memphis Red Sox 4 NAL
John Ritchey, Birm. Black Barons 0.381 NAL
1948 Luke Easter, Homestead Grays 13 NNL
Buck Leonard, Homestead Grays 13 NNL
Buck Leonard, Homestead Grays 0.395 NNL
Willard Brown, K.C. Monarchs 18 NAL
Artie Wilson, Birm. Black Barons 0.402 NAL
1949 Johnny Davis, Houston Eagles 14 NAL
Leonard Pigg, Indianapolis Clowns 0.386 NAL
1950 Sam Hairston, Indianapolis Clowns 17 NAL
Sam Hairston, Indianapolis Clowns 0.424 NAL
1951 Len Williams, Indianapolis Clowns 14 NAL
Henry Kimbro, Baltimore Elite Giants 0.366 NAL
1952 Sherman Williams, Memphis Red Sox 20 NAL
Roy Williams, Chi. American Giants 0.347 NAL
1953 Ernest Johnson, Kansas City Monarchs 11 NAL
Ray Neil, Indianapolis Clowns 0.397 NAL
1954 Bill Washington, Memphis Red Sox 18 NAL
John Williams, Indianapolis Clowns 0.388 NAL
1955 ??? - NAL
1956 Billy Joe Moore, Birm. Black Barons 0.373 NAL
1957 Jim Banks, Memphis Red Sox 0.434 NAL
1958 John Williams, Birm. Black Barons 0.357 NAL
1959 ??? - NAL
1960 ??? - NAL
1961 ??? - NAL
1962 ??? - NAL
1963

LEAGUE DISBANDED

 - NAL

 

Pitching

Year Player, Team Record League Leader
1906 Rube Foster, Philadelphia Giants 6- 0 East
1909 Bugs Hayman, Philadelphia Giants 2 - 0 East
Pat Dougherty, Chicago Leland Giants 4- 1 West
1910 Frank Wickware, Chicago Leland Giants 6- 0 West
1911 Dick Redding, Philadelphia Giants 5- 1 East
Ben Taylor, St. Louis Giants 4- 0 West
1912 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 3- 2 East
Rube Foster, Chi-American Giants 5- 2 West
1913 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 12- 5 East
Pat Dougherty, Chicago American Giants 2- 0 West
1914 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 12-2 East
Pastor Pareda, Cuban Stars 11- 5 West
1915 Dick Redding, NY Lincoln Stars 6- 2 East
Dizzy Sismukes, Brooklyn Royal Giants 17- 8 West
1916 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 5- 6 East
John Donaldson, All-Nations of Kansas City 5- 1 West
1917 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 9- 1 East
Dick Redding, Chicago American Giants 15-11 West
1918 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 7- 2 East
Dick Whitworth, Chicago American Giants 6- 2 West
1919 Smoky Joe Williams, NY Lincoln Giants 6- 3 East
Sam Crawford, Chicago American Giants 6- 1 West
1920 Bill Gatewood, St. Louis Giants 17-  5 NNL
Dick Redding, A.C. Bacharach Giants 8- 7 East
1921 Bill Drake, St. Louis Giants 22-11 NNL
Dick Redding, A.C. Bacharach Giants 15-11 East
1922 Bullet Joe Rogan, K.C. Monarchs 20-11 NNL
Dick Redding, A.C. Bacharach Giants 9- 6 East
1923 Rube Currie, Detroit Stars 23-11 NNL
Nip Winters, Philadelphia Hilldales 10-  3 ECL
1924 Bullet Joe Rogan, K.C. Monarchs 19-  5 NNL
Nip Winters, Philadelphia Hilldales 27-  4 ECL
1925 Bullet Joe Rogan, K.C. Monarchs 22-  2 NNL
Nip Winters, Philadelphia Hilldales 21-13 ECL
1926 William Bell, K.C. Monarchs 19-  4 NNL
Red Grier, Philadelphia Hilldales 25-12 ECL
1927 Bill Foster, Chi. American Giants 21-  3 NNL
Red Farrell, A.C. Bacharach Giants 20-11 ECL
1928 Ted Trent, St. Louis Stars 21-  2 NNL
Laymon Yokeley, Baltimore Black Sox 15-  7 ECL
1929 John Williams, St. Louis Stars 19- 7 NNL
Connie Rector, New York Lincoln Giants 20- 2 ANL
1930 Eggie Hensley, St. Louis Stars 18- 7 NNL
Bill Holland, New York Black Yankees 12- 1 ANL
1931 Hooks Mitchell, Indianapolis ABCs 14- 3 NNL
Bill Foster, Homestead Grays 12- 2 ANL
1932 Satchel Paige, Pittsburgh Crawfords 21-  9 NEWL
Bill Foster, Chi. American Giants 19-  8 NSL
1933 Bertrum Hunter, Chi. American Giants 17- 3 NNL
1934 Stuart Slim Jones, Philadelphia Stars 21- 7 NNL
1935 Leroy Matlock, Pittsburgh Crawfords 17-  0 NNL
1936 Satchel Paige, Pittsburgh Crawfords 11- 3 NNL
1937 Sad Sam Thompson, Newark Eagles 11- 5 NNL
Hilton Smith, K.C. Monarchs   9-  4 NAL
1938 Ray Brown, Homestead Grays 15-  0 NNL
Hilton Smith, K.C. Monarchs 12-  2 NAL
1939 Leon Day, Newark Eagles 16-  7 NNL
Smoky Owens, K.C. Monarchs 14-  1 NAL
1940 Ray Brown, Homestead Grays 20-  5 NNL
Frank Bradley, K.C. Monarchs   6-  1 NAL
1941 Dave Barnhill, New York Cubans 13- 8 NNL
Hilton Smith, K.C. Monarchs 10- 1 NAL
1942 Bill Byrd, Baltimore Elite Giants 15- 6 NNL
Eugene Bremer, K.C. Monarchs 10- 3 NAL
1943 John Wright, Homestead Grays 18- 5 NNL
Chet Brewer, Cleveland Buckeyes 10- 3 NAL
Booker McDonald, K.C. Monarchs 10- 1 NAL
1944 Ray Brown, Homestead Grays 12- 3 NNL
Alfred Saylor, Birm. Black Barons 14- 5 NAL
1945 Roy Welmaker, Homestead Grays 10- 2 NNL
Gentry Jessup, Chi. American Giants 15-10 NAL
1946 Rufus Lewis, Newark Eagles 15-  3 NNL
Connie Johnson, K.C. Monarchs   9- 3 NAL
Hilton Smith, K.C. Monarchs   9- 2 NAL
1947 Max Manning, Newark Eagles 15-  6 NNL
James LaMarque, K.C. Monarchs 12- 2 NAL
1948 Bill Byrd, Baltimore Elite Giants 11- 6 NNL
James LaMarque, K.C. Monarchs 15-  5 NAL
1949 Gene Richardson, K.C. Monarchs 14-  4 NAL
1950 Bill Powell, Birm. Black Barons 15-  4 NAL
1951 Jehosie Heard, New Orleans 17-  6 NAL
1952 Frank Thompson, Birm. Black Barons 13-  6 NAL
1953 John Jackson, K.C. Monarchs 15-  3 NAL
1954 Isiah Harris, Memphis Red Sox 13-  5 NAL
1955 ??? - NAL
1956 ??? - NAL
1957 ??? - NAL
1958 ??? - NAL
1959 ??? - NAL
1960 ??? - NAL
1961 ??? - NAL
1962 ??? - NAL
1963 LEAGUE DISBANDED - NAL

 

The East-West All Star Game (1933 - 1961)

There was an annual All-Star game that attracted a lot of media attention, sometimes more than the World Series itself; these games were played from 1933-1961 and pitted the Eastern All-Stars versus the Western All-Stars. Fans picked the players regardless of their league affiliation, etc.  Satchel Paige was the Winning Pitcher and MVP for the winning West team in the last Negro Baseball Game ever played in 1961.

 

Year Winner - Loser Score Highlight
1933 West - East 11 - 7 Willy Foster (WP)
1934 East - West 1 - 0 Satchel Paige (WP)
1935 West - East 11 - 8 Josh Gibson (4 Hits)
1936 East - West 10 - 2 Cool Papa Bell (3 Hits)
1937 East - West 7 - 2 Bill Wright (3 Hits)
1938 West - East 5 - 4 Hilton Smith (WP)
1939 West - East 4 - 2 Neil Robinson (3 Hits)
1940 East - West 11 - 0 Buck Leonard (2 Hits, 2 Runs)
1941 East - West 8 - 3 Monte Irvin (2 Hits)
1942 East - West 5 - 2 Dan Wilson (2 Hits, 3 Runs)
1943 West - East 2 - 1 Satchel Paige (WP)
1944 West - East 7 - 4 Ray Dandridge (3 Hits) losing team
1945 West - East 9 - 6 Alex Radcliff (2 Hits, 2 Runs)
1946 (1) East - West 5 - 3 Howard Esterling (3 Hits)
1946 (2) West - East 4 - 1 Willie Grace (3 Hits)
1947 East - West 5 - 2 Goose Tatum (2 Hits)
1948 West - East 3 - 0 Willard Brown (2 Hits)
1949 East - West 4 - 0 Pedro Diaz (3 Hits)
1950 West - East 5 - 3 Jesse Douglas (3 Hits)
1951 East - West 3 - 1 no info available
1952 West - East 7 - 3 no info available
1953 West - East 5 - 1 no info available
1954 West - East 8 - 4 no info available
1955 West - East 2 - 0 no info available
1956 ? ? no info available
1957 West - East 8 - 5 no info available
1958 East - West ? no info available
1959 West - East 8 - 7 Ernie Harris (scored winning run)
1960 ? ? no info available
1961 West - East W - L Satchel Paige (WP and MVP)

 

Negro League Legends

Official League statistics only

Career Batting Yrs ABs Hits HRs Avg.
Jud Wilson 1922-45 4188 1481 94 0.354
John Beckwith 1916-35 2875 767 80 0.352
Josh Gibson 1930-45 2875 1010 224 0.351
Bullet Joe Rogan 1920-38 2039 709 62 0.348
Mules Suttles 1923-44 3230 1103 237 0.341
Oscar Charleston 1914-41 4972 1689 169 0.340
John Henry Pop Lloyd 1906-31 2881 970 27 0.337
Fats Jenkins 1920-38 2526 852 14 0.337
Cristobal Torriente 1913-32 2548 856 53 0.336
Buck Leonard 1933-48 2325 779 79 0.335
Turkey Stearns 1923-40 3937 1308 197 0.332
James Cool Papa Bell 1922-46 4754 1561 73 0.328
Willie Wells 1924-48 3981 1306 139 0.328
Biz Mackey 1920-47 4292 1383 50 0.322
Others
Chino Smith 1926-30 694 301 41 0.434
Jackie Robinson 1945 163 63 5 0.387
Larry Doby 1942-47 581 223 29 0.384
Heavy Johnson 1922-30 1347 489 49 0.363
Dobie Moore 1920-26 1393 509 41 0.365
Willard Brown 1934-48 1613 560 53 0.347
Monte Irvin 1938-48 1055 364 33 0.345
Wild Bill Wright 1932-45 908 305 21 0.336
Sam Jethroe 1942-48 1331 453 20 0.340
Dick Lundy 1916-39 2017 654 47 0.324
Ben Taylor 1909-29 2144 695 25 0.324
Ray Dandridge 1933-45 878 283 5 0.322
Louis Santop 1909-26 735 236 14 0.321
Roy Campanella 1938-45 618 197 15 0.319
Edgar Wesley 1917-32 1881 594 85 0.318
George Scales 1921-46 2578 793 68 0.308
Pete Hill 1904-25 1025 316 16 0.308
Sammy Hughes 1931-46 1105 322 17 0.300
Martin Dihigo 1923-45 2034 609 69 0.299
Buck O'Neil 1937-50 1358 397 12 0.292
Judy Johnson 1920-37 3853 1100 19 0.285
Elwood Bingo DeMoss 1910-29 1898 449 4 0.236
Grant HR Johnson 1895-16 no  info available

 

Career Pitching Yrs W L
Bullet Joe Rogan 1920-38 151 65
Satchel Paige 1927-47 147 92
Ray Brown 1931-45 146 55
Bill Foster 1924-39 146 66
William Bell 1923-36 141 57
Bill Byrd 1931-48 135 93
Bill Holland 1920-40 127 99
Nip Winters 1922-32 126 74
Andy Cooper 1921-38 121 54
Smoky Joe Williams 1910-32 107 57
Others
Webster McDonald 1925-40 93 60
Ted Trent 1927-39 93 49
Leon Day 1934-46 68 30
Hilton Smith 1933-48 69 33
Martin Dihigo 1924-45 29 26
Rube Foster 1904-14 28 15

 

Note: Some Researchers Projections on these players if Baseball wasn’t segregated and black players competed in the Major Leagues their whole careers would be as such: Satchel Page 602 wins - 244 losses;  Josh Gibson 670 Home Runs;  Pop Lloyd 4005 Hits, .366 career average.  The top home run hitters in Negro League History were:

Mules Suttles - 237
Josh Gibson - 224
Turkey Stearns - 197
Oscar Charleston - 169
Willie Wells - 138

Annual Awards (Mythical, done by a Negro League Historian)

Year MVP Award (Avg-HRs) Cy Young Award (W-L)
1909 Luis Bustamante Jose Mendez, 44-2 (overall)
1910 Pete Hill, .457 Frank Wickware, 6-0
1911 Jimmy Lyons, .417 Dick Redding, 5-1
1912 Louis Santop, .412 Rube Foster, 5-2
1913 Home Run Johnson, .382 Smoky Joe Williams, 12-5
1914 Louis Santop, .517 Pastor Pareda, 11-5
1915 Manuel Villa, .422 Dizzy Sismukes, 17-8
1916 Pop Lloyd, .373 John Donaldson, 5-1
1917 Smoky Joe Williams, .474 Smoky Joe Williams, 9-1
1918 Oscar Charleston, .429 Smoky Joe Williams, 7-2
1919 Pete Hill, .368 Smoky Joe Williams, 6-3
1920 Jimmy Lyons, .399 Bill Gatewood, 17-5
1921 Oscar Charleston, .434-17 Plunk Drake, 20-10
1922 Oscar Charleston, .320-20 Bullet Joe Rogan, 13-6
1923 Cristobal Torriente, .412 Rube Currie, 12-7
1924 Dobie Moore, .409-10 Bullet Joe Rogan, 19-5
1925 Oscar Charleston, .440-20 Bullet Joe Rogan, 12-2
1926 Mule Suttles, .498-27 Nip Winters, 15-5
1927 Willie Wells, 23 HRs Bill Foster, 21-3
1928 Pop Lloyd, .563-11 Ted Trent, 21-2
1929 Chino Smith, .464-20 Connie Rector, 20-2
1930 John Beckwith, .490-19 Ted Trent, 11-2
1931 Mule Suttles, .333 Bill Foster, 12-2
1932 Cool Papa Bell, .384 Bill Foster, 15-8
1933 Oscar Charleston, .372-10 Satchel Paige, 13-3
1934 Josh Gibson, .315-16 Slim Jones, 22-3
1935 Turkey Stearns, .420 Leroy Matlock, 18-0
1936 Josh Gibson, .457-20 Satchel Paige, 11-3
1937 Josh Gibson, .462-21 Leon Day, 6-0
1938 Willie Wells, .404 Ray Brown, 7-0
1939 Buck Leonard, .403 Leon Day, 16-7
1940 Buck Leonard, .349-11 Ray Brown, 19-2
1941 Monte Irvin, .382-6 Hilton Smith, 10-0
1942 Josh Gibson, .426-20 Hilton Smith, 4-4
1943 Josh Gibson, .517-22 Eugene Bremer, 8-2 
1944 Eugene Benson, .340 Bill Byrd, 10-7
1945 Sam Jethroe, .393 Eugene Bremer, 8-4
1946 Willard Brown, .348-13 Leon Day, 13-4
1947 Buck Leonard, .410 Luis Tiant, Sr.,10-0 
1948 Buck Leonard, .395-13 Bill Byrd, 11-6
1949 Buck O'Neil, .330  Bill Byrd, 12-3
1950 Sam Hairston, .424-17 Bill Powell, 15-6

 

The All Time Negro League Team

Pos First Team (Avg, HRs) Second Team (Avg, HRs)
1B Mules Suttles (.341, 237 HRs) Buck Leanard (.335, 79 HRs)
2B Sam Hughes (.300, 17 HRs) Bingo DeMoss (.236, 4 HRs)
SS Willie Wells (.328, 139 HRs) Pop Lloyd (.337, 27 HRs)
3B Jud Wilson (.354, 94 HRs) Ray Dandridge (.322, 5 HRs)
OF Oscar Charleston (.340, 169 HRs) Cristobal Torriente (.336, 53 HRs)
OF Turkey Stearns (.332, 197 HRs) Pete Hill (.308, 16 HRs)
OF Cool Papa Bell (.328, 73 HRs) Willard Brown (.347, 53 HRs)
C Josh Gibson (.351, 224 HRs) Biz Mackey (.322, 50 HRs)
RHP Satchel Paige (W-L, 147-92) Bullet Joe Rogan (W-L, 151-65)
RHP Smoky Joe Williams (W-L, 107-57) Ray Brown (W-L, 146-55)
LHP Bill Foster (W-L, 146-66) Andy Cooper (W-L, 121-54)
UP Rube Foster (W-L, 28-15) Leon Day (W-L, 68-30)
UT John Beckwith (.352, 80 HRs) Martin Dihigo (.299, 69 HRs)
UT Monte Irvin (.345, 33 HRs) Louis Santop (.321, 14 HRs)
UT Chino Smith (.434, 41 HRs) Judy Johnson (.285, 19 HRs)
UT Fats Jenkins (.337, 14 HRs) Bill Wright (.336, 21 HRs)
UT Dobie Moore (.365, 41 HRs) Sam Jethroe (.340, 20 HRs)
UT Heavy Johnson (.363, 49 HRs) Dick Lundy (.324, 47 HRs)
UT Ben Taylor (.324, 25 HRs) Roy Campanella (.319, 15 HRs)
UT Piper Davis (.309, 18 HRs) Buck O'Neil (.292, 12 HRs)

 

   

 

Other Black Baseball Links:

"Official" Black Baseball History Web Site

DMD's "The Forgotten League Web Site" 

Negro League Baseball Player's Association 

Extinct Sports Leagues Home Page

©1998 Steve Dimitry, all rights reserved.

Email: sdimitry@verizon.net