The average baseball fan can probably name a few Negro league teams. The Kansas City Monarchs, the Homestead Grays, and Indianapolis Clowns are the most well known, but dozens of cities had them, including Cincinnati.
As soon as organized baseball started taking shape in the late 1800s, so did the ridiculous notion that the leagues being formed be whites-only. That didn’t stop African Americans, and other players of color, from forming teams. However, instead of playing in organized leagues like the whites-only teams, the Negro teams took to barnstorming or simply traveling from city to city, playing local and regional opponents.
The first organized Negro league didn’t appear until 1920, though there was one brief attempt to set one up in 1887, two years after the formation in Trenton, New Jersey of the Cuban Giants, the first professional Negro team.
Cincinnati Browns
The National Colored Base Ball League (base and ball two words on purpose), which did not include the Giants, lasted only two weeks. One of the cities represented, though, was Cincinnati which had a team called the Browns. That squad never played a league game but continued as a barnstorming team.
Cincinnati Cuban Stars
A professional Negro league team wouldn’t call Cincinnati home until 1921 when the Cuban Stars (West), members of the Negro National League, arrived in the Queen City. There was another similarly named team known as the Cuban Stars (East). The West team changed its name to the Cincinnati Stars and spent one season playing in the Reds' ballpark, Redland Field, before returning to their previous status as a road team.
1920 Cuban Stars (West) who became the Cincinnati Stars in 1921
Cincinnati Tigers
In 1934, Olympic track star DeHart Hubbard formed the Cincinnati Tigers using many players from the semi-pro club Excelsior, which Hubbard had also run. The Tigers became a minor league affiliate of the powerful Homestead Grays, who were based in Pittsburgh. Playing home games at Crosley Field, the team joined the Negro American League in 1937 for that circuit's inaugural season. They finished in second place, seven games behind the league champion Kansas City Monarchs. Despite the strong showing, and crowds of up to 15,000, the team folded at the end of that campaign.
Cincinnati Buckeyes
In 1942, Cincinnati was again represented in the Negro National League with the formation of the Buckeyes. The team played seven home games in Cincinnati and nine in Cleveland, making them the Cincinnati-Cleveland Buckeyes. In 1943, Cleveland became their sole home.
Cincinnati Clowns
However, that same year a team known as the Ethiopian Clowns, a barnstorming team formed in the late 1920s in Florida as the Miami Giants, moved into Crosley Field, joined the Negor American League, and became the Cincinnati Clowns. The team’s reputation for silly antics and top-notch baseball skills was well known. A 1942 newspaper article stated: “The Ethiopian Clowns, who appear in clown suits only during their preliminary workout...display one of the flashiest teams in the world.”
The Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns
That same year, the Clowns played, and won, exhibition games against white-only minor league teams including the Baltimore Orioles, Minneapolis Millers, and Newark Bears, as well as the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns from Major League Baseball.
Starting in 1944, the team split time between Cincinnati and Indianapolis, before permanently settling in Indy for the 1947 season, the Nego American League’s last as a major league. When the league dissolved in 1955, The Clowns became a barnstorming team and played until 1962.
Cincinnati Manggrums
Another Cincinnati Negro baseball team of note was the semi-pro Cincinnati Manggrums, sponsored by Walnut Hills drugstore owner William Manggrum. They played in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The team was managed by Tom “Lefty” McCracken, who also played and was one of the team’s leading hitters. He had also played in the Negro American League. The team also featured a talented second baseman named Tex Conley as well as slugging outfielder Glen Smith. Pitching aces included “Speedball” Davis and Dave McClean.
The Cincinnati Manggrums
In 1947, the color barrier was finally broken, first by Jackie Robinson in the National League, then, 11 weeks later, by Larry Doby in the American League. As more Major League teams signed Black and Latin ballplayers, the quality of the Negro Leagues quickly declined. The first African-American player signed by the Reds was Chuck Harmon, who made his Major League debut on April 17, 1954, against the Braves in Milwaukee’s County Stadium.
161 comments
Julie Leach
A LIFE-CHANGING LOTTERY WIN THROUGH LORD BUBUZA’S GUIDANCE
I can never stop thanking Lord Bubuza for the help I received. I love playing lottery games, but I had never won before. My bills were piling up, and my job was not enough to cover my expenses.
I searched online for ways to improve my life and came across testimonials from people who testified that they had won big after receiving lottery numbers from Lord Bubuza. I contacted him through WhatsApp at +1 (365) 808 5313 and explained that I wanted to win the Powerball lottery. He explained what I needed to do before providing lottery numbers. I followed his instructions carefully, and after the spell was cast, he gave me numbers and explained where and how to play.
I was amazed when I won $310,500,000 after playing the numbers he gave me. This experience changed my life, Lord Bubuza is a God on Earth. Contact him for help too by
email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com
WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313. ,…
William Kruger
Before discovering Lord Bubuza, I was struggling badly and had even become homeless, with no idea how I would turn my life around for better. Friends and family were tired of me begging for help all the me, I became very concerned of my situation so I did a research for a better life online and I came across testimonials about lord Bubuza lottery spell work and I decided to contact him on WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 for help. After speaking with him, I provided his requirement to cast the lottery spell and he performed the spell casting and gave me lottery numbers to play. I followed his instructions and behold I won a $169 million Powerball jackpot ($168,500,000). I am overwhelmed and grateful for the incredible change in my circumstances with lord Bubuza help. This man is a Genius and also a God on Earth to save us from been poor, Join me and thank him or Contact him for help via WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 or email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com
William Kruger
Before discovering Lord Bubuza, I was struggling badly and had even become homeless, with no idea how I would turn my life around for better. Friends and family were tired of me begging for help all the me, I became very concerned of my situation so I did a research for a better life online and I came across testimonials about lord Bubuza lottery spell work and I decided to contact him on WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 for help. After speaking with him, I provided his requirement to cast the lottery spell and he performed the spell casting and gave me lottery numbers to play. I followed his instructions and behold I won a $169 million Powerball jackpot ($168,500,000). I am overwhelmed and grateful for the incredible change in my circumstances with lord Bubuza help. This man is a Genius and also a God on Earth to save us from been poor, Join me and thank him or Contact him for help via WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 or email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com …..
William Kruger
Before discovering Lord Bubuza, I was struggling badly and had even become homeless, with no idea how I would turn my life around for better. Friends and family were tired of me begging for help all the me, I became very concerned of my situation so I did a research for a better life online and I came across testimonials about lord Bubuza lottery spell work and I decided to contact him on WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 for help. After speaking with him, I provided his requirement to cast the lottery spell and he performed the spell casting and gave me lottery numbers to play. I followed his instructions and behold I won a $169 million Powerball jackpot ($168,500,000). I am overwhelmed and grateful for the incredible change in my circumstances with lord Bubuza help. This man is a Genius and also a God on Earth to save us from been poor, Join me and thank him or Contact him for help via WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313 or email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com ….
Becca Wood
I’m wishing good fortune to everyone who comes across this comment! I went bankrupt last year due to failed business ideas. I used to enjoy playing the lottery for fun but as my situation worsened financially, I sought help to win big this time and found a man called MEDUZA, who has assisted numerous individuals worldwide with their financial issues. This man prepared a powerful spell for me that enabled him to get the secrete lucky numbers for me, I played the game with the numbers and to my astonishment, I discovered that I had won $259 million Jackpot after 2 weeks just has he said. Today, I’m now free of debt and I own different investments globally. Without Meduza, I wouldn’t have made it through the tough times I experienced last year. Truly, MEDUZA is a divine presence among us. If you are currently struggling in aspect of your life reach out to MEDUZA through the below information’s.
Whats-App: +1 807-798-3042
Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
Website: lordmeduzatemple.com
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.