Tombstone
Formed: February 20-21, 1937
Disbanded: 1962*
*In 1949, the NAL absorbed four teams from the Negro National League II and continued on as a minor league until 1962.
First Games: May 8, 1937 (Chicago American Giants @ Memphis Red Sox, Detroit Stars @ Cincinnati Tigers, Kansas City Monarchs @ Birmingham Black Barons)1Formation of Negro American League, Center for Negro League Baseball Research
Final Game: August 26, 1962 (East 5 vs. West 2, All-Star Game @ Kansas City, MO)2Doron Goldman, “1933-1962: The Business Meetings of Negro League Baseball,” Society For American Baseball Research
Seasons: 26
States: AL, FL,. GA. IL. LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NY, OH, PA, TX
Leadership
Trophy Case
Background
The Negro American League (NAL) was formed in 1937. This gave the country two major league-level Negro leagues. The second Negro National League (NNL II) had formed back in 1933. Starting in 1948, the Negro World Series was revived, this time pitting the winner of the NAL against the NNL II. The original series, played between 1924 and 1927, was contested between the original Negro National League and the Eastern Colored League.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball (MLB). As more black ball players were signed to MLB rosters, the NAL and NNL II began to suffer. The last major league season for both circuits was 1948. The NAL continued on but was designated a minor league beginning with the 1949 season.
Former members of the NAL II, the Baltimore Elite Giants, New York Cubans, and Philadelphia Stars, joined the NAL. The Newark Eagles, also former members of the NAL II joined as well but moved to Houston before the start of the 1949 season.
Over the years, membership dwindled as more and more black ball players joined teams in the American and National Leagues. The NAL’s last season was 1962. It finished with just four teams.
Our Favorite Gear
Negro american League Jerseys
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Each jersey individually handmade
Any name and number
Sewn tackle twill crest, numbers & letters
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Honor the memory of the great Nego Leagues ball players in great apparel from Royal Retros
Negro American League Franchise List
| FRANCHISE | YEARS ACTIVE | PENNANTS | NEGRO LEAGUE WORLD SERIES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Black Crackers | 1938 | ||
| Baltimore Elite Giants | 1949-1951 | 1949 | |
| Birmingham Black Barons | 1937-1938, 1940-1962 | 1943, 1944, 1948, 1958 | |
| Chicago American Giants | 1937-1952 | ||
| Cincinnati Clowns | 1943 | ||
| Cincinnati Tigers | 1937 | ||
| Cincinnati-Cleveland Buckeyes | 1942 | ||
| Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns | 1944-1945 | ||
| Cleveland Bears | 1939-1940 | ||
| Cleveland Buckeyes | 1943-1948, 1950 | 1945, 1947 | 1945 |
| Detroit Clowns | 1958 | ||
| Detroit Stars | 1937 | ||
| Detroit Stars | 1954-1957, 1959 | 1956 | |
| Detroit-New Orleans Stars | 1960 | ||
| Houston Eagles | 1949-1950 | ||
| Indianapolis ABCs | 1939 | ||
| Indianapolis Clowns | 1946-1954 | 1950*, 1951,1952, 1954 | |
| Indianapolis Crawfords | 1940 | ||
| Jacksonville Red Caps | 1938, 1941-1942 | ||
| Kansas City Monarchs | 1937-1962 | 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1950*,1953, 1955, 1957 | 1942 |
| Louisville Buckeyes | 1949 | ||
| Louisville Clippers | 1954 | ||
| Memphis Red Sox | 1937-1959 | 1938 | |
| Mobile Havana Cuban Giants | 1957 | ||
| New Orleans Crescent Stars | 1957 | ||
| New Orleans Eagles | 1951 | ||
| New Orleans-St. Louis Stars | 1940-1941 | ||
| New York Cubans | 1949-1950 | ||
| Newark Indians | 1959 | ||
| Philadelphia Stars | 1949-1952 | ||
| Raleigh Tigers | 1959-1962 | ||
| St. Louis Stars | 1937 | ||
| Toledo Crawfords | 1939 | ||
| Toldeo-Indianapolis Crawfords | 1940 |
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