Tombstone
Formed: January, 1933 (as the National Association of Baseball Clubs)1Greenlee Chosen Temporary Boss, The Afro-American, Baltimore, MD, January 21, 1933
Disbanded: December 8, 19482Grays Quit League; New Circuit Formed, The Afro-American, Baltimore, MD, December 11, 1948
First Game: April 29 (Chicago American Giants @ Indianapolis ABCs)3Negro Diamond Inaugural Set, The Pittsburgh Press, March 21, 1933
Final Game: September 24, 1948 (Homestead Grays 2 @ Baltimore Elite Giants 1, NNL II Championship, Game 3)4NNL Prexy Called in Playoff Wrangle, The Afro-American, Baltimore, MD, September 25, 1948)
Seasons: 16
States (including District of Columbia): DC, IL, IN, MD, NJ, NY, PA, TN
Leadership
President: J. Johnson
Trophy Case
Background
The second Negro National League (NNL II) was formed in January 1933 by Pittsburgh Crawfords’ owner Gus Greenlee. The Crawfords were initially joined by Cleveland Giants, Chicago American Giants, Indianapolis ABCs, and the Nashville Elite Giants. At a meeting on February 15, 1933, the Homestead Grays, Baltimore Black Sox, and Columbus Blue Birds joined the circuit.The original Negro National League played from 1920 through 1931. A second major league-level Negro league was formed in 1937 with the debut of the Negro American League (NAL). Beginning in 1942, the Negro World Series was revived as the champion of the NAL faced the NNL II pennant winner for the title. The original Negro World Series was contested between the original Negro National League and the Eastern Colored League.
The 1948 season was the NNL II’s last, as desegregation of Major League Baseball saw the exodus of the best black ball players from the Negro leagues. In December of 1948, NNL II president J. Johnson announced his league’s application for admission to Major League Baseball had been flatly denied.4St. Petersburg Times, December 11, 1948. Instead, four of the surviving clubs, the Baltimore Elite Giants, New York Cubans, Philadelphia Stars, and Newark Eagles joined the NAL. The latter moved to Houston before the start of the 1949 season, while the Homestead Grays opted to continue as a barnstorming team.
Our Favorite Gear
Negro national League II (1933-1948) Jerseys
When it comes to high-quality replica jerseys, turn to Royal Retros, who put extraordinary detail into their fully customizable baseball jerseys, including those for the second Negro National League (1933-1948) teams, as well as other Negro Leagues teams. T-Shirts and caps too!
Free Customization Included
Each jersey individually handmade
Any name and number
Sewn tackle twill crest, numbers & letters
100% polyester
Heavyweight fabric made to game standards
Honor the memory of the great Nego Leagues ball players in great apparel from Royal Retros
Negro National League II Franchise List
| FRANCHISE | YEARS ACTIVE | PENNANTS | NEGRO WORLD SERIES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron Black Tyrites | 1933 | ||
| Baltimore Black Sox | 1933, 1934 | ||
| Baltimore Elite Giants | 1938-1948 | 1939 | |
| Brooklyn Eagles | 1935 | ||
| Brooklyn Royal Giants | 1933 | ||
| Cleveland Red Sox | 1934 | ||
| Cleveland Giants | 1933 | ||
| Cole's American Giants | 1933-1935 | ||
| Columbus Blue Birds | 1933 | ||
| Columbus Elite Giants | 1935 | ||
| Detroit Stars II | 1933 | ||
| Harrisburg-St. Louis Stars | 1943 | ||
| Homestead Grays | 1933, 1935-1948 | 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1948 | 1943, 1944,1948 |
| Indianapolis ABC's II | 1933 | ||
| Nashville Elite Giants | 1933-1934 | ||
| Newark Dodgers | 1934-1935 | ||
| Newark Eagles | 1936-1948 | 1946 | 1946 |
| New York Black Yankees | 1936-1948 | ||
| New York Cubans | 1935-1936, 1939-1948 | 1947 | 1947 |
| Philadelphia Bacharach Giants | |||
| Philadelphia Stars | 1938-1948 | 1934 | |
| Pittsburgh Crawfords | 1933-1938 | 1933, 1935, 1936 | |
| Washington Black Senators | 1938 | ||
| Washington Elite Giants | 1936-1937 | ||
| Washington (Homestead) Grays | 1938-1948 |
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