Negro American League

E21191

The Negro American League was a professional African American baseball league that operated primarily in the Midwest and South from 1937 to the early 1960s, serving as one of the major Negro leagues during the era of racial segregation in U.S. baseball.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Negro league baseball league
professional sports league
alsoIncluded Afro-Latino baseball players
championshipStructure league pennant winner determined by regular-season record in many seasons
competitionLevel considered major-league caliber within Negro leagues context
concurrentWith Negro National League (second)
country United States
culturalRole important institution in African American sports culture
dissolved early 1960s
era Jim Crow era
governingBodyType professional baseball league for African American players
historicalSignificance one of the last surviving major Negro leagues after MLB integration began
provided high-level professional opportunities for Black players barred from Major League Baseball
inception 1937
integrationImpact declined as top Black players signed with Major League Baseball clubs after 1947
leagueLevel major Negro league
legacy contributed significantly to the eventual racial integration of professional baseball in the United States
mediaCoverage covered primarily by African American newspapers
notablePlayerAlumni Ernie Banks
Hank Aaron
Larry Doby
Minnie Miñoso
Monte Irvin
Satchel Paige
Willie Mays
notableTeam Birmingham Black Barons
Chicago American Giants
Cleveland Buckeyes
Detroit Stars (second incarnation)
Indianapolis Clowns
Kansas City Monarchs
Memphis Red Sox
New Orleans Eagles
operatedInRegion Midwestern United States
Southern United States
ownershipStructure privately owned franchises
participantDemographic African American baseball players
playedNegroWorldSeriesAgainst Negro National League (second)
postseasonFormat Negro World Series participation in some years
precededBy Negro National League (first)
primaryGameDay Sunday
racialSegregationContext segregated U.S. professional baseball
recognizedBy Major League Baseball as part of major league history (from 2020 policy change)
seasonScheduleType regular season plus exhibitions and barnstorming games
socialFunction community gathering and entertainment for Black communities in the Midwest and South
sport baseball
typicalVenueType rented Major League and minor league ballparks


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