Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a reference to the color of a portion of their uniform or other miscellaneous names for those teams.
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order. The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active.
Some of these group names that are featured in this post may also be included in other posts in this series.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
UNIFORM COLORS AND MISCELLANEOUS NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
UNIFORM COLORS
Note: I may be wrong in my assumption that these team names refer to the teams' uniforms (including the color of socks or caps that the team wore).
Baltimore Black Sox [Maryland]
**
Boston Blues [Massachusetts]
**
Homestead Grays [Pennsylvania]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Grays
"The Homestead Grays (also known as Washington Grays or Washington Homestead Grays) were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues in the United States. The team was formed in 1912 by Cumberland Posey, and would remain in continuous operation for 38 seasons. The team was originally based in Homestead, Pennsylvania, adjacent to Pittsburgh. By the 1920s with increasing popularity in the Pittsburgh region, the team retained the name "Homestead" but crossed the Monongahela River to play all home games in Pittsburgh, at the Pittsburgh Pirates' home Forbes Field and the Pittsburgh Crawfords' home Greenlee Field. From 1940 until 1942, the Grays played half of their home games in Washington, D.C., while remaining in Pittsburgh for all other home stands.[1] As attendance at their games in the nation's capital grew, by 1943 the Grays were playing more than two-thirds of their home games in Washington.[2]
The Grays grew out of an earlier industrial team. In 1900, a group of African-American players had joined together to form the Germantown (PA) Blue Ribbons, an industrial league team. For ten years, the Blue Ribbons fielded a team every season and played some of the best sandlot teams in the area. In 1910, the managers of the team retired. The players reorganized the team and named themselves the Murdock Grays. In 1912, they became the Homestead Grays, the name they retained for the remainder of the franchise's history."
-snip-
I admit to quoting a lengthy portion of that article because my adopted city is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I'm not sure why that team adopted the name "Grays". Perhaps it had nothing to do with the team's uniform colors. I recall owning a replica Homestead Gray's shirt, and that shirt wasn't gray. Maybe that color was chosen because "gray" is somewhat close to the color of dirt in sandlots where the games were played.
**
Jacksonville Red Caps [Florida]
**
Los Angeles White Sox [California]
**
Louisville Black Caps [Kentucky]
**
Louisville White Sox[Kentucky]
**
Memphis Red Sox [Tennessee]
**
Montgomery Grey Sox [Alabama]
**
Washington-Homestead Grays [District of Columbia]
[Read information above about the Homestead Grays]
****
MISCELLANEOUS NAMES
CLOWNS
Cincinnati Clowns [Ohio]
Ethiopian Clowns [Ohio]
and
Indianapolis Clowns [Indiana]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Clowns
"The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. They began play as the independent Ethiopian Clowns, joined the league as the Cincinnati Clowns and, after a couple of years, relocated to Indianapolis...
The Ethiopian Clowns were an independent barnstorming baseball team. There is evidence indicating that the team was founded in Miami, Florida, in 1935 or 1936 by Hunter Campbell and bootlegger Johnny Pierce.[1]
Syd Pollock was instrumental in promoting and popularizing the Clowns and developed them into a nationally-known combination of show business and baseball that earned them the designation as the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/racial-and-ethnic-referents-in-group.html for a list of Negro League teams & traveling teams whose name includes a racial reference such as that of the Ethiopian Clowns.
The Wikepedia article about the Harlem Globetrotters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Globetrotters describes them as "an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater, and comedy...the genesis of the Globetrotters took place on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, in the 1920s... When the [Chicago] Savoy Ballroom opened in November 1927, one of the premier attractions was the Savoy Big Five, a basketball team that played exhibitions before dances[In 1928] several players led by Tommy Brookins formed a team called the "Globe Trotters" that toured Southern Illinois that spring. Abe Saperstein became involved with the team, though exactly to what extent is unclear. In any event, by 1929 Saperstein was touring Illinois and Iowa with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." Saperstein decided to pick Harlem as their home city, since Harlem was considered the center of African-American culture at the time and an out-of-town team name would give the team more of a mystique."
****
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TEAM NAMES
Chattanooga Choo-Choos [Tennessee]
-snip-
This team name was undoubtedly given as homage to the popular song with that title.
**
Chicago Unions [Illinois]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Giants
"The Chicago Unions were a professional, black baseball team that played in the late 19th century, prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues.
During 1901 and 1902, Frank Leland created the Chicago Union Giants by hiring many players from the Chicago Unions and Columbia Giants. The Union Giants "were recognized as the top team in the West, but lost a challenge playoff to the Algona Brownies in 1903 for the western championship" (Riley 168). The Union Giants were renamed Leland Giants in 1905."
-snip-
The name "union" is also found in the name of the Chicago train stations. http://www.unionstationmp.com/history2/ indicates that the "Chicago Union Station opened in 1925. It replaced the Union Depot that had been built on essentially the same site in 1882."
**
Cincinnati Buckeyes [Ohio]
Click “Origin of the Buckeye Name” for information about that word "buckeye".
Because “buckeye” nuts are brown, this name also could have been a coded reference to the fact that the Cincinnati Buckeyes was a Black team. However, given the wide use of the term “buckeyes” as a referent for all Ohioans, I think that racial meaning was secondary at best.
**
Dayton Marcos [Ohio]
**
Hilldale Daisies [Pennsylvania]
**
Louisville Fall City [Kentucky]
**
Newark Dodgers [New Jersey]
-snip-
This team's name was probably chosen because of the "Brooklyn Dodgers" baseball team.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Brooklyn_Dodgers
"The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American baseball team that was active in the major leagues from 1884 until 1957, after which it moved to Los Angeles, where it continued its history as the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team's name derived from the reputed skill of Brooklyn residents at evading the city's trolley street cars. The Dodgers played in two stadiums in South Brooklyn, each named Washington Park, and at Eastern Park in the neighborhood of Brownsville before moving to Ebbets Field in the neighborhood of Flatbush in 1913. The team is noted for signing Jackie Robinson in 1947 as the first black player in the modern major leagues.[1]"
"
**
Portland Rosebuds [Oregon]
**
Toledo Crawfords [Ohio]
**
Toledo Rays [Ohio]
**
Washington Pilots [District of Columbia]
-snip-
This name may refer to the team's speed and ability to navigate their plays through any obstcles.
Since a flight pilot is a high status profession, that team name could also have been included in this post to this series:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/power-other-high-status-references-in.html "Power & Other High Status References In Negro League Team Names"
****
Thanks to the authors of the above linked Wikipedia page that provides a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label naming and naming customs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label naming and naming customs. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Animals & Bird References In The Group Names Of Negro League Baseball Teams
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a reference to animals, birds, or other living creatures.
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order under the broad sub-category of "Animals", "Birds" and "Other Living Creatures".
The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active.
Some of these group names may also be included in other posts in this series.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
ANIMAL, BIRD, AND OTHER LIVING CREATURES REFERENCES IN THE NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
Comment: It's my belief that most of these animal and bird names for these baseball convey power, strength, deadly force, speed, agility, and endurance. However, the names for some animals, birds, or other living creatures might also connote physical grace and beauty (as in "That game was a beauty to watch". However, I'm not sure what to make of the name of the traveling team the Tennessee Rats"...
ANIMAL
Denver White Elephants
-snip-
I'm not sure what to make of this name. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant
"The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.[3] To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity"....
In modern usage, it is an object, scheme, business venture, facility, etc., considered to be without use or value.[1]
Albino elephants exist in nature, usually being a reddish-brown or pink color.
**
Cincinnati Tigers [Ohio]
**
Cleveland Bears [Ohio]
**
Cleveland Cubs [Ohio]
**
Fort Worth Black Panthers [Texas]
-snip-
“Black Panthers” was probably also a referent to the race of the team members. Perhaps this team name should have been included in the list of names for Negro League teams that refer to race (i.e. skin color). Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/racial-and-ethnic-referents-in-group.html for that pancocojams post.
**
San Diego Tigers [California]
**
San Francisco Sea Lions [California]
**
Tennessee Rats [traveling team]
**
Toledo Tigers [Ohio]
****
BIRDS
Brooklyn Eagles [New York]
**
Columbus Blue Birds [Ohio]
**
Houston Eagles [Texas]
**
Newark Eagles [New Jersey]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Eagles
"The Newark Eagles were formed in 1936 when the Newark Dodgers, established in 1933, were merged with the Brooklyn Eagles, established in 1935. Abe Manley and his wife Effa Manley, owners and founders of the Brooklyn Eagles, purchased the Newark Dodgers franchise and combined both teams' assets and player rosters.[1] Team management was left to Effa, making the Eagles the first professional team owned and operated by a woman. The Eagles shared Ruppert Stadium with the minor-league Newark Bears.
The Eagles were to (black) Newark what the Dodgers were to Brooklyn.
—Eagles star Max Manning
**
New Orleans Black Eagles [Louisiana]
-snip-
Since there are no eagles that are the color black, this team name probably also alludes to the players' race.
**
New Orleans Pelicans [Louisiana]
**
Oakland Larks [California]
****
INSECTS
Cleveland Hornets [Ohio]
**
Mineola Black Spiders [traveling team]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineola_Black_Spiders
"The Mineola Black Spiders, also called the Texas Black Spiders, were an independent, generally all-black baseball team. They originated in and were loosely based from Mineola, Texas.
As a non-league barnstorming team, they often headquartered in other parts of the nation, especially northern Iowa, from 1932 until at least 1937. They were reported to have headquartered in Mason City, Charles City and Waverly, Iowa. Some newspaper accounts also list them as the Fort Worth Black Spiders as well as the Texas Black Spiders from Galveston.
Vernon "V.A." Klingaman, an Iowa native who settled in Mineola in the late 1920s, formed the team, which first began traveling in 1930's. Eventually attracting players from outside Mineola, Texas, they barnstormed throughout the nation in the 1930s, and likely traveled into Mexico with a team featuring Buck O'Neil. The Spiders played until at least 1941.
Referred to in newspapers as the Texas Black Spiders, they were often noted as the "Champions of Texas." Other sources list them as the Black Spiders of Mineola although some accounts also listed them as the Texas Black Spiders of Galveston or the Fort Worth Black Spiders. They were entered into the National Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament as the Waverly, Iowa, Black Spiders.
The team first set out for the Midwest in a black school bus with the team's name on the side. The bus had no windows and featured a cobweb in the back.
The club traveled extensively, arriving in Iowa in July 1932. The players played for a percentage of the gate. By the end of July, a dispute arose over player payments and ten players voted to leave the team. The players were purchased by the managers of the semi-pro Mason City Black Bats [1]... "
****
Thanks to the authors of the Wikipedia page who published a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a reference to animals, birds, or other living creatures.
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order under the broad sub-category of "Animals", "Birds" and "Other Living Creatures".
The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active.
Some of these group names may also be included in other posts in this series.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
ANIMAL, BIRD, AND OTHER LIVING CREATURES REFERENCES IN THE NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
Comment: It's my belief that most of these animal and bird names for these baseball convey power, strength, deadly force, speed, agility, and endurance. However, the names for some animals, birds, or other living creatures might also connote physical grace and beauty (as in "That game was a beauty to watch". However, I'm not sure what to make of the name of the traveling team the Tennessee Rats"...
ANIMAL
Denver White Elephants
-snip-
I'm not sure what to make of this name. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant
"The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.[3] To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity"....
In modern usage, it is an object, scheme, business venture, facility, etc., considered to be without use or value.[1]
Albino elephants exist in nature, usually being a reddish-brown or pink color.
**
Cincinnati Tigers [Ohio]
**
Cleveland Bears [Ohio]
**
Cleveland Cubs [Ohio]
**
Fort Worth Black Panthers [Texas]
-snip-
“Black Panthers” was probably also a referent to the race of the team members. Perhaps this team name should have been included in the list of names for Negro League teams that refer to race (i.e. skin color). Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/racial-and-ethnic-referents-in-group.html for that pancocojams post.
**
San Diego Tigers [California]
**
San Francisco Sea Lions [California]
**
Tennessee Rats [traveling team]
**
Toledo Tigers [Ohio]
****
BIRDS
Brooklyn Eagles [New York]
**
Columbus Blue Birds [Ohio]
**
Houston Eagles [Texas]
**
Newark Eagles [New Jersey]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Eagles
"The Newark Eagles were formed in 1936 when the Newark Dodgers, established in 1933, were merged with the Brooklyn Eagles, established in 1935. Abe Manley and his wife Effa Manley, owners and founders of the Brooklyn Eagles, purchased the Newark Dodgers franchise and combined both teams' assets and player rosters.[1] Team management was left to Effa, making the Eagles the first professional team owned and operated by a woman. The Eagles shared Ruppert Stadium with the minor-league Newark Bears.
The Eagles were to (black) Newark what the Dodgers were to Brooklyn.
—Eagles star Max Manning
**
New Orleans Black Eagles [Louisiana]
-snip-
Since there are no eagles that are the color black, this team name probably also alludes to the players' race.
**
New Orleans Pelicans [Louisiana]
**
Oakland Larks [California]
****
INSECTS
Cleveland Hornets [Ohio]
**
Mineola Black Spiders [traveling team]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineola_Black_Spiders
"The Mineola Black Spiders, also called the Texas Black Spiders, were an independent, generally all-black baseball team. They originated in and were loosely based from Mineola, Texas.
As a non-league barnstorming team, they often headquartered in other parts of the nation, especially northern Iowa, from 1932 until at least 1937. They were reported to have headquartered in Mason City, Charles City and Waverly, Iowa. Some newspaper accounts also list them as the Fort Worth Black Spiders as well as the Texas Black Spiders from Galveston.
Vernon "V.A." Klingaman, an Iowa native who settled in Mineola in the late 1920s, formed the team, which first began traveling in 1930's. Eventually attracting players from outside Mineola, Texas, they barnstormed throughout the nation in the 1930s, and likely traveled into Mexico with a team featuring Buck O'Neil. The Spiders played until at least 1941.
Referred to in newspapers as the Texas Black Spiders, they were often noted as the "Champions of Texas." Other sources list them as the Black Spiders of Mineola although some accounts also listed them as the Texas Black Spiders of Galveston or the Fort Worth Black Spiders. They were entered into the National Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament as the Waverly, Iowa, Black Spiders.
The team first set out for the Midwest in a black school bus with the team's name on the side. The bus had no windows and featured a cobweb in the back.
The club traveled extensively, arriving in Iowa in July 1932. The players played for a percentage of the gate. By the end of July, a dispute arose over player payments and ten players voted to leave the team. The players were purchased by the managers of the semi-pro Mason City Black Bats [1]... "
****
Thanks to the authors of the Wikipedia page who published a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Power & Other High Status References In The Names Of Negro League Baseball Teams
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a power or high status referent.
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order under the broad sub-categories. The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active. The use of power and other high status names by Black American baseball teams was a public rejection of the low status that was prevalent in the United States toward Black people. Similar high status names were adopted by other Black celebrities, including early Blues musicians and vocalists. A similar custom of choosing royalty and other high status stage names can be found in the names of Trinidadian Calypsonians.
****
Some of the group names that are featured in this post are also included in other posts in this series. For instance, the name "Twin City Colored Giants" [Minnesota] is also included in http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/racial-and-ethnic-referents-in-group.html
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
POWER AND OTHER HIGH STATUS REFERENCES IN THE NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
BARONS
Birmingham Black Barons [Alabama]
****
COLONELS
Louisville Black Colonels [Kentucky]
****
ELITES
Cleveland Elites [Ohio]
****
GIANTS
["Giants" was by far the most often occurring word in the names of Negro League teams. My sense is that was because the word "giant" conveys strength, power, and fierceness in competititon.]
Atlantic City Bacharach Giants [New Jersey]
**
Baltimore Elite Giants [Maryland]
**
Boston Royal Giants [Massachusetts]
**
Brooklyn Royal Giants [New York]
**
Chicago American Giants [Illinois]
**
Chicago Columbia Giants [Illinois]
**
Chicago Giants [Illinois]
**
Chicago Union Giants [Illinois]
[Read information given under the Leland Giants.]
**
Columbus Elite Giants [Ohio]
**
Cuban X-Giants [New Jersey]
-snip-
The Cuban X-Giants may be the same group as the "Cuban Giants" who are mentioned in this Wikipedia page on the history of Negro League Baseball:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball
"The first nationally-known black professional baseball team was founded in 1885 when three clubs, the Keystone Athletics of Philadelphia, the Orions of Philadelphia, and the Manhattans of Washington, D.C., merged to form the Cuban Giants.[10]"
**
Kansas City Giants [Kansas]
**
Leland Giants [Illinois]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Giants
"The Chicago Union Giants, the top black baseball team in the Midwest or West in the first decade of the 20th century, changed its name in 1905 to the Leland Giants, after manager and owner Frank Leland...
In 1910, Foster and Leland split and Foster won the rights to the Leland Giants name;[1] Leland's new team was called the Chicago Giants. The Leland Giants went 11-0 against top black teams that year and said they went 123-6 overall. The club was the most talented to date, as Home Run Johnson and Pop Lloyd (HOF) joined to play the middle infield, Petway, Hill and Foster returned and Frank Wickware joined the staff.
After the season, the team traveled to Cuba for the winter, playing the island's top teams. Cuban teams signed Lloyd, Hill, Johnson and Petway to play with them against the touring Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics. Black players gained recognition in the Detroit series by outhitting Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford.
In 1911, the club was renamed the Chicago American Giants."
**
Lincoln Giants [New York]
**
Shreveport Acme Giants [Louisiana]
-snip-
"Acme" means something that is at the point of perfection.
**
Twin City Colored Giants [Minnesota]
**
Washington Elite Giants [District of Columbia]
****
LORD BALTIMORE
Baltimore Lord Baltimores [Maryland]
****
MONARCH
Monroe Monarchs [Louisiana]
****
PYTHIANS
Philadelphia Pythians [Pennsylvania]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Pythians
“The Philadelphia Pythians (also Pythian Base Ball Club or Pythian Baseball Club) were founded in 1867 as the first black baseball club. It was founded by young African American leaders: Jacob C. White Jr. and Octavius V. Catto. The Pythians were composed of primarily business and middle class professionals from the surrounding areas of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City...
Catto and White believed baseball was another way in which African Americans could assert their skills and independence, and prove their right to full citizenship and equality”.
-snip-< Italics were added to highlight this sentence. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Pythias for information about the “The Knights of Pythias" fraternal organization that was founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.
Here's an excerpt of that post:
"The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress...
...Though the whites only clause was officially adopted in 1871, no black members had been admitted since the founding of the Order. The question of repealing the whites only clause came up in the 1964 and 1968 Supreme Lodges, but was not definitively acted upon. The Order remained whites only until at least 1979. Members are accepted by blackball ballot."
****
SENATORS
Austin Black Senators [Texas]
**
Washington Black Senators [District of Columbia]
****
STARS
Chappie Johnson's Stars [traveling team]
**
Cleveland Tate Stars [Ohio]
**
Cuban Stars (East) [traveling team]
**
Cuban Stars (West) [traveling team]
**
Harlem Stars [New York]
**
Lincoln Stars [New York]
**
New Orleans Crescent Stars [Louisiana]
**
Philadelphia Stars [Pennsylvania]
****
Thanks to the authors of the Wikipedia page who published a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a power or high status referent.
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order under the broad sub-categories. The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active. The use of power and other high status names by Black American baseball teams was a public rejection of the low status that was prevalent in the United States toward Black people. Similar high status names were adopted by other Black celebrities, including early Blues musicians and vocalists. A similar custom of choosing royalty and other high status stage names can be found in the names of Trinidadian Calypsonians.
****
Some of the group names that are featured in this post are also included in other posts in this series. For instance, the name "Twin City Colored Giants" [Minnesota] is also included in http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/racial-and-ethnic-referents-in-group.html
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
POWER AND OTHER HIGH STATUS REFERENCES IN THE NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
BARONS
Birmingham Black Barons [Alabama]
****
COLONELS
Louisville Black Colonels [Kentucky]
****
ELITES
Cleveland Elites [Ohio]
****
GIANTS
["Giants" was by far the most often occurring word in the names of Negro League teams. My sense is that was because the word "giant" conveys strength, power, and fierceness in competititon.]
Atlantic City Bacharach Giants [New Jersey]
**
Baltimore Elite Giants [Maryland]
**
Boston Royal Giants [Massachusetts]
**
Brooklyn Royal Giants [New York]
**
Chicago American Giants [Illinois]
**
Chicago Columbia Giants [Illinois]
**
Chicago Giants [Illinois]
**
Chicago Union Giants [Illinois]
[Read information given under the Leland Giants.]
**
Columbus Elite Giants [Ohio]
**
Cuban X-Giants [New Jersey]
-snip-
The Cuban X-Giants may be the same group as the "Cuban Giants" who are mentioned in this Wikipedia page on the history of Negro League Baseball:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball
"The first nationally-known black professional baseball team was founded in 1885 when three clubs, the Keystone Athletics of Philadelphia, the Orions of Philadelphia, and the Manhattans of Washington, D.C., merged to form the Cuban Giants.[10]"
**
Kansas City Giants [Kansas]
**
Leland Giants [Illinois]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Giants
"The Chicago Union Giants, the top black baseball team in the Midwest or West in the first decade of the 20th century, changed its name in 1905 to the Leland Giants, after manager and owner Frank Leland...
In 1910, Foster and Leland split and Foster won the rights to the Leland Giants name;[1] Leland's new team was called the Chicago Giants. The Leland Giants went 11-0 against top black teams that year and said they went 123-6 overall. The club was the most talented to date, as Home Run Johnson and Pop Lloyd (HOF) joined to play the middle infield, Petway, Hill and Foster returned and Frank Wickware joined the staff.
After the season, the team traveled to Cuba for the winter, playing the island's top teams. Cuban teams signed Lloyd, Hill, Johnson and Petway to play with them against the touring Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics. Black players gained recognition in the Detroit series by outhitting Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford.
In 1911, the club was renamed the Chicago American Giants."
**
Lincoln Giants [New York]
**
Shreveport Acme Giants [Louisiana]
-snip-
"Acme" means something that is at the point of perfection.
**
Twin City Colored Giants [Minnesota]
**
Washington Elite Giants [District of Columbia]
****
LORD BALTIMORE
Baltimore Lord Baltimores [Maryland]
****
MONARCH
Monroe Monarchs [Louisiana]
****
PYTHIANS
Philadelphia Pythians [Pennsylvania]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Pythians
“The Philadelphia Pythians (also Pythian Base Ball Club or Pythian Baseball Club) were founded in 1867 as the first black baseball club. It was founded by young African American leaders: Jacob C. White Jr. and Octavius V. Catto. The Pythians were composed of primarily business and middle class professionals from the surrounding areas of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City...
Catto and White believed baseball was another way in which African Americans could assert their skills and independence, and prove their right to full citizenship and equality”.
-snip-< Italics were added to highlight this sentence. Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Pythias for information about the “The Knights of Pythias" fraternal organization that was founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.
Here's an excerpt of that post:
"The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress...
...Though the whites only clause was officially adopted in 1871, no black members had been admitted since the founding of the Order. The question of repealing the whites only clause came up in the 1964 and 1968 Supreme Lodges, but was not definitively acted upon. The Order remained whites only until at least 1979. Members are accepted by blackball ballot."
****
SENATORS
Austin Black Senators [Texas]
**
Washington Black Senators [District of Columbia]
****
STARS
Chappie Johnson's Stars [traveling team]
**
Cleveland Tate Stars [Ohio]
**
Cuban Stars (East) [traveling team]
**
Cuban Stars (West) [traveling team]
**
Harlem Stars [New York]
**
Lincoln Stars [New York]
**
New Orleans Crescent Stars [Louisiana]
**
Philadelphia Stars [Pennsylvania]
****
Thanks to the authors of the Wikipedia page who published a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Racial And Ethnic Referents In The Group Names Of Negro League Baseball Teams
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a racial referent such as "Colored" and "Ethiopian", or a national/ethnic referent such as "Cuban", "Ethiopian", and "Zulu".
This list also includes group names that include the word "Brown" or "Browns" and "Black", although in some cases those words might be used as names of the color of a uniform, bird, or animal and not a racial referent. However, in most cases, I think it's likely that the animal or bird was chosen as the name of the Negro League or Black American traveling team because of its color connection to those players' race.
In addition, this list also includes what I consider to be an oblique racial referent - "Monrovian" ("Monrovia" is the capitol of Liberia, West Africa).
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order. The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active.
Some of these group names that are featured in this post are also included in other posts in this series. For instance, the name "Twin City Colored Giants" [Minnesota] is also included in this post on the use of the name "Giant" in Negro League Team Names: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/power-other-high-status-references-in.html.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
RACIAL, ETHNIC, OR NATIONAL NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
All Cubans [traveling team]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Cubans
“The All Cubans were a team of Cuban professional baseball players that toured the United States during 1899 and 1902-05, playing against white semiprofessional and Negro league teams. The team was the first Latin American professional baseball team to tour the United States”
**
All Nations [traveling team]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Nations
“All Nations was the name of a barnstorming professional baseball team that toured the Midwest from 1912 to 1918, and again in 1920 [1] and 1921, [2] and from 1923 to 1925. It derived its name from the fact that its team included players of several nationalities, including blacks and whites, Indians, Hawaiians, Orientals, and Latin Americans... The team was based out of Kansas City[3] and Des Moines
-snip-
Note that “Orientals” is no longer a socially acceptable referent for Asian people.
**
Austin Black Senators [Texas]
**
Atlanta Black Crackers [Georgia]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Black_Crackers
The Atlanta Black Crackers (originally known as the Atlanta Cubs) were a professional Negro league baseball team which played during the early-to-mid-20th century...
The Atlanta Black Crackers were founded as the Atlanta Cubs following the start of the 20th century with a semiprofessional team of black college students. They began to play independently in 1919 and changed their name to the Black Crackers because fans had already begun to call them by that name…
The Black Crackers joined the minor league Negro Southern League in March 1920. Their uniforms, bats, baseballs, and other supplies were donated by their white Southern Association counterpart, the Atlanta Crackers."
-snip-
"Cracker" used here may have no pejorative connotation. Click http://open.salon.com/blog/linthesoutheast/2011/10/07/the_history_of_crackers for information about the history of "cracker" as a referent for people.
**
Birmingham Black Barons [Alabama]
**
Chattanooga Black Lookouts [Tennessee]
**
Chicago Brown Bombers [Illinois]
-snip-
“Bombers” is a positive appellation implying competitive fierceness & power.]
**
Cincinnati Browns [Ohio]
**
Cincinnati Cubans [Ohio]
**
Cleveland Browns [Ohio]
**
Cuban X-Giants [New Jersey]
-snip-
This may be the same group as the "Cuban Giants" who are mentioned in this Wikipedia page on the history of Negro League Baseball:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball
"The first nationally-known black professional baseball team was founded in 1885 when three clubs, the Keystone Athletics of Philadelphia, the Orions of Philadelphia, and the Manhattans of Washington, D.C., merged to form the Cuban Giants.[10]"
**
Colored House of David [traveling team]
-snip-
”Colored” is a clip of “Colored People”, a formal referent for African Americans that has largely been retired since at least the 1960s.
snip-
”House of David” may have had a religious reference, perhaps implying that God was on this team’s side.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnstorm_(athletics)
"Barnstorming in athletics refers to sports teams or individuals that travel to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches. Barnstorming teams differ from traveling teams in that barnstorming teams operate outside the framework of an established athletic league, while traveling teams (also known as "road teams") are designated by a league, formally or informally, to be a designated visiting team for all, or almost all, of its league games."
Click that link to find information about traveling baseball teams and barnstorming baseball teams.
**
The Ethiopian Clowns [traveling team]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Clowns
“The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. They began play as the independent Ethiopian Clowns, joined the league as the Cincinnati Clowns and, after a couple of years, relocated to Indianapolis…
-snip-
In the 19th century & early to mid 20th century "Ethiopian” was a general referent in the USA for people of Black African descent
**
Fort Worth Black Panthers [Texas]
**
Harrisburg Monrovians [Pennsylvania]
-snip-
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Therefore, I believe this is an oblique racial referent.
**
Jersey City Colored Athletics [New Jersey]
**
Little Rock Black Travelers [Arkansas]
**
Long Branch Cubans [New Jersey]
-snip-
”Long Branch” is a city in New Jersey
**
Louisville Black Colonels [Kentucky]
**
Newark Browns [New Jersey]
**
New Orleans Black Eagles [Louisiana]
**
New York Black Yankees[New York]
**
New York Cubans [New York]
**
San Antonio Black Bronchos [Texas]
**
San Antonio Black Indians [Texas]
-snip-
“Black Indians” refers to people of Black and Indian [Native American] descent.
**
St. Paul Colored Gophers [Minnesota]
**
Twin City Colored Giants [Minnesota]
**
Washington Black Senators [District of Columbia]
**
Zulu Cannibal Giants [Kentucky]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_Cannibal_Giants
“The Zulu Cannibal Giants were an African American baseball team (they referred to themselves as a Baseball "Zulu Tribe", based on a concept inspired by the war in Ethiopia) formed in 1934 by Charlie Henry in Louisville, Kentucky”…The Zulu Cannibal Giants gained notoriety for their propensity to turn a baseball game into a comedy performance, much in the same way that the Harlem Globetrotters did with basketball many years later.”
****
RELATED LINK
Hat tip to http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/timeline-history-offensive-sports-mascots-redskins-snyder "Timeline: A Century of Racist Sports Team Names" By Matt Connolly and Ian Gordon for their article which alerted me to the use of racial rreferences in the names of Negro League baseball teams.
Most of that article focuses on the historical use & the present day use by American athletic teams of the pejorative term "redskins". I strongly agree with the authors and most of the article's commenters that the use of that referent is offensive and should cease.
****
Thanks to the authors of the above linked Wikipedia page that provides a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post is part of an ongoing series on group names of Negro League baseball teams and non-White American traveling (barnstorming) baseball teams.
This post presents a list of names of Negro League or traveling baseball teams that include a racial referent such as "Colored" and "Ethiopian", or a national/ethnic referent such as "Cuban", "Ethiopian", and "Zulu".
This list also includes group names that include the word "Brown" or "Browns" and "Black", although in some cases those words might be used as names of the color of a uniform, bird, or animal and not a racial referent. However, in most cases, I think it's likely that the animal or bird was chosen as the name of the Negro League or Black American traveling team because of its color connection to those players' race.
In addition, this list also includes what I consider to be an oblique racial referent - "Monrovian" ("Monrovia" is the capitol of Liberia, West Africa).
These names are posted in relative alphabetical order. The home state for the team is given in brackets after the team name. If the team was a traveling team, that information is provided in brackets. Also, in some cases, brief editorial comments are posted below the group name.
In a few cases, a brief comment and a hyperlink are given for more information about a particular team.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational value.
It's my position that some of the names of these Negro League baseball teams provide information about the perspectives of Black people during the years that those teams were active.
Some of these group names that are featured in this post are also included in other posts in this series. For instance, the name "Twin City Colored Giants" [Minnesota] is also included in this post on the use of the name "Giant" in Negro League Team Names: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/power-other-high-status-references-in.html.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball for information about the history of The Negro League Baseball
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DISCLAIMER:
I know very little about baseball or that sport's history. Corrections and additions are very welcome.
****
RACIAL, ETHNIC, OR NATIONAL NAMES OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Source of team names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Negro_league_baseball_teams
All Cubans [traveling team]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Cubans
“The All Cubans were a team of Cuban professional baseball players that toured the United States during 1899 and 1902-05, playing against white semiprofessional and Negro league teams. The team was the first Latin American professional baseball team to tour the United States”
**
All Nations [traveling team]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Nations
“All Nations was the name of a barnstorming professional baseball team that toured the Midwest from 1912 to 1918, and again in 1920 [1] and 1921, [2] and from 1923 to 1925. It derived its name from the fact that its team included players of several nationalities, including blacks and whites, Indians, Hawaiians, Orientals, and Latin Americans... The team was based out of Kansas City[3] and Des Moines
-snip-
Note that “Orientals” is no longer a socially acceptable referent for Asian people.
**
Austin Black Senators [Texas]
**
Atlanta Black Crackers [Georgia]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Black_Crackers
The Atlanta Black Crackers (originally known as the Atlanta Cubs) were a professional Negro league baseball team which played during the early-to-mid-20th century...
The Atlanta Black Crackers were founded as the Atlanta Cubs following the start of the 20th century with a semiprofessional team of black college students. They began to play independently in 1919 and changed their name to the Black Crackers because fans had already begun to call them by that name…
The Black Crackers joined the minor league Negro Southern League in March 1920. Their uniforms, bats, baseballs, and other supplies were donated by their white Southern Association counterpart, the Atlanta Crackers."
-snip-
"Cracker" used here may have no pejorative connotation. Click http://open.salon.com/blog/linthesoutheast/2011/10/07/the_history_of_crackers for information about the history of "cracker" as a referent for people.
**
Birmingham Black Barons [Alabama]
**
Chattanooga Black Lookouts [Tennessee]
**
Chicago Brown Bombers [Illinois]
-snip-
“Bombers” is a positive appellation implying competitive fierceness & power.]
**
Cincinnati Browns [Ohio]
**
Cincinnati Cubans [Ohio]
**
Cleveland Browns [Ohio]
**
Cuban X-Giants [New Jersey]
-snip-
This may be the same group as the "Cuban Giants" who are mentioned in this Wikipedia page on the history of Negro League Baseball:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball
"The first nationally-known black professional baseball team was founded in 1885 when three clubs, the Keystone Athletics of Philadelphia, the Orions of Philadelphia, and the Manhattans of Washington, D.C., merged to form the Cuban Giants.[10]"
**
Colored House of David [traveling team]
-snip-
”Colored” is a clip of “Colored People”, a formal referent for African Americans that has largely been retired since at least the 1960s.
snip-
”House of David” may have had a religious reference, perhaps implying that God was on this team’s side.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnstorm_(athletics)
"Barnstorming in athletics refers to sports teams or individuals that travel to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches. Barnstorming teams differ from traveling teams in that barnstorming teams operate outside the framework of an established athletic league, while traveling teams (also known as "road teams") are designated by a league, formally or informally, to be a designated visiting team for all, or almost all, of its league games."
Click that link to find information about traveling baseball teams and barnstorming baseball teams.
**
The Ethiopian Clowns [traveling team]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Clowns
“The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. They began play as the independent Ethiopian Clowns, joined the league as the Cincinnati Clowns and, after a couple of years, relocated to Indianapolis…
-snip-
In the 19th century & early to mid 20th century "Ethiopian” was a general referent in the USA for people of Black African descent
**
Fort Worth Black Panthers [Texas]
**
Harrisburg Monrovians [Pennsylvania]
-snip-
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Therefore, I believe this is an oblique racial referent.
**
Jersey City Colored Athletics [New Jersey]
**
Little Rock Black Travelers [Arkansas]
**
Long Branch Cubans [New Jersey]
-snip-
”Long Branch” is a city in New Jersey
**
Louisville Black Colonels [Kentucky]
**
Newark Browns [New Jersey]
**
New Orleans Black Eagles [Louisiana]
**
New York Black Yankees[New York]
**
New York Cubans [New York]
**
San Antonio Black Bronchos [Texas]
**
San Antonio Black Indians [Texas]
-snip-
“Black Indians” refers to people of Black and Indian [Native American] descent.
**
St. Paul Colored Gophers [Minnesota]
**
Twin City Colored Giants [Minnesota]
**
Washington Black Senators [District of Columbia]
**
Zulu Cannibal Giants [Kentucky]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_Cannibal_Giants
“The Zulu Cannibal Giants were an African American baseball team (they referred to themselves as a Baseball "Zulu Tribe", based on a concept inspired by the war in Ethiopia) formed in 1934 by Charlie Henry in Louisville, Kentucky”…The Zulu Cannibal Giants gained notoriety for their propensity to turn a baseball game into a comedy performance, much in the same way that the Harlem Globetrotters did with basketball many years later.”
****
RELATED LINK
Hat tip to http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/timeline-history-offensive-sports-mascots-redskins-snyder "Timeline: A Century of Racist Sports Team Names" By Matt Connolly and Ian Gordon for their article which alerted me to the use of racial rreferences in the names of Negro League baseball teams.
Most of that article focuses on the historical use & the present day use by American athletic teams of the pejorative term "redskins". I strongly agree with the authors and most of the article's commenters that the use of that referent is offensive and should cease.
****
Thanks to the authors of the above linked Wikipedia page that provides a complete list of names of Negro League teams.
Thanks to all those who were members of those teams.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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