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Souvenirs
Black History ➔ Negro League Pennant, Reproduction, Baltimore Elite Giants, Negro Baseball Leagues Archival Collection #113
Identifier:
2002.36.1Description:
Reproduction pennant of the Negro League Baseball team the Baltimore Elite Giants. Green felt background with red ties and white edging. Design is printed in white and grey.;This reproduction of an original pennant from the Negro League Team, the Baltimore Elite Giants, demonstrates the the discrimination against people of color in the history of major league baseball, as well as the interest shown by fans in Negro League Baseball. The pennant will be used in the temporary exhibit, 'Leagues of Their Own'.;Silk screened on front, 'BALTIMORE / ELITE GIANTS'.Date:
2001Materials:
Cotton FeltDimensions:
8.25" h 32" wCurrent Location Status:
In StorageSource:
Museum PurchaseExhibit/Program:
Leagues of Their Own (2003)Related Entities:
Heritage Apparel (creator) Heritage Apparel (donor) Negro League Baseball (is related to)Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in 1920 that are sometimes termed "Negro Major Leagues".
In the late 19th century the baseball color line developed in professional baseball, excluding African Americans from league play. In 1885, the Cuban Giants formed the first black professional baseball team. The first league, the National Colored Base Ball League, was organized strictly as a minor league but failed in 1887 after only two weeks owing to low attendance. After several decades of mostly independent play by a variety of teams, in 1920 the first Negro National League was formed and ultimately seven major leagues existed at various times over the next thirty years. After integration, the quality of the Negro leagues slowly deteriorated and the Negro American League of 1951 is generally considered the last major league season. The last professional club, the Indianapolis Clowns, operated as a humorous sideshow rather than competitively from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. (Source: Wikipedia)