Today marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro League. For games slated for today, players, coaches, and umpires will be wearing patches on their uniforms to celebrate the league's remarkable history and progressiveness in Major League Baseball. The Negro League began 100 years ago when a group of eight black baseball owners came together to forge this once great league. This league became the first successfully organized Black Baseball League. This league was established right in the heart of an unjust and socially tensioned time in American culture, so they had much much more to worry about than just playing baseball.
Due to the severe racism in the Amerian culture, black people were not accepted into the major and minor leagues of professional baseball. Hence, the Negro League was created. Not only did the Negor League consist of black players, but it also allowed Latin players, women players, and even white players to play. The Negro League launched with 8 teams consisting of the Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago Giants, Chicago American Giants, Cuban Stars, Dayton Marcos, Detroit Stars, Indianapolis ABCs, and the St. Louis Giants.
Even though these players weren't allowed to play in the MLB, they were still very good players. In fact, Negro League teams beat MLB teams roughly 75% of the time when they played head to head. Also, within the first 11 years when the MLB finally started to let black players of the Negro League play, 9 of the years yielded a black, National League MVP. That's awesome!! These guys could freaking play and the National League of the MLB was much more progressive in letting black players play at the time more so than the American League.
This league developed many polarizing players including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Hank Aaron, Monte Irvin, and undoubtedly the most famous player, Jackie Robinson. The Negro League was broken up in 1948 when more and more black players were beginning to sign with MLB teams.
Guys, go read up on the history of the Negro League because just reading this won't do it justice. This league fostered so much growth in American society. These guys fought oppression, and even though they were disenfranchised, were proud of who they were and what they could do. This was a league where if you had the talent to play, you could play. It didn't matter what you looked like. I'll attach a link below if ya'll wanna show your support and check out some merch regarding the Negro League's Centennial Celebration. https://www.rootsoffight.com/
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