The Pittsburgh Crawfords of 1932, with future Hall of Famers
Judy Johnson (3rd base), Josh Gibson (catcher),
and Oscar Charleston (1st base). Other powerful black franchises included the
Chicago American Giants and the
Kansas City Monarchs, Jackie Robinson's first professional team. Black baseball
retained much of the dashing hit-and-run style
of play that the white major leagues gave up with the advent of Babe Ruth and
the power game.
Photo Credit: Negro League Baseball Museum, Kansas City, MO