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Baltimore Elite Giants & Pittsburgh Crawfords |
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Founded in 1920 as the Nashville Standard Giants, the team moved to Baltimore in 1938, becoming the premier Black club of Baltimore, Maryland. From 1937 to 1945, the team was led by star catcher Roy Campanella, who developed an ability and reputation for handling trick pitches. This would lead to his eventual contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948 where he handled Preacher Roe’s legendary spitball.\xa0 |
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Intrinsically tied to the Homestead Grays, the Pittsburgh Crawfords – known as the Craws – were organized by Gus Greenlee in 1931. The club's home ballpark, Greenlee Field, became the first black-built and black-owned stadium in the United States when it opened in 1932. \xa0 Its star-studded roster of 1935 and 1936 won back-to-back Negro National League pennants, helmed by Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, and player-manager Oscar Charleston. The great Buck Leonard also played for the Crawfords following his stint with their crosstown compatriot Homestead Grays.\xa0 |
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