1937 NEGRO LEAGUE EAST ALL-STARS TEAM OVERSIZE PHOTO WITH HOF'ERS LEONARD, WELLS, DANDRIDGE, DAY, SUTTLES AND MACKEY.
Item Description
This is the only known surviving example depicting the Negro League's East squad from the 1937 East-West All-Star Showcase held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, won by the East club with a final score of 7-2. An astounding six future National Baseball Hall of Fame members are pictured here: Buck Leonard (back row, second from right), Willie Wells (front row, third from left), Ray Dandridge (front row, far left), Leon Day (front row, far right), Mule Suttles (back row, fourth from left) and Biz Mackey (back row, fifth from right). In addition, many other stars of the day adorned the East team's roster and appear in this magnificent image: Fats Jenkins (front row, second from left), Chester Williams (front row, third from right), Jerry Benjamin (front row, second from right), Barney Morris (back row, far left), Pepper Bassett (back row, second from left), Andy Porter (back row, third from left), Wild Bill Wright (back row, fifth from left), Barney Brown (back row, fourth from right), Jake Dunn (back row, third from right) & Bill Holland (back row, far right). Although this would appear to be quite the star-studded club at first glance, conspicuously missing from the team were perennial all-stars, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell. The reason for their absence would be the defection of all three players in mid-summer to go play baseball in the Dominican Republic for Dictator Trujillo's ball club, Ciudad Trujillo, in the Caribbean Series.
The pinnacle of any Negro League season was the East-West All-Star Game. It was an All-Star game and a World Series wrapped in one spectacle. Starting in 1933, the game was played annually at Chicago's Comiskey Park, with additional appearances in other parks in selected years. It brought thousands of fans to the Grand Hotel in Chicago and became the single most important black sporting event in America. The horrendous economic conditions of the 1930s and disagreement among league officials on a World Series format from 1928 to 1941 precluded any annual championship series, making the East-West All-Star Game black baseball's grandest attraction. Eventually All-Star attendance grew to over 50,000 often outdrawing its Major League counterpart during the early to mid-1940s. Generally speaking, many historians, players and fans argued that the overall success of the Chicago all-star games was one of the most important factors in the integration of Major League Baseball.
The original glossy photo is 11x14". In vintage ink at top center is written "East Winner 7-2" documenting the outcome of the game. Printed at bottom left is photographer's name "L.L. Foster" and at right is "East-West Game Aug. 8, 1937 Comisky Park-Chicago Ill." Photo comes w/a nice quality velvet finish matte, all that is needed is a frame to display. Photo is held to back of matte by four 2" strips of archival tape, but easily removable if desired. Front has some lt. handling wear and minor hairlines in the emulsion, all really only seen in reflected light. All remains glossy, image is sharp and clear w/great contrast. VF.
Six Hall Of Famers on one team photo and the only example known make this a must have for any serious baseball collection. The Black Ball Collection.
