1936 NEGRO LEAGUE EAST ALL-STARS TEAM PHOTO WITH PAIGE/GIBSON/BELL/CHARLESTON/JOHNSON/FOSTER/MACKEY.
Item Description
Presented here is the only known surviving example depicting the Negro League's East squad from the 1936 East-West All-Star Showcase held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, won by the East club with a final score of 10-2. Large and impressive size of 11x14", original glossy photograph, most likely a player presentation photo.
Essentially, this is a photo of the 1936 Pittsburgh Crawfords and Washington Elite Giants, who combined to make up the entire East team roster for this ball game. An astounding total of seven future National Baseball Hall of Fame players are pictured here: Satchel Paige (back row, seventh from left), Josh Gibson (back row, seventh from right), Cool Papa Bell (front row, third from left), Oscar Charleston (middle row, far left), Judy Johnson (front row, second from right), Willie Foster (back row, second from right) & Biz Mackey (back row, fourth from left). In addition, many other stars of the day appear in this magnificent image: Wild Bill Wright, Sammy Hughes, Sam Bankhead, Jimmie Crutchfield, Zolley Wright, Chester Williams, Eddie Dwight, Jim West, Johnny Washington, Felton Snow, Leroy Matlock & Bill Byrd.
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 into 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 1930's 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-1940's. 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.
Established in 1931 by Gus Greenlee, the Pittsburgh Crawfords were named after the Crawford Grill, a club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. It became one of black Pittsburgh's favorite night spots, routinely drawing entertainers such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson & Lena Horne. Gus Greenlee was the top numbers racketeer in Pittsburgh, and in 1932, began the process of raiding the Homestead Grays roster, signing both Josh Gibson and Oscar Charleston. He later also signed Jud Wilson and Judy Johnson among others, literally taking the heart of the Gray's team to provide all of the necessary firepower for his own ball club. However, Gus' biggest score was luring Satchel Paige to his ball club, offering more cash than anyone else at the time. Prior to the 1933 season, Gus would have his own ballpark built, named Greenlee Field, which was almost unheard of for a black baseball club of the era. During that season, the Crawfords would join the new Negro National League with Oscar Charleston at the helm as player/manager and the Crawfords, after adding Cool Papa Bell & Willie Foster, would win championships through the 1936 season. Many black baseball historians regard the mid-1930's Pittsburgh Crawfords to be the best professional baseball team of all-time, black or white.
Moderate aging to reverse. Front has slight margin wear. Tiny emulsion nick by leg of Oscar. Some scattered, lt. handling creases and emulsion hairlines on the surface but nearly all only visible in reflected light/upon close inspection. The entire photo retains a high gloss finish and the image is extremely strong and sharp. Fine/VF.
A unique opportunity to add this amazing photograph to your collection, as stated previously, this is the only known surviving example and you get SEVEN Hall of Famers in one shot. This is the holy grail of all Negro League East-West Classic photographs and the crown jewel of an amazing collection of Negro League All Star Game photos that we will be offering over the next several auctions.
