Negro American League – International Tour Indianapolis Clowns – Kansas City Monarchs – Philadelphia Stars - Chicago American Giants (1952)
This program is from the Negro American League’s International Tour. This barnstorming tour featured four-team doubleheaders in several cities around the United States. The center section of the program includes a scorecard for all four teams.
The purpose of the tour was to showcase the young talent in the Negro Leagues. The Negro League owners recognized that they were fighting a losing battle for talent with the “white” Major League organizations. In 1952, ninety-eight percent of the black ball players with “white” Major and Minor Leagues teams started out in the Negro Leagues.
Negro American League Tour - Player Photos
The young Negro League players highlighted during these games were:
Chicago American Giants - Bill “Fire Ball” Beverly Lawrence Raines
Vann Durham Johnny Williams
Jackson Owens Danny Wright
Clyde Golden
Indianapolis Clowns - Jimmy “Chip” Wilkes James Tugerson
Henry “Speed” Merchant
Philadelphia Stars - Menny Cartledge Willie Parker
Donald Whittington Pat Patterson
Ted Washington Harry Sims
Carl Dent
Kansas City Monarchs - Tom Cooper George Walker
Richard “Dick” Phillips Stonewall Jackson
Duke Henderson
These young ball players were under the guidance of Negro League veterans John “Buck” O’Neil (Kansas City Monarchs), Oscar Charleston (Philadelphia Stars), Buster Haywood (Indianapolis Clowns) and Paul Hardy (Chicago American Giants).
George Smith and Lawrence Raines were the only two ball players from this tour to make it all the way to the Major Leagues. George Smith played with the Detroit Tigers in the American League and Lawrence Raines played for the Cleveland Indians of the American League.
The tour also featured the comedy of Indianapolis Clowns entertainers King Tut and Spec Bebop.
Negro American League Tour - Scorecard