Throughout history there were several Negro leagues, including the American Negro League and the East-West League. The most popular Negro leagues were the Negro National League and the Negro American League.
Following is a look at the leagues and the winners of championships.
Negro National League – Championships (1920-1931)
The Negro National League was established Feb. 13, 1920, in a Kansas City, Mo., YMCA. It was the first African-American baseball circuit to achieve stability and last more than one season.
1920 Chicago American Giants
1921 Chicago American Giants
1922 Chicago American Giants
1923 Kansas City Monarchs
1924 Kansas City Monarchs
1925 Kansas City Monarchs
1926 Chicago American Giants
1927 Chicago American Giants
1928 St. Louis Stars
1929 Kansas City Monarchs
1930 St. Louis Stars
1931 St. Louis Stars (season did not finish; Stars had best record among league members and were declared the champions, though non-member Pittsburgh Crawfords disputed title.)
Negro American League – Championships (1937-1960)
This league was established in 1937 and continued to exist until 1960.
1937 Kansas City Monarchs
1938 Memphis Red Sox
1939 Kansas City Monarchs
1940 Kansas City Monarchs
1941 Kansas City Monarchs
1942 Kansas City Monarchs
1943 Birmingham Black Barons
1944 Birmingham Black Barons
1945 Cleveland Buckeyes
1946 Kansas City Monarchs
1947 Cleveland Buckeyes
1948 Birmingham Black Barons
1949 Baltimore Elite Giants
1950 Indianapolis Clowns
1951 Indianapolis Clowns
1952 Indianapolis Clowns
1953 Kansas City Monarchs
1954 Indianapolis Clowns
1955 Birmingham Black Barons (first half); Detroit Stars (second half)
1956 Detroit Stars
1957 Kansas City Monarchs
Negro National League – Championships (1933-1948)
The second Negro National League was established in 1933, two years after the first Negro National League was disbanded.
1933 Cole’s Chicago American Giants (first half), Pittsburgh Crawfords (second half with better overall)
1934 Philadelphia Stars won best half of season however Crawfords with better whole season record disputed title.
1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords
1936 Pittsburgh Crawfords
1937 Homestead Grays
1938 Homestead Grays
1939 Baltimore Elite Giants
1940 Homestead Grays
1941 Homestead Grays
1942 Homestead Grays
1943 Homestead Grays
1944 Homestead Grays
1945 Homestead Grays
1946 Newark Eagles
1947 New York Cubans
1948 Homestead Grays
Negro Southern League- (1920-1946)
Negro leagues in the South were less organized and lucrative than those in the North due to Jim Crow laws. This team was considered a minor league team except in 1932.
1932: Cole’s American Giants.
