St. Louis–New Orleans Stars
Indianapolis ABCs (III): The name "Indianapolis ABCs" was also used by a Negro American League team in 1938, but it relocated to St. Louis for the 1939 season.
St. Louis Stars (III): The third incarnate of the Indianapolis ABCs relocated to St. Louis for the 1939 season in the NAL. This club suffered continual financial woes and resorted to splitting their home games between St. Louis and New Orleans in 1940 and 1941 (as the New Orleans–St. Louis Stars). In 1942, Allen Johnson, owner of the New Orleans-St. Louis Stars, quit the Negro American League to become part owner of the New York Black Yankees in the Negro National League. He brought George Mitchell along as business manager.[1] A dispute ensued about whether he was allowed to transfer the Stars players to the Black Yankees; the leagues decided that he could transfer ten players, with the remaining nine players to be distributed among Negro American League teams.[2] In 1943, Johnson and Mitchell established a new Negro National League franchise in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, although they played under the Harrisburg–St. Louis Stars moniker because the majority of the players had previously played for the St. Louis Stars.[3] By mid-season, they were in conflict with league officials over signing players that were reserved by other teams, and they received permission to drop out of the league in July to barnstorm as the "Bond Bombers" to raise funds for war bonds.[4] They disbanded for good after the 1943 season.
The reincarnate NAL club played their St. Louis home games at South End Park (1939, 1941);[5] their New Orleans home games at Pelican Stadium (1941);[6] and their Harrisburg home games at Island Stadium (1943).[7]
References
- ^ "Allen Johnson Invests in N. Y. Black Yanks: St. Louis Stars Owner Quits Western Body". The Chicago Defender. February 21, 1942. p. 23.
- ^ "Allan Johnson Recites Grievances: Black Yanks Co-Owner in Fighting Mood". The Chicago Defender. March 21, 1942. p. 20. "Eastern Ball Clubs Will Have to Beat Black Yanks". The Chicago Defender. March 28, 1942. p. 19.
- ^ "Harrisburg New NNL Club; Season Opens May 15: Franchise Granted ex-St. Louis Stars". The Afro-American. April 17, 1943. p. 18. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ^ "NNL Orders Starks and Williams to Yankees". The Afro-American. July 3, 1943. p. 23. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ^ Lowry, Philip J. (2006). Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebration of Major League and Negro League Ballparks. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc. p. 203. ISBN 0-8027-1562-1.
- ^ Lowry, Philip J. (2006). Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebration of Major League and Negro League Ballparks. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-8027-1562-1.
- ^ Lowry, Philip J. (2006). Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebration of Major League and Negro League Ballparks. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc. p. 95. ISBN 0-8027-1562-1.