Baltimore Elite Giants

Originally beginning their existence as the Nashville Elite Giants, the Baltimore Elite Giants moved to Baltimore in 1938 after a couple years as the Washington Elite Giants and became the Baltimore Elite Giants. They were one of the strongest teams in the Negro National League after middling success before their move to Baltimore. Team stars included Wild Bill Wright, Biz Mackey, Roy Campanella, Sammy T. Hughes and Bill Byrd. Also breaking in with Baltimore were Joe Black and Jim Gilliam. The team folded in 1950. Felton Snow managed them for most of their existence, from 1938 through 1946. The word "Elite" in their name was pronounced ee-LITE.

The Elites won the 1939 Negro National League pennant in a single-game playoff with the Homestead Grays.

Further Reading

• Bob Luke: The Baltimore Elite Giants: Sport and Society in the Age of Negro League Baseball, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, 2009.