King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation
Savannah's Negro League
During the era of segregation, African American baseball teams played in parallel to white minor-league teams. The Negro Leagues formally began in the 1920s but Black baseball in Savannah dates earlier, when segregation forced African American athletes to organize their own teams and circuits.
Paving the Way for Change
Savannah Clubs
By the 1940s, Savannah clubs, such as the Savannah Bears, competed in regional Negro Leagues, offering thrilling entertainment and pride for Black residents. Young players' success mirrored national milestones, including Jackie Robinson's MBL debut in 1947, that paved way for racial integration of both sports and American public life.
Sportsman Park
The Place to Play
Sportsman Park, opened in 1946, was the city’s first and only Black-owned and operated baseball field. It became home to the Savannah Bears, local school leagues, and visiting Negro League teams. More than a ballpark, it served as a community gathering place for games, concerts, and events for nearly twenty years. The Beach Institute later helped preserve this legacy through oral histories and archival efforts, ensuring that the story of Savannah’s Black baseball community and its lasting impact on local culture endures today.
To learn more, please visit:
2023 Savannah Tribune Article:
https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/savannah-georgia-negro-leagues-only-the-ball-was-white/
A Segregated Diamond: Savannah’s Negro League (Documentary)
https://youtu.be/GSt81UFj0pA?si=b8PFMOQ7VKlOQez9
Savannah Bananas new team based on on indianapolis clowns (instagram video)
