1929 Nashville Elite Giants

Overview

The 1929 Nashville Elite Giants, under the leadership of owner Tom T. Wilson, were a fixture in Negro League baseball that season. In January it was reported that they would be transferred to one of the cities holding a franchise in the Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana League (source). That did not come to pass. They began spring training in early April, playing against Fisk University. At that time the Negro Southern League was not yet formed. That would happen in mid-April (source). Nashville would be a member of the NSL and an associate member of the Negro National League (source).

Teams of the 1929 Negro Southern League

• Nashville
• Evansville
• Atlanta
• Louisville
• Chattanooga
• New Orleans

Teams of the 1929 Negro National League

• Kansas City Monarchs
• St. Louis Stars
• Chicago American Giants
• Detroit Stars
• Birmingham Black Barons
• Cuban Stars West
• Memphis Red Sox

1929 Nashville Elite Giants Players

• Thomas T. Wilson, owner
• Joe Hewitt, ss and mgr - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link

• Charles Blackwell, cf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• William Bobo, ss and 1b - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Black Bottom Buford, 3b - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• John "Red" Charleston, c - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• William "Sug" Cornelius, p, rf, and lf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Jessie Edwards, 2b - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Gray, 3b and rf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Kid Harney (Lit Harvell, Harvey), ss - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Tom (Jack) Jackson, p - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Al Morris, rf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Eddie Noel, p - BBRef Link
• Pennington, p - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Jack Ridley, lf and ss - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Jimsey Roussell, rf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Singlong (Sing Long, Singalong), ph - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• William Spearman, p - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Felton (Leroy) Stratton, ss - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Clarence Trealkill, ss and lf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Clarence "Red" White, lhp - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Jim "Bullet" Williams, lhp and rf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Lennie Williams - Seamheads Link
• Nish Williams, c and rf - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Jim Willis, p - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link
• Henry "Red" Wright (Sid Wright), p - BBRef Link / Seamheads Link

1929 Season and Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location (City)	Park	Opp. League	NSL W	NSL L	NSL T	IND W	IND L	IND T	NNL W	NNL L	NNL T	Runs	Opp. Runs	Notes	Source
Sat, Apr 20, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Memphis, TN		NNL								L		1	8	box score	The Indianapolis Recorder, Sat, Apr 27, 1929
Sun, Apr 21, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Memphis, TN		NNL									T	1	1	10 innings called on account of darkness, box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Apr 27, 1929
Sun, Apr 28, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Nashville, TN	Sulphur Dell	NSL		L								3	4	DH – 11 inning game, box score	Nashville Banner, Mon, Apr 29, 1929
Sun, Apr 28, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Nashville, TN	Sulphur Dell	NSL			T							1	1	DH - Called for darkness after 7 innings	Nashville Banner, Mon, Apr 29, 1929
Mon, Apr 29, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Nashville, TN		NSL	W									6	2		The Tennessean, Tue, Apr 30, 1929
Sat, May 4, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			3	0	Opening of Wilson Park	Nashville Banner, Sun, May 5, 1929
Sun, May 5, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		6	8	14 innings, box score	The Tennessean, Mon, May 6, 1929
Mon, May 6, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		2	3		The Tennessean, Wed, May 8, 1929
Sat, May 11, 1929	Cuban Stars West	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		0	7		The Tennessean, Sun, May 12, 1929
Sun, May 12, 1929	Cuban Stars West	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			7	4	DH	The Tennessean, Mon, May 13, 1929
Sun, May 12, 1929	Cuban Stars West	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL									T	3	3	DH - Called for darkness after 7 innings	The Tennessean, Mon, May 13, 1929
Mon, May 13, 1929	Cuban Stars West	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W					no score provided	Nashville Banner, Wed, May 15, 1929
Sat, May 18, 1929	Kansas City Monarchs	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		4	12	box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, May 25, 1929
Sun, May 19, 1929	Kansas City Monarchs	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		2	8	DH scheduled, box score	The Tennessean, Mon, May 20, 1929
Mon, May 20, 1929	Kansas City Monarchs	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		1	10		The Tennessean, Tue, May 21, 1929
Mon, Jun 3, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NSL		L								6	8		The Tennessean, Tue, Jun 4, 1929
Sun, Jun 9, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Evansville, IN	Bosse Field	NSL	W									3	2	DH, box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 15, 1929
Sun, Jun 9, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Evansville, IN	Bosse Field	NSL	W									5	1	DH – 5 innings	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 15, 1929
Mon, Jun 10, 1929	Evansville Reichet Giants	Evansville, IN	Bosse Field	NSL	W									18	4	3rd game in series	The Evansville Press, Tue, Jun 11, 1929
Sat, Jun 15, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			4	3		The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 22, 1929
Sun, Jun 16, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		1	2	11 inning game, box score	The Tennessean, Mon, Jun 17, 1929
Sun, Jun 16, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL									T	0	0	7 innings called on account of darkness	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 22, 1929
Mon, Jun 17, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			10	5		The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 22, 1929
Tue, Jun 18, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			7	3		The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 22, 1929
Fri, Jun 21, 1929	Louisville Black Caps	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NSL	W									5	3		The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 29, 1929
Sat, Jun 22, 1929	Louisville Black Caps	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NSL	W									4	2		The Tennessean, Sun, Jun 23, 1929
Sun, Jun 23, 1929	Louisville Black Caps	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NSL	W									3	2	DH, box score	The Tennessean, Mon, Jun 24, 1929
Sun, Jun 23, 1929	Louisville Black Caps	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NSL		L								4	5	DH – 7 innings	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jun 29, 1929
Mon, Jun 24, 1929	Louisville Black Caps	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NSL	W									12	6		The Tennessean, Tue, Jun 25, 1929
Thu, Jul 4, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			10	4	DH, box score	Nashville Banner, Fri, Jul 5, 1929
Thu, Jul 4, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			2	1	DH – 7 innings, box score	Nashville Banner, Fri, Jul 5, 1929
Sat, Jul 6, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			10	8		The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 13, 1929
Sun, Jul 7, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			9	8	DH	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 13, 1929
Sun, Jul 7, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			11	0	CAG asked the game be called in the 5th inning	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 13, 1929
Sat, Jul 13, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Memphis, TN	Lewis Park	NNL								L		4	10	box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 20, 1929
Sun, Jul 14, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Memphis, TN	Lewis Park	NNL							W			5	3	box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 20, 1929
Sun, Jul 14, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Memphis, TN	Lewis Park	NNL								L		1	3	7 innings	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 20, 1929
Mon, Jul 15, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Memphis, TN	Lewis Park	NNL								L		5	11		The Chicago Defender, Sat, Jul 20, 1929
Sat, Jul 20, 1929	St. Louis Stars	St. Louis, MO	Stars’ Park	NNL							W			11	9	box score	St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sun, Jul 21, 1929
Sun, Jul 28, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		3	13		Nashville Banner, Mon, Jul 29, 1929
Sun, Jul 28, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		0	6	7 innings	Nashville Banner, Mon, Jul 29, 1929
Mon, Jul 29, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		1	2		The Tennessean, Tue, Jul 30, 1929
Tue, Jul 30, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL									T	9	9	called on account of darkness in the 10th	The Tennessean, Wed, Jul 31, 1929
Fri, Aug 2, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL									T	7	7	10 innings	The Birmingham News, Sat, Aug 3, 1929
Sat, Aug 3, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			2	0		The Birmingham News, Sun, Aug 4, 1929
Sun, Aug 4, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		3	4	box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Aug 10, 1929
Sun, Aug 11, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Chicago, IL		NNL								L		0	3	DH	The Tennessean, Mon, Aug 12, 1929
Sun, Aug 11, 1929	Chicago American Giants	Chicago, IL		NNL								L		0	9	DH	The Tennessean, Mon, Aug 12, 1929
Wed, Aug 14, 1929	Grasselli Giants	Munster, IN		IND					L					3	5	box score	The Times, Thu, Aug 15, 1929
Sat, Aug 17, 1929	Indianapolis Lincoln Highways	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	IND					L					12	17	Newspaper calls them “ABCs”, box score	The Tennessean, Sun, Aug 18, 1929
Sun, Aug 18, 1929	Indianapolis Lincoln Highways	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	IND					L					5	7	DH, box score	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Aug 24, 1929
Sun, Aug 18, 1929	Indianapolis Lincoln Highways	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	IND				W						3	2	DH	The Chicago Defender, Sat, Aug 24, 1929
Sat, Sep 7, 1929	Birmingham Black Barons	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL										0	0	Rain halted game in the 4th inning	The Tennessean, Sun, Sep. 8, 1929
Sat, Sep 14, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L				no score provided	The Tennessean, Sun, Sep 15, 1929
Sun, Sep 15, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			5	0		The Tennessean, Mon, Sep 16, 1929
Sun, Sep 15, 1929	Memphis Red Sox	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL							W			3	2	7 innings	The Tennessean, Mon, Sep 16, 1929
Sat, Sep 21, 1929	Cuban Stars West	Nashville, TN	Wilson Park	NNL								L		1	3		The Tennessean, Sun, Sep 22, 1929

Season Notes

My assumption is that there were more games played than reported. Gaps in the calendar suggest that games could have been played. There are several reports in the newspapers that a Double Header was to be played, with no results shown. In early October The Tennessean reports that "The Elite Giants which recently met and defeated the Miami baseball team in a series last week will close the season at Wilson park Sunday with games against the Nashville Tigers. (source). The specific results of the series with the Miami Giants have not been found. It is not known if the series against the Nashville Tigers ever came to take place.

Winning Percentages

Organized by League

	W	L	T	Total Games	Percent
NSL	8	3	1	12	.708
IND	1	3	0	4	.250
NNL	16	19	5	40	.463
Total Games	25	25	6	56	.500

Organized by Negro National League Team

	W	L	T	Total Games	%
St. Louis Stars	1	0	0	1	1.000
Chicago American Giants	5	2	0	7	.714
Cuban Stars West	2	2	1	5	.500
Memphis Red Sox	6	9	3	18	.417
Birmingham Black Barons	2	3	1	6	.417
Kansas City Monarchs	0	3	0	3	.000
Detroit Stars	0	0	0	0	N/A

References / Resources

• various newspapers at ProQuest (Library of Congress)
• various newspapers at Newspapers.com
• various newspapers at GenealogyBank.com
• Seamheads Negro League Database
• Baseball-Reference.com
• Notes compiled by Kevin D. Johnson
• Plott, William J. The Negro Southern League: A Baseball History, 1920-1951, McFarland, 2015

Credit

This page was assembled and presented by Mark D. Aubrey.

Please see Copyright info.