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Little Rock Black Travelers (1931-1932)

The Little Rock Black Travelers were an independent Negro league baseball team based in Little Rock, AR from 1931-1932. Home games were primarily played at Booster Park in North Little Rock, AR. This team should not be confused with the Little Rock Grays (1931-1932) of the Negro Southern League.

History

The Little Rock Black Travelers were established as an independent Negro team in 1931 by North Little Rock black grocery store manager Jesse Powell.1 The team was managed by Earl Taylor and played home games at Booster Park in North Little Rock. The name "Black Travelers" mirrored that of the white minor league Little Rock Travelers.

In June of 1931, the Black Travelers sought to enter the Negro Southern League.2 3 However, for unclear reasons, the Negro Southern League awarded the franchise to J. J. Floyd's upstart Little Rock Grays. The Black Travelers continued to play independently through the remainder of the season.

In the spring of 1932, owner Jesse Powell represented Little Rock at meeting in Monroe, LA to plan a proposed league of teams based in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.4 The formation of the league failed, however, and Powell instead sold the Black Travelers to local black service station owner Ernest "Buddy" Nolan.5 6 However, the Black Travelers played only a few games early in the season before Nolan died on April 16th.7 The Black Travelers seemingly dissolved shortly afterward.

Schedule/Results

DateLocationOpponentW-LRRANotes
5/10/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARNashville Giants 8
5/12/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARArkansas Baptist CollegeW1219 , 10
5/?/1931Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma City Red SoxW7611
5/31/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARMissouri Pacific Boosters (North Little Rock, AR) 12
6/19/1931Abbott Field, Camden, ARCamden (AR)W6413
6/28/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARMcGehee (AR) All-StarsW7114
7/4/1931Arkansas City, KSArkansas City (KS)L4615
7/5/1931Arkansas City, KSArkansas City (KS)W9316
7/6/1931Arkansas City, KSArkansas City (KS)W8317
7/12/1931 Clarksville (AR) GiantsW5318
7/15/1931Kavanaugh FieldOklahoma City Black IndiansW7119
7/26/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARHelena (AR) 20
7/?/1931 Standard OilersW9321
7/?/1931 Standard OilersW7022
7/30/1931 McGehee (AR) All-StarsW5223 , 24
7/?/1931 McGehee (AR) All-StarsW9125
8/?/1931Pine Bluff, ARPine Bluff (AR) GiantsL1326
8/?/1931Little Rock, ARCuban House of DavidL31527
8/9/1931Casino Park, Monroe, LAMonroe (LA) MonarchsL61428 , 29 , 30
8/9/1931Casino Park, Monroe, LAMonroe (LA) MonarchsL11031 , 32 , 33
8/16/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARSibley's Tigers 34
8/23/1931 Little Rock GraysW2035
8/23/1931 Little Rock GraysW4236
8/30/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARLittle Rock GraysW32First game.37
8/30/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARLittle Rock GraysW32Second game.38
9/6/1931Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma City Black IndiansW4139 , 40
9/6/1931Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma City Black IndiansW2041 , 42
9/?/1931Muskogee, OKMuskogee (OK) ChiefsL3443
9/?/1931Muskogee, OKMuskogee (OK) ChiefsW11544
9/8/1931 Sallisaw (OK) 45
9/10/1931 Sallisaw (OK) 46
9/13/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARCamden (AR) StarsW7147
9/13/1931Booster Park, North Little Rock, ARCamden (AR) StarsW5448
9/?/1931Little Rock, ARCotton Belt GiantsW1049
9/?/1931Little Rock, ARCotton Belt GiantsW4350
9/?/1931Muskogee, OKMuskogee (OK) Won four of eight-game series.51
10/4/1931Casino Park, Monroe, LANashville Elite Giants 52
10/4/1931Casino Park, Monroe, LANashville Elite Giants 53
10/5/1931Casino Park, Monroe, LANashville Elite Giants 54
1932
3/27/1932Crump Park, Little Rock, ARLittle Rock Pirates 55
4/3/1932Crump Park, Little Rock, ARLittle Rock PiratesW7356
4/10/1932Crump Park, Little Rock, ARLittle Rock GraysL1457
4/19/1932Marshall, TXWiley Wildcats (Marshall, TX) 58
6/4/1932Leslie Street Park, Knoxville, TNKnoxville (TN) GiantsL3959 60
6/5/1932Leslie Street Park, Knoxville, TNKnoxville (TN) GiantsL09First Game.61 62
6/5/1932Leslie Street Park, Knoxville, TNKnoxville (TN) GiantsW63Second Game.63 64
6/6/1932Leslie Street Park, Knoxville, TNKnoxville (TN) GiantsL63365 66


Players

1931
PlayerBirthDeathNotes
Earl Ackerson 67
Lewis Anderson 68
Bland 69
Chink Chiles/Childs/Childes 70 , 71 , 72
Cobb 73
Horace "Sonny Boy" Cole1/11/1908 in Little Rock, AR4/21/1971 in Little Rock, AR74
Conway 75
Bob Cooke 76
Eagle 77
Hank Johnson 78
Johnson 79
Jones 80
McGruger 81
Pete McQueen3/26/1909 in Carlisle, AR5/1/1985 in West Seneca, NY82 , 83
Moore 84
Richardson 85
Danny Thomas 86 , 87
Sammy Thompson 88 , 89
Wilbourn 90
Williams 91


1932
PlayerBirthDeathNotes
William Bradley 92
Robert Hughes 93
Andrew Porter3/7/1910 in Little Rock, AR7/1/201094
Marion Smith 95

1 Chicago Defender, 3/28/1931, p.9. Powell's address is given as 415 East 14th, North Little Rock, AR. Jesse Powell operated a grocery store at that address.
2 Chicago Defender, 7/4/1931, p.8
3 Arkansas Gazette, 6/28/1931, p.16
4 Chicago Defender, 1/30/1932, p.8
5 Arkansas Gazette, 3/2/1932, p.12
6 Chicago Defender, 3/19/1932, p.8
8 Arkansas Gazette, 5/10/1931
9 Arkansas Gazette, 5/13/1931 p.14
10 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.8
11 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.9
12 Arkansas Gazette 5/31/1931 p.16
13 Arkansas Gazette 6/21/1931 p.15
14 Arkansas Gazette, 6/29/1931, p.8; Arkansas Gazette 6/29/1931 p.8
15 Arkansas Gazette 7/8/1931 p.12
16 Arkansas Gazette 7/8/1931 p.12
17 Arkansas Gazette 7/8/1931 p.12
18 Arkansas Gazette 7/14/1931 p.10
19 Arkansas Gazette 7/16/1931 p.12
20 Arkansas Gazette 7/26/1931 p.13
21 Arkansas Gazette 7/30/1931 p.14
22 Arkansas Gazette 7/30/1931 p.14
23 Arkansas Gazette 7/30/1931 p.14
24 Arkansas Gazette 8/2/1931
25 Arkansas Gazette 8/2/1931
26 Arkansas Gazette 8/4/1931 p.10
29 Arkansas Gazette 8/12/1931 p.10
30 Chicago Defender, 8/22/1931, p.9
32 Arkansas Gazette 8/12/1931 p.10
33 Chicago Defender, 8/22/1931, p.9
34 Arkansas Gazette 8/16/1931 p.16
35 Arkansas Gazette 8/26/1931 p.13
36 Arkansas Gazette 8/26/1931 p.13
37 Arkansas Gazette 8/31/1931 p.9
38 Arkansas Gazette 8/31/1931 p.9
39 Arkansas Gazette 9/8/1931 p.13
40 Chicago Defender, 9/19/1931, p.9
41 Arkansas Gazette /8/1931 p.13
42 Chicago Defender, 9/19/1931, p.9
43 Chicago Defender, 9/19/1931, p.9
44 Chicago Defender, 9/19/1931, p.9
45 Arkansas Gazette 9/10/1931 p.11
46 Arkansas Gazette 9/10/1931 p.11
47 Arkansas Gazette 9/14/1931 p.9
48 Arkansas Gazette 9/14/1931 p.9
49 Chicago Defender 10/3/1931 p.9
50 Chicago Defender 10/3/1931 p.9
51 Chicago Defender 10/17/1931 p.8
55 Arkansas Gazette, 3/27/1932, p.11
56 Arkansas Gazette, 4/4/1932, p.8
57 Arkansas Gazette, 4/11/1932, p.7
59 Chicago Defender, 6/18/1932, p.8
61 Chicago Defender, 6/18/1932, p.8
63 Chicago Defender, 6/18/1932, p.8
65 Or 3-33. Chicago Defender, 6/18/1932, p.8
67 Arkansas Gazette 7/14/1931 p.10
68 Arkansas Gazette 7/14/1931 p.10
69 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.8
70 Arkansas Gazette 7/30/1931 p.14
71 Arkansas Gazette 8/26/1931 p.13
72 Chicago Defender, 8/1/1931, p.9
73 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.9
74 Arkansas Gazette 8/2/1931
75 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.8
76 Chicago Defender, 8/1/1931, p.9
77 Arkansas Gazette 7/14/1931 p.10
78 Chicago Defender, 9/19/1931, p.9
79 Arkansas Gazette 8/30/1931 p.15
80 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.8
81 Chicago Defender, 8/1/1931, p.9
82 Arkansas Gazette 7/14/1931 p.10
83 Arkansas Gazette 9/8/1931 p.13
84 Chicago Defender, 8/1/1931, p.9
85 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.8
86 Arkansas Gazette 7/14/1931 p.10
87 Arkansas Gazette 8/4/1931 p.10
88 Arkansas Gazette 6/2/1931 p.15
89 Chicago Defender 7/4/1931 p.8
90 Chicago Defender, 5/23/1931, p.9
91 Chicago Defender, 9/19/1931, p.9
92 Arkansas Gazette, 3/2/1932, p.12
93 Arkansas Gazette, 3/27/1932, p.11
94 Arkansas Gazette, 3/2/1932, p.12
95 Arkansas Gazette, 3/2/1932, p.12