Card, Baseball
Object number2012.44.1
Date1950-1951
MediumPaper; Ink
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
DescriptionRectangular Euthumn Napier baseball card with multicolored image of an African American male wearing a blue baseball cap and a white baseball uniform jersey.Dimensions2.5 x 1.75 in. (6.4 x 4.4 cm)InscriptionsImage: cap, "S" ; jersey, "...anturce".
Text across bottom: "NAPIER"
Historical NotesA 1950-1951 Toleteros Santurce Cangregeros Euthumn Napier Puerto Rican League baseball card. "Toleteros" loosely translates to sluggers. Extremely rare, these cards were issued to paste into issued photo albums. Few have survived. Napier caught for the Homestead Grays of the Negro National League in 1941 and 1946-1948, succeeding legendary catcher Josh Gibson after his passing. Afterward, Napier appears to play at least one season with Puerto Rico's Santurce Cangrejeros (translates- to "Crabbers"), possibly on their Caribbean World Series championship team. This card is symbolic of the transition many players faced with the demise of the Negro Leagues. Puerto Rico served as an important winter league for many local Negro League players. As the league weakens and disbands, many of the players sought to sign on with Caribbean, Canadian, and minor league teams. Although Jackie Robinson's 1947 debut opened the door, few black players initially filled major league rosters.
Related person
Euthumn Napier
(1913 - 1983)
Related institution
Homestead Grays
Related institution
Negro Baseball Leagues
Related institution
Puerto Rican Baseball League
(founded 1938)
Terms
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Not on view
Related Object
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