The Little Rock Grays, also referred to as the Little Rock Greys, were a Negro baseball team based in Little Rock, AR from 1931-1932. The team competed in the Negro Southern League both years. Home games were primarily played at Crump Park in Little Rock, AR. This team should not be confused with the Little Rock Black Travelers, a contemporary independent Negro team based in Little Rock.
History
The Little Rock Grays first appeared in July 1931 under the direction of local black businessman Jesse J. Floyd. Another local Negro team, the Little Rock Black Travelers, had at that time been seeking entry into the Negro Southern League.1 2 However, for unclear reasons, the league franchise was instead awarded to Floyd's Little Rock Grays club, which evidently only played a few league games during the second half of the 1931 season.
In the spring of 1932, the Grays were again admitted to the Negro Southern League.3 Meanwhile, local black mortician Daniel J. Dubisson joined Floyd as a part-owner of the Grays. The first half of the league season began on April 22nd with a series against Monroe, followed by series against Cleveland, Memphis, Louisville, Montgomery, and Knoxville. The Grays performed fairly poorly and fell low in league standings.4 In late June, after a meeting of club owners to discuss various controversies within the Negro Southern League, Little Rock was withdrawn from the league.5 Afterward, the Grays continued to play as an independent team, traveling south into Texas and Mexico during July and August.
In 1933, the Little Rock Stars took the place of the Grays in the Negro Southern League.6
Schedule/Results
Players
1931
1932
History
The Little Rock Grays first appeared in July 1931 under the direction of local black businessman Jesse J. Floyd. Another local Negro team, the Little Rock Black Travelers, had at that time been seeking entry into the Negro Southern League.1 2 However, for unclear reasons, the league franchise was instead awarded to Floyd's Little Rock Grays club, which evidently only played a few league games during the second half of the 1931 season.
In the spring of 1932, the Grays were again admitted to the Negro Southern League.3 Meanwhile, local black mortician Daniel J. Dubisson joined Floyd as a part-owner of the Grays. The first half of the league season began on April 22nd with a series against Monroe, followed by series against Cleveland, Memphis, Louisville, Montgomery, and Knoxville. The Grays performed fairly poorly and fell low in league standings.4 In late June, after a meeting of club owners to discuss various controversies within the Negro Southern League, Little Rock was withdrawn from the league.5 Afterward, the Grays continued to play as an independent team, traveling south into Texas and Mexico during July and August.
In 1933, the Little Rock Stars took the place of the Grays in the Negro Southern League.6
Schedule/Results
Date | Location | Opponent | W-L | R | RA | Notes |
7/18/1931 | Kavanaugh Field, Little Rock, AR | Nashville Elite Giants | L | 9 | 10 | 7 |
7/19/1931 | Kavanaugh Field, Little Rock, AR | Nashville Elite Giants | First Game.8 | |||
7/19/1931 | Kavanaugh Field, Little Rock, AR | Nashville Elite Giants | Second Game.9 | |||
8/?/1931 | Memphis, TN | Memphis Red Sox | L | 0 | 12 | 10 |
8/1/1931 | College Hill Park, Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Grey Sox | L | 1 | 6 | 11 12 |
8/2/1931 | College Hill Park, Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Grey Sox | L | 1 | 3 | First Game13 14 |
8/2/1931 | College Hill Park, Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Grey Sox | W | 7 | 5 | Second Game15 16 |
8/3/1931 | College Hill Park, Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Grey Sox | L | 3 | 10 | 17 18 |
8/20/1931 | Kavanaugh Field, Little Rock, AR | Chicago American Giants | L | 0 | 12 | 19 , 20 |
8/23/1931 | Little Rock Black Travelers | L | 0 | 2 | 21 | |
8/23/1931 | Little Rock Black Travelers | L | 2 | 4 | 22 | |
8/30/1931 | Booster Park, North Little Rock, AR | Little Rock Black Travelers | L | 2 | 3 | First game.23 |
8/30/1931 | Booster Park, North Little Rock, AR | Little Rock Black Travelers | L | 2 | 3 | Second game.24 |
1932
| ||||||
4/10/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Little Rock Black Travelers | W | 4 | 1 | 25 |
4/15/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Evans Undertaking Company | W | 23 | 12 | 26 |
4/17/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Little Rock Stars | 27 | |||
4/22/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 1 | 6 | 28 |
4/23/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 3 | 6 | 29 |
4/24/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 6 | 15 | First game.30 , 31 , 32 , 33 |
4/24/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 3 | 8 | Second game.34 , 35 , 36 , 37 |
4/30/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Cleveland (OH) Cubs | W | 3 | 2 | ,38 , 39 , 40 |
5/2/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Cleveland (OH) Cubs | W | 18 | 4 | 41 |
5/3/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Cleveland (OH) Cubs | W | 6 | 2 | First game.42 |
5/3/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Cleveland (OH) Cubs | W | 7 | 3 | Second game.43 |
5/14/1932 | Casino Park, Monroe, LA | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 1 | 7 | 44 |
5/15/1932 | Casino Park, Monroe, LA | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 1 | 6 | First game.45 |
5/15/1932 | Casino Park, Monroe, LA | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 2 | 8 | Second game.46 |
5/16/1932 | Casino Park, Monroe, LA | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | L | 3 | 4 | 47 |
5/22/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Louisville Black Caps | W | 6 | 5 | First game.48 |
5/22/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Louisville Black Caps | W | 3 | 2 | Second game.49 |
5/28/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Memphis Red Sox | W | 9 | 2 | Second game.50 , 51 |
5/29/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Memphis Red Sox | W | 6 | 3 | 52 , 53 |
5/30/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Memphis Red Sox | First game.54 | |||
5/30/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Memphis Red Sox | Second game.55 | |||
6/4/1932 | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Gray Sox | L | 1 | 5 | 56 , 57 |
6/5/1932 | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Gray Sox | L | 5 | 6 | First game.58 |
6/5/1932 | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery (AL) Gray Sox | L | 0 | 1 | Second game.59 |
6/26/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Ben Harjo's Oklahoma Indians | L | 1 | 4 | First game.60 |
6/26/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Ben Harjo's Oklahoma Indians | W | 4 | 1 | Second game.61 |
7/3/1932 | Camden, AR | Camden (AR) Tigers | W | 7 | 0 | 62 |
7/4/1932 | Camden, AR | Camden (AR) Tigers | 63 | |||
7/10/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Muskogee (OK) | First game.64 | |||
7/10/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Muskogee (OK) | Second game.65 | |||
7/11/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | Muskogee (OK) | Second game.66 | |||
7/17/1932 | Mexico City, MX | Aztecas | W | 9 | 7 | 67 |
8/4/1932 | Nuevo Laredo, MX | La Junta | W | 9 | 4 | 68 |
8/6/1932 | Van Daele Stadium, San Antonio, TX | La Fama Aguilars | W | 10 | 4 | 69 , 70 |
8/7/1932 | Van Daele Stadium, San Antonio, TX | La Fama Aguilars | L | 2 | 3 | 71 , 72 |
8/7/1932 | Van Daele Stadium, San Antonio, TX | La Fama Aguilars | L | 3 | 4 | 73 , 74 |
8/15/1932 | Sam Huston Park, Austin, TX | Austin (TX) Black Senators | L | 1 | 8 | 75 |
9/18/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | San Antonio (TX) Black Indians | Second game.76 | |||
9/18/1932 | Crump Park, Little Rock, AR | San Antonio (TX) Black Indians | First game.77 | |||
10/9/1932 | Casino Park, Monroe, LA | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | 78 | |||
10/10/1932 | Casino Park, Monroe, LA | Monroe (LA) Monarchs | 79 |
Players
1931
Player | Birth | Death | Notes | |||
Cobbs | 80 | |||||
Conway | 81 | |||||
Faison | 82 | |||||
Murray Gillespie | Abt. 1906 | 2/26/1942 in Oakville, TN | 83 | |||
Hawkins | 84 , 85 | |||||
Edgar S. Jackson | 86 , 87 | |||||
Mex Johnson | September 16, 1911 in Little Rock, AR | 9/24/2005 in Denver, CO | 88 , 89 | |||
Johnny Johnson | 90 , 91 , 92 | |||||
C. Jones | 93 , 94 | |||||
Red Longley | 9/7/1909 in Little Rock, AR | 7/1977 in Memphis, TN | 95 , 96 | |||
Buford Nunley | 1912 in AR | 12/5/1979 | 97 , 98 | |||
Robinson | 99 | |||||
Robertson | 100 | |||||
Sterling Stalsworth | 3/9/1908 in Sweet Home, AR | 11/17/1964 | 101 | |||
Wilburn | 102 |
1932
Player | Birth | Death | Notes | |||
Clabron "Fox" Blevins | 6/4/1910 in San Antonio, TX | 2/14/1986 in Contra Costa, CA | 103 | |||
Carr | 104 | |||||
Carter | 105 | |||||
Cobbs | 106 | |||||
Coss | 107 | |||||
Everett | 108 | |||||
Faison | 109 , 110 | |||||
Bill Haynes | 1/25/1902 in Kaufman, TX | 9/25/1981 in Kerrville, TX | 111 | |||
Bill Howard | 112 | |||||
Edgar Jackson | 113 | |||||
James | 114 | |||||
Johnson | 115 | |||||
Ruben Jones | 2/5/1894 in Austin, TX | 2/14/1970 in Big Spring, TX | 116 , 117 | |||
Sug Jones | 9/9/1907 in Dubach, LA | 7/27/1982 in Jonesboro, AR | 118 | |||
Rufus Ligon | 5/6/1903 in Cameron, TX | 9/24/1992 in Dunlay, TX | 119 | |||
Red Longley | 9/7/1909 in Little Rock, AR | 7/1977 in Memphis, TN | 120 | |||
Pete McQueen | 3/26/1909 in Carlisle, AR | 5/1/1985 in West Seneca, NY | 121 | |||
Buford Nunley | 2/5/1912 in Des Arc, AR | 12/5/1979 in South Bend, IN | 122 | |||
Albert Overton | 10/29/1903 in Austin, TX | 11/5/1988 in Galveston, TX | 123 | |||
Robinson/Roberson | 124 , 125 | |||||
Samuel Thomas | 126 | |||||
Thompson | 127 | |||||
Tom Young | 6/10/1903 in Tatums, OK | 128 |
1
Chicago Defender, 7/4/1931, p.8
2
Arkansas Gazette, 6/28/1931, p.16
3
Chicago Defender, 3/19/1932, p.9
4
Chicago Defender, 6/25/1932, p.8
5
Chicago Defender, 7/9/1932, p.8. It's not clear whether Little Rock was ousted from the league or if Little Rock withdrew voluntarily.
6
It's not entirely clear whether the Little Grays franchise was renamed the Stars or if the the Stars were a separate franchise.
7
Arkansas Gazette, 7/19/1931, p.13
8
Arkansas Gazette, 7/19/1931, p.13
9
Arkansas Gazette, 7/19/1931, p.13
19
Arkansas Gazette, 8/20/1931, p.13
20
Chicago Defender, 9/5/1931, p.9
21
Arkansas Gazette 8/26/1931 p.13
22
Arkansas Gazette 8/26/1931 p.13
23
Arkansas Gazette 8/31/1931 p.9
24
Arkansas Gazette 8/31/1931 p.9
25
Arkansas Gazette, 4/11/1932, p.7
26
Arkansas Gazette, 4/16/1932, p.14
27
Arkansas Gazette, 4/16/1932, p.14
28
Arkansas Gazette, 4/23/1932, p.15
29
Arkansas Gazette, 4/24/1932, p.15
30
Arkansas Gazette, 4/24/1932, p.15
31
Chicago Defender, 5/7/1932, p.8. Little Rock began season 0-4.
32
Chicago Defender, 5/14/1932, p.9
33
Fading of the Greys: Black Baseball and Historical Memory in Little Rock, Thomas Aiello, The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 4
34
Arkansas Gazette, 4/24/1932, p.15
35
Chicago Defender, 5/7/1932, p.8. Little Rock began season 0-4.
36
Chicago Defender, 5/14/1932, p.9
37
Fading of the Greys: Black Baseball and Historical Memory in Little Rock, Thomas Aiello, The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 4
38
Arkansas Gazette, 4/30/1932, p.16. Article names opponent as "Chicago Memorial Giants." This team played the 1932 season as the "Cleveland Cubs."
39
Arkansas Gazette, 5/3/1932, p.13
40
Chicago Defender, 5/7/1932, p.8. Cristóbal Torriente appeared in this game.
41
Arkansas Gazette, 5/3/1932, p.13
42
Arkansas Gazette, 5/4/1932, p.11
43
Arkansas Gazette, 5/4/1932, p.11
48
Arkansas Gazette, 5/23/1932, p.9
49
Arkansas Gazette, 5/23/1932, p.9
50
Arkansas Gazette, 5/29/1932, p.13
51
Chicago Defender, 6/4/1932, p.8
52
Arkansas Gazette, 5/30/1932, p.9
53
Chicago Defender, 6/4/1932, p.8
54
Arkansas Gazette, 5/30/1932, p.9
55
Arkansas Gazette, 5/30/1932, p.9
56
Arkansas Gazette,6/6/1932, p.7
57
Chicago Defender, 6/11/1932, p.8
58
Chicago Defender, 6/11/1932, p.8
59
Chicago Defender, 6/11/1932, p.8
60
Arkansas Gazette, 6/27/1932, p.7
61
Arkansas Gazette, 6/27/1932, p.7
62
Arkansas Gazette, 7/4/1932, p.6
63
Arkansas Gazette, 7/4/1932, p.6
64
Arkansas Gazette, 7/10/1932, p.11
65
Arkansas Gazette, 7/10/1932, p.11
66
Arkansas Gazette, 7/10/1932, p.11
67
Arkansas Gazette, 7/19/1932, p.8
68
Prensa (San Antonio, TX), 8/6/1932
69
Prensa (San Antonio, TX), 8/6/1932
71
Prensa (San Antonio, TX), 8/6/1932
72
https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-aug-09-1932-p-9/?tag=la+fama&rtserp=tags/?ndt=bd&pd=1&pm=8&py=1932&pe=9&pem=8&pey=1932&pep=la-fama&psb=dateasc&pr=30/|San Antonio Light, 8/9/1932]
73
Prensa (San Antonio, TX), 8/6/1932
74
https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-aug-09-1932-p-9/?tag=la+fama&rtserp=tags/?ndt=bd&pd=1&pm=8&py=1932&pe=9&pem=8&pey=1932&pep=la-fama&psb=dateasc&pr=30/|San Antonio Light, 8/9/1932]
76
Arkansas Gazette, 9/18/1932, p.13
77
Arkansas Gazette, 9/18/1932, p.13
80
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
82
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
83
Arkansas Gazette, 7/19/1931, p.13
85
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
87
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
89
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
90
Arkansas Gazette, 7/15/1931, p.13
92
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
94
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
96
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
98
Arkansas Gazette, 7/17/1931, p.14
102
Arkansas Gazette, 7/19/1931, p.13
103
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
104
Chicago Defender, 6/4/1932, p.8
105
Arkansas Gazette, 4/30/1932, p.16
106
Chicago Defender, 6/4/1932, p.8
107
Chicago Defender, 6/11/1932, p.8
109
Arkansas Gazette, 4/30/1932, p.16
110
Chicago Defender, 5/7/1932, p.8
111
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
112
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
113
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
116
Arkansas Gazette, 4/22/1932, p.13
117
Chicago Defender, 5/7/1932, p.8
118
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
119
Arkansas Gazette, 4/24/1932, p.15
120
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
121
Arkansas Gazette, 4/22/1932, p.13
122
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
123
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
124
Chicago Defender, 6/4/1932, p.8
126
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11
127
Arkansas Gazette, 4/22/1932, p.13
128
Arkansas Gazette, 4/6/1932, p.11