NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL1946 : Reece "Goose" Tatum, Indianapolis Clowns, Kansas City Monarchs

For half a century African American baseball players had their own leagues. These rare pieces of unedited silent footage of Negro American League players, shot in September 1946 at Cincinnati's Crosley Field, focus on the amazing Reece Goose Tatum (1921 - 67) of the Indianapolis Clowns. Tatum and his teammates warm up with comic routines followed by a game against the Kansas City Monarchs.

From the 1920's through the 1940's various Negro Leagues flourished, embracing more than 50 teams. The Clowns also entertained with comedy along the lines of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball skills. The Clowns twice won the league's Eastern Division title and in 1952 featured future home-run king Henry Aaron at shortstop.

The origin of the film is unknown, but it was obviously taken to showcase the skills of Goose Tatum in uniform 15. Tatum was even more astonishing later on the basketball court for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• negro baseball league
• 1946
• Indianapolis Clowns
• Kansas City Monarchs
• Reece Goose Tatum
• Harlem Globetrotters

[MattTheSaiyan]

With footage like this, I like to notice all the little details in the background: The billboards, the person looking out the window towards the end, etc etc.

[jrn127]

I have lived in Indianapolis all of my life (39 yrs) and I've never heard of the Indianapolis Clowns until today. I was driving by the old Bush Stadium on 16th St and saw a sign where they are converting the run down stadium into condos. They have a timeline of when the stadium opened and it mentions the Clowns... What an all around great entertainer and superb athlete. I would have loved to have seen some of the Clowns games... Thank you for uploading this!!!

[CosbyKid]

I saw this video at the Negro League Museum in Kansas City, MO. Amazing. I believe in the beginning, that was Goose Tatum with the great King Tut.

[CincyOrgan]

That's going up on my Facebook wall. That was funny!

[CincyOrgan]

Film quality is great of Crosley Field and the players (LOL!).

[6ADAM16]

Great shots of Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

[airforcemax]

Will you load the Women's Baseball League?