Detroit Wolves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Detroit Wolves |
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| Location | Hamtramck, Michigan |
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| Year established | 1932 |
The Detroit Wolves were a professional Negro league baseball team that played for just one season in 1932. They were part of a special group of baseball teams. These teams gave African American players a chance to play professional baseball during a time when they were not allowed in Major League Baseball.
How the Detroit Wolves Started
Before the Detroit Wolves, the city of Detroit had another team called the Detroit Stars. The Stars played in a league called the Negro National League. However, this league stopped playing in 1931. This left Detroit without a team in the Negro leagues.
To fill this gap, a new league called the East-West League was created in 1932. The Detroit Wolves became one of the teams in this new league. They played their home games at Hamtramck Stadium, which was the same stadium where the Detroit Stars used to play.
The owner of the Detroit Wolves was a very important person in Negro league baseball named Cum Posey. He also owned another famous team, the Homestead Grays. Mr. Posey was so involved that he even moved players between his two teams! He was also the person who started the East-West League.
The Wolves on the Field
Even though they only played for one season, the Detroit Wolves were a very strong team. They had the best record in the East-West League! This was thanks to many amazing players who were true stars of their time.
Some of these talented players included:
These players were known for their incredible skills and helped the Wolves win many games.
Why the Team Ended
Unfortunately, the Detroit Wolves faced big money problems. By May 1932, the team was almost out of money. Cum Posey, the owner, tried his best to keep the team going by putting more of his own money into it.
However, the financial struggles were not just for the Wolves. By June, almost all the teams in the East-West League were running out of money. The only team that was still doing okay was Cum Posey's other team, the Homestead Grays. Because so many teams were struggling, Mr. Posey had to make a tough decision. He decided to close down the entire league. This meant the Detroit Wolves, along with the other teams, stopped playing after just one season.
