Joe Posnanski is uncertain about the “birthday” of the (first) Negro National League—was it February 11, 1920, or February 13? Since I’m here to fill the internet with obscure, useless details, know that the meeting establishing the league was held in Kansas City on February 13 and February 14, 1920, as a number of contemporary sources establish. So you can celebrate the NNL’s 93rd birthday today, if you are so inclined. Here are a couple of relevant Chicago Defender articles from February 7 & 14, 1920, the first looking forward to the meeting, the second a report on the first day (datelined February 13).
UPDATE 8:55 a.m. One thing you might have noticed about the second article is that it discusses plans for 1921, not 1920. That was originally the idea—they were planning a year in advance. But at some point they realized they might as well start the league that very year.
Comments