The League documentary reveals Newark’s Connection to Negro Leagues

By Candace Waller

The League directed by Academy Award Nominee, Sam Pollards reveals some amazing facts about Newark residents Effa and Abe Manley. The Manley's were owners of the Newark Eagles from 1935-1948 making Effa the only female team owner in the league. Effa, a fierce competitor and negotiator, was also the unofficial secretary of the Negro National Leagues. Her quest for winning was answered when the Newark Eagles defeated the Kansas City Monarchs in 1946 to become Negro League World Series champions. She was the first and currrenly on woman elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

"It took a long time to raise the money to finance this documentary," Pollard said. "I am very happy this film is showing and people are learning about the contributions Negro Leagues and the players had on baseball."

A public showing of The League took place at the Plainfield Public Library on Saturday, August 10th as part of the Queen City Film Festival's final ScreenTalk drawing more than 150 attendees. The film can also be streamed online, rented and purchased on Amazon and has been in film festivals.

Pollard, who was unable to be at the library in person due to the weather, participated in a question and answer session via Zoom moderated by Lamar David Mackson, Executive Director of the Queen City Film Festival. Pollard, best known for his work as editor on a number of Spike Lee’s films: Mo’ Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Girl 6, Clockers and Bamboozled talked with Mackson about the accomplishments, and historical impact of the Negro leagues. Mackson who also serves as the Chairman of the Union County Motion Picture and Television Advisory Board is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) with Pollard.

Check out Interview clip from Sam Pollard & Lamar David Mackson discussion.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MlEXYMUetly3twhs5nI3YJwXBtv4TUqP/view?usp=sharing

The hour and 45-minute documentary moves like a feature film with highlights on players, various controversies over the history, and intriguing facts about the games. Archival footage includes interviews with Leroy "Satchel" Paige and Buck O’Neil – whose early careers paved the way for the Jackie Robinson era. Celebrated Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron who started their baseball careers in the Negro Leagues are also in the film.

The League celebrates the triumphs of the Negro Leagues and the contributions the players made to baseball and is told through the eyes of former Negro League players and owners, including Effa Manley, their families, journalists, and historians. The League was executive produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and in addition to the Manley’s role in Negro League baseball many other hidden facts were revealed in this film.

Jackie Robinson was not the first African American player to play on an integrated team. Bud Fowler, William Edward White, and Moses Fleet Walker played on teams with white players during the 1880s and 1890s. However, several managers complained about playing on teams with Black players excluding them from mainstream ball clubs. This ban went on for more than 60 years until Jackie Robinson was able to break that barrier in 1947.

Andrew "Rube" Foster started his baseball career as a pitcher. He then became a manager for the Chicago American Giants. One of his greatest achievements was organizing individual teams into the Negro National Leagues in the 1920s. This period was the high popularity of Negro League baseball when more than 50,000 people would come to see the East-West Game. Black businesses sprung up around the league, making it profitable for restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels that served African Americans. Due to Jim Crows laws, much of the country was still under segregation, and Black Americans could not eat in many restaurants, go to nightclubs, or stay in hotels.

Leroy "Satchel" Paige was considered one of the best pitchers in the Negro Leagues with many white players praising his talents. He perfected the fast ball and his antics brought excitement to the game. He was often asked by other ball clubs to pitch for their teams to draw bigger crowds.

Jackie Robinson's entrance into Major League Baseball started the collapse of the Negro Leagues. Once Robinson broke that barrier other Major League leagues selected Negro League players and attendance for the Negro League games went down as star players went to the Major League teams. This impacted the businesses that had sprung up. Effa Manley, an astute businesswoman, advocated for compensation when Major League took Negro League players. Unfortunately, Manley along with the other Negro Leagues managers or owners were very rarely compensated when the Major Leagues took their players.

"Our effort to bring powerful, purposeful films that create healing and spark change in the community through free events has reached the mountaintop today with the appearance of Sam Pollard and his amazing film (The League)," said Mackson. "To present a filmmaker of his calibre with this type of message is why we continue to strive at Queen City Film Festival and our partnership with the Somerset Patriots could not have been more fitting and timely. We are looking forward to continuing the acknowledgment of the legacy of the Negro Leagues, the great players and their impact later in the month at Somerset Patriots stadium during the Black Yankee celebration.”

On August 30th, at TD Bank Ballpark, the Somerset Patriots will play a tribute game to the Black Yankees sharing information on the team and other Negro League teams and players. There will also be a giveaway of Black Yankees items, a dance performance by 40+ Double Dutch, soul food offered by Family Flava, and fireworks. Tickets can be purchased at www.somersetpatriots.com and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Queen City Film Festival to benefit the youth program the Film Future Club. Purchase tickets here

“The New York Black Yankees didn’t have a brand of their own,” said Dave Marek, Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Somerset Patriots. “They wore hand-me-down or look alike New York Yankees Uniforms. The Somerset Patriots have designed a new brand to give the New York Black Yankees their own voice. The Somerset Patriots, New York Yankees Double-A team, will be wearing Black Yankees Caps and uniforms to honor and bring awareness to this historic Negro League Team. The uniforms will be auctioned off after the game raising money for the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum.”

ScreenTalk NJ is a monthly free film screening held May - August prior to the Queen City Film Festival scheduled for October 18-20. Venues for the festival include Plainfield Library Cinemark Theatres in Watchung, Plainfield Performing Arts Center and Plainfield High School . This multi-day festival showcases dozens of films and attracts filmmakers from all over the world. To learn more about the Queen City Film Festival go to https://www.qcffnj.com/.