Decline of the Negro Leagues
Jackie Robinson's career was also one of the reasons the Negro Leagues, a baseball league just for black players, went out of business. Since more and more players went to the Majors, less and less people came to watch the Negro League games. The Newark Eagles were one of the most popular teams in the Negro Leagues, and this chart shows the attendance of fans during home games from 1946-1948.
Jackie Robinson's career was also one of the reasons the Negro Leagues, a baseball league just for black players, went out of business. Since more and more players went to the Majors, less and less people came to watch the Negro League games. The Newark Eagles were one of the most popular teams in the Negro Leagues, and this chart shows the attendance of fans during home games from 1946-1948.
Many owners tried to sell their best players to the Majors to earn money, but that was no help. Robert Simmons, manager of the Negro Chicago American Giants, told the fans, "Don’t kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. I call Negro baseball the goose
and our players the golden eggs…..”
and our players the golden eggs…..”