Effa Manley was the brains of the Negro League's Newark Eagles. Effa and her husband
Abe organized the Brooklyn Eagles in 1935, but bought the Newark Dodgers the following
year and renamed them the Eagles. Under her watchful eyes, the well-paid Eagles became
one of the best-known Negro League teams as they traveled proudly in their $15,000
Flexible Clipper bus. The Eagles won the league championship and Black World Series
in 1946 under the guidance of player-manager Biz Mackey. Soon after Jackie Robinson
broke the color line in 1947, Manley lost the services of Larry Doby, Monte Irvin,
and Don Newcombe. She spoke out against the raiding of Negro League teams by major
league clubs without compensation, but despite her efforts, the Eagles had to disband
in 1948.
(LL)