Effa Manley, born March 27, 1897, is the only woman elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; class of 2006. Mrs. Manley and her husband Abe were the owners of the Newark Eagles; one of the most renowned Negro League baseball teams (1936 – 1949). A Caucasian thought to be black because she was raised in an African-American family, Mrs. Manley ran the day to day operations of the team. Very outspoken and opinionated, she had to fight not only racism but also the male chauvinist attitudes of the other Negro League baseball owners to be successful. Her team won the 1946 Negro League World Series Championship.
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| Abe and Effa Manley |
“While attending the 1932 World
Series she met her husband, Abraham Manley, who was also an avid baseball fan
and at least 1‐ 15 years her senior. Manley was a real estate investor and also
supposedly ran one of the biggest illegal “numbers” game operations in Newark.
The success of his endeavors would provide the funds for him and his wife’s
entry into Negro League baseball.
They married
in 1935. He was the second of four husbands Effa
would have
in her lifetime.In that same year they formed a Negro League team in
Brooklyn
called the “Eagles”. Mrs. Manley said the name came from
her
husband’s hopes that “they would fly high.” From the very
beginning as
baseball team owners, the Manleys had a clearly
defined
partnership, one she described as perfect. Abe provided
the money
and despite having no prior financial experience, Effa
took an
active role as co‐owner by handling the day to day
operations
of the team. Mrs. Manley had what proved to be natural
business
instincts and ownership skills. She did it all: arranged
playing
schedules, planned team travel, handled payroll, bought
equipment,
negotiated player contracts, and handled publicity. The
team played
their home games at Ebbets Field, home of Brooklyn’s
Major League team, the Dodgers."
To read more about the Negro League baseball era Last Train To Cooperstown
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