The Detroit Stars were formed in 1919 under the guidance of Rube Foster, as a prelude to his idea of establishing a full Negro League.

 John T. “Tenny” Blount, a local gambler, was considered the owner of the team.  This first year, Detroit played an independent schedule of black professional and various black and white semi-pro teams.  It was an outstanding squad of players including Pete Hill, Jose Mendez, Bruce Petway, and Edgar Wesley.  The Stars were allowed to play in the integrated Michigan Semi-Pro Championship tournament, and they won the championship five straight years, beginning in 1919.

 In 1920, the first Negro National League was formed, and Detroit became a charter member, remaining in the league until it folded after 1931.

 The Detroit Stars were muck like their white counter-parts, the Tigers; they had terrific hitting and suspect pitching throughout their existence.  In 1920 they finished third at 35-23.  The team always challenged for the top, but except for 1925, (playoff for second place), it could not make the playoffs until 1930.  The Stars’ records were:  1921, 32-32 (fourth); 1922, 43-42 (fourth); 1923, 41-29 (tie for second); 1924, 37-29 (third); 1925, 57-40 (third); 1926, 50-42 (fourth); 1927, 53-46 (fourth); 1928, 54-37 (third); 1929, 38-42 (fourth); 1930, 50-33 (second half winners, second overall) 1931, 25-26 (fourth).

During this time the club employed many outstanding players.  Between 1920 and 1929, Ancy Cooper was the team’s pitching mainstay.  He was always dependable, even with less than good pitching companions.  Perhaps if Detroit had been able to keep Bill Holland from their 1920-22 teams (he jumped East), they could have won pennants.  Jimmie Lyons had a superb 1920 season but was heisted by the Chicago American Giants.  Edgar Wesley was a top homerun threat during his tenure (1919-27).  Pete Hill, Bruce Petway and Bingo DeMoss played with and managed the Stars during this time.  In 1923, the greatest black player in Detroit baseball history joined the Stars from Montgomery  Grey Sox.  He was Norman “Turkey” Stearnes.  Stearnes was the Number One slugger of Charleston.  Turkey remained the heart and soul of the Stars until leaving prior to 1930, going East to the Lincoln Giants.  Detroit played .500 ball the first half of 1930.  Perking up considerately upon Stearnes return in July, they streaked to the second half pennant entitling them to play the St. Louis Stars for the championship.  Alas they fell in seven games, despite Stearnes’ hitting .481.

 Upon the collapse of the NNL after 1931, a new Detroit team joined the newly formed East-West League.  This was the Detroit Wolves, owned by “Cum” Posey, also owner of the Homestead Grays.  With much of the team coming from the Kansas City Monarchs and St. Louis Stars, this was without question the greatest array of talented ever seen in Detroit.  The Wolves roared to a huge lead in the race.  However, the Depression was taking its toll, and with low attendance a problem everywhere, the Wolves were assimilated by Posey’s Homestead Grays enabling them to be the power of the League.  The Wolves were 29-13 when they disbanded.

 The Detroit Stars replaced on the Indianapolis franchise and rejoined the re-organized NNL in 1933.  They did poorly, and when new backers could not be found, they folded prior to 1934.  They returned for one season in 1937, in the Negro American League, (NAL) with Stearnes again leading the way.  After 16 years, the Detroit Stars Franchise, under Ted Rasberry, reentered the NAL in 1954 for its last hurrah.

 The Stars played in Mack Park until it burned on July 6, 1929, and then in Hamtramack Stadium.  The 1937 team played at Dequindre Park.  During the 1940’s many Negro League games were played at the Tigers Briggs Stadium.