Newark’s first “major” team was the short-lived 1926 Stars of the ECL.  They disbanded after starting 1-10.  A second entry was the Browns in the 1932 East-West League.  The 1934 and ’35 Newark Dodgers brought up the rear in the Negro National League.

The team that brought glory to Newark began as the Brooklyn Eagles in 1935.  The club was owned by Abe Manley but was run by his wife, Effa manley.  After one year and a 28-31 record in Brookly., the Manleys moved the team, replacing the defunct Newark Dodgers.  The Eagles would be a first division club until their transfer to Houston after the 1948 season.

The team was just 30-29 that first season, and second in 1937.  After a fourth in 1938 the Eagles were second in 1939, but lost to Baltimore in the playoffs.  Nosed out for second in 1940, Newark finished second in 1941, then third in 1942 and ’43.  With the heart of the team in the service, the 1944 and 1945 squads were middle of the pack.  With the return of Leon Day and Monte Irvin, the 1946 club, managed by “Biz” Mackey, finally reached the pinnacle, winning both halves and going 47-16 overall.  Leon Day pitched an opening day no-hitter and they never looked back.  The Eagles then beat the Kansas City Monarchs in a tough seven game series, winning the final 3-2.  They again won the first half in 1947, but the New York Cubans were named NNL champs without a playoff.  In 1948, decimated by raids from Organized Baseball, Newark finished out the schedule and left for Houston.  The long-overdue integration of Organized Baseball quickly destroyed this once proud franchise.

Some of the greats who toiled for the Eagles through the years were Ray Dandridge, Johnny Davis, Leon Day, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Max Manning, Lennie Pearson, Ed Stone, and Mule Suttles.