Detroit Stars - League Play

League Play

The Stars became a charter member of the Negro National League (NNL) in 1920. New outfielder Jimmie Lyons enjoyed a brilliant season at bat, and Detroit came in second with a 35-23 record. The next season Lyons was transferred to the American Giants, and the team slumped to 32-32 and fourth place. This would be their low point for some time. For the rest of their tenure in the NNL, the Stars were consistently good (finishing under .500 only twice), but not brilliant (finishing as high as second place only twice).

The mainstays of the Detroit Stars during the 1920s were Hall of Fame center fielder Turkey Stearnes, who ranks among the all-time Negro league leaders in nearly every batting category; Hall of Fame pitcher Andy Cooper, a workhorse southpaw; pitcher Bill Holland; and first baseman Wesley, who led the league in home runs twice and batting average once. Pete Hill left after the 1921 season. Bruce Petway took his place as manager until 1926, when Candy Jim Taylor briefly held the position. Bingo DeMoss, yet another Rube Foster protégé, took over in 1927, and finally led the team to its first postseason berth in 1930. The Stars won the second-half season title, only to lose the playoff series to the St. Louis Stars.

After the collapse of the Negro National League at the end of 1931, the Stars disbanded. However, in 1933 the team reappeared in the newly reformed Negro National League. This team was actually the second incarnation of the Indianapolis ABCs who, shortly after opening day, shifted to Detroit and were renamed the Stars. This team lasted for one season before again disbanding. Finally, a third version of the Stars were also a charter member of the Negro American League in 1937 for one season before yet again disbanding.