Lehigh University Lehigh Preserve Theses and Dissertations 2002 A faded memory : The hiP ladelphia Stars, 1933-1953 Courtney Michelle Smith Lehigh University Follow this and additional works at: http://preserve.lehigh.edu/etd Recommended Citation Smith, Courtney Michelle, "A faded memory : The hiP ladelphia Stars, 1933-1953" (2002). Theses and Dissertations. Paper 743. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Lehigh Preserve. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Lehigh Preserve. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Smith, Courtney .. Michelle A Faded Memory: The Philadelphia . Stars, 1933-1953 June 2002 A Faded Memory: The Philadelphia Stars, 1933-1953 by Courtney Michelle Smith A Thesis Presentedto the Graduate and Research Committee ofLehigh University in Candidacy for the Degree of Master ofArts m the History Department Lehigh University May 2002 Table of Contents Chapter-----' Abstract, '.. 1 Introduction 3 1. Hilldale and the Early Years, 1933-1934 7 2. Decline, 1935-1941 28 3. War, 1942-1945 46 4. Twilight Time, 1946-1953 63 Conclusion 77 Bibliography ........................................... .. 82 Vita ' 84 iii Abstract In 1933, "Ed Bolden and Ed Gottlieb organized the Philadelphia Stars, a black professional baseball team that operated as part ofthe Negro National League from 1934 until 1948. For their first two seasons, the Stars amassed a loyal following through .J. regular advertisements in the Philadelphia Tribune and represented one of the Northeast's best black professional teams. Beginning in 1935, however, the Stars endured a series of losing seasons and reflected the struggles ofblack teams to compete in a depressed economic atmosphere.