Last month, the Savannah Bananas added a new team to its immensely popular Banana Ball lineup: The Indianapolis Clowns.
While we’re sure the team will bring the party, what you may not know is that the Clowns actually existed in Indy once before, playing in various capacities between 1935 and 1989. Here’s a quick history lesson.
The origin story
The team got its start in Florida in 1935 as the Miami Giants. After about six years, they rebranded as the Ethiopian Clowns and became an independent barnstorming club — a travel team that plays exhibition matches. During this time, the team gained a reputation as “the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball” for their flashy tricks and showmanship.
In 1943, the team relocated to Cincinnati and joined the Negro American League. They officially moved one final time to Indianapolis in 1946, where they remained — besides a brief stint in Buffalo, NY — until disbanding in 1989.
Pictured is Toni Stone, a female player who played with the Clowns between 1951 and 1954.
Photo by Toni Stone family, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Archives
Fun facts
- The Clowns were three-time Negro American League champs, winning the title in 1951, 1952, and 1954.
- The team’s most famous player was Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who signed in 1952 for a whopping $200 as a shortstop and cleanup hitter. About three months later, he was acquired by the Boston Braves for $10,000.
- The Clowns were the first pro baseball team to hire a female player, hiring Toni Stone to replace Hank Aaron. They also hired the first female umpire in pro baseball, former Chicago model Nancy Miller.
- After the Negro American League team disbanded in 1962, the Clowns were the last team still together.
Learn more about the Clowns.
