Washington Potomacs · Washington, D.C. · 1924

Show your appreciation by supporting your home team

April 1924, and the Washington Tribune announces the grand opening of the Eastern League season: Ben H. Taylor's Washington Potomacs against the world famous Cuban Stars of Havana, three big days at American League Park. This is Washington's first year in the league, the ad admits, but Manager Taylor believes he has a pennant winner.

The Washington Tribune of April 12, 1924 carried a banner across the bottom of its Sport Review page: “Grand Opening of the Eastern League Baseball Season.” The parties: “Ben H. Taylor’s Washington Potomacs” versus “the world famous Cuban Stars of Havana, Cuba.” The place: American League Park, 7th Street and Florida Avenue. The commitment: “3 BIG DAYS, April 24, 25, 26,” games called at 3:30 p.m. every day.

The prices ran in their own little column, covered stands 50 cents, grand stand 75 cents, box seats $1.10, and the corner of the ad leveled with the reader: “This is Washington’s first year in the Eastern League. Manager Taylor believes he has a pennant winner. Come out. Show your appreciation by supporting your home team.”

Ben Taylor knew what a pennant winner looked like. He had been one of the great first basemen of Black baseball for two decades, and Cooperstown got around to saying so in 2006. And the address deserves a second look: 7th Street and Florida Avenue is the corner where the American League’s Senators played, which means Washington opened two seasons on the same lot that April. The Senators’ one ended in a World Series. The Potomacs were asked only to be worth a 50 cent seat in the covered stands, three big days running.