| New Orleans Creoles | |
| Established: | 1945 |
| Disbanded: | 1952 |
| City: | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| League: |
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| Ballpark: | Pelican Stadium |
The New Orleans Creoles were a Negro league baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, from at least 1945 until at least 1952. The team was a member of the second Negro Southern League from 1947 to 1948 and 1950 to 1951, and a member of the Negro Texas League for the 1949 season.[1] [2] They played at Pelican Stadium and were known for hiring women players and coaches.[1] [2] Second baseman Toni Stone—the first of three women to play professional baseball full-time in the previously all-male Negro leagues—played for the Creoles from 1949 to 1952, prior to her time on the Kansas City Monarchs.[1] [2]
The New Orleans Creoles were owned and promoted by Allan Page (or Allen Page).[1] [3] [4] The team was managed by Wesley Barrow during the 1949 and 1950 seasons.[1] Baseball historian Larry Lester has referred to the New Orleans Creoles as "a very good semi-pro team."[1] It played exhibition games against teams from the Negro American League, including the Kansas City Monarchs.[1]
The Creoles were known for hiring women players and coaches.[3] Georgia Williams pitched for the team in 1945.[3] Lucille Bland of Dillard University served as the team's third base coach in 1947.[2] [3] Toni Stone was hired as a second baseman in 1949.[1] [3] Fabiola Wilson of Xavier University of Louisiana and Gloria Dymond (also known as Lucille Gloria Dymond) of Southern University are listed as outfielders on the team's 1948–1949 roster.[2] [3]
Notable male Creoles players include Milt Smith and Gene Bremer, who played on the team for the 1948 and 1949 seasons, respectively.[5] [6]