Nashville Elite Giants

NASHVILLE ELITE GIANTS

Nashville’s Thomas T. Wilson formed the semi-pro Nashville Standard Giants in 1921 (later renamed Elite Giants) and played independently until 1926  By 1928, Wilson was ready to move his Elite Giants into the national arena and made several attempts to gain entry into the Negro National League and the Southern Negro League, the two pre-dominant bodies of the time.

In 1930, Wilson jumped at the chance to join the Negro National League. Unfortunately, the league disbanded the following year but Wilson kept his team alive by joining the Southern Negro League in the 1932 season. The NNL was reincarnated in 1933 and the Elite Giants rejoined the league for two additional seasons in 1933-34. Due to a declining economy, Wilson moved the club to Columbus following the 1934 season, then subsequently to Washington and Baltimore.