1942 Baltimore Elite Giants Negro League Roy Campanella – Sam Hughes – Wild Bill Wright Original TYPE I Photo PSA/DNA

The 1942 Baltimore Elite Giants were one of the strongest teams in the Negro National League, featuring three outstanding players: future Baseball Hall of Famer Roy Campanella, star second baseman Sammy T. Hughes and celebrated outfielder Wild Bill Wright.

Managed by Felton Snow, the Elite Giants finished second behind the powerful Homestead Grays, posting a 24-14 league record. Their overall record against leading Black professional teams was 45-36-1. The club played its home games at Bugle Field in Baltimore.

The three stars in 1942

Roy Campanella (Catcher, age 20)

Campanella was already an established Negro League catcher years before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1942, he batted .280 with 26 RBIs in 42 documented games. His season ended prematurely following a dispute with team management, and he continued his career in Mexico.

Sammy T. Hughes (Second baseman, age 31)

One of the premier second basemen in Negro League baseball, Hughes was a key offensive contributor. His documented 1942 statistics included a .294 batting average, 47 runs scored, 13 doubles and 30 RBIs in 54 games.

Wild Bill Wright (Outfielder, age 28)

Wright was arguably Baltimore's most dangerous hitter in 1942. The switch-hitting outfielder batted .310 with 62 hits, 13 doubles, five triples and 35 RBIs in 53 documented games. He had previously won the 1939 Negro National League batting title and was among the league's most accomplished hitters.

The 1942 Baltimore Elite Giants featured future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella, Sammy Hughes and Wild Bill Wright. On August 7, Baltimore faced the Homestead Grays in the first radio broadcast of a Negro League game, losing 7-3. On August 9, Campanella and Hughes participated in an unauthorized exhibition fundraiser with the Cincinnati-Cleveland Buckeyes, resulting in fines and season-ending suspensions. Campanella subsequently departed for Mexico to play for Monterrey.

Offered is an original TYPE I Photo that measures 6.5” x  8.5” in size.

The reverse retains its original Central Press Association stamp dated August 10, 1942, along with period editorial notations identifying the players.  Notably, the player on the right is listed in pencil as David Barnhill, but this actually Wild Bill Wright to the right of Campy (pun intended). We believe that the mistake was made as in early August 1942, there were rumors that Campanella, Barnhill, and Hughes were going to have tryouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates (Barnhill was pitching for the Cuban Stars at this point in the season).

There is a “LOUGHMAN” stamp which indicates that this was most likely part of the original BASEBALL MAGAZINE archives, as this stamp is Vintage vintage prints bearing a "Loughman" credit stamp on the back—frequently found alongside archival Baseball Magazine address markings—represent period press photography rather than a dedicated, singular photographer profile focused exclusively on Black baseball.

Also stamped, “PHOTO BY HORTON” (the photographer who shot this photo).

Historic and extraordinarily rare image!!!!

Authenticated and encapsulated as a Type I photo by PSA/DNA.