Lelands just opened up their Spring auction and it includes several incredible Negro League items featuring future Dodgers. The best of the bunch is the above 1939 photo of an 18-year old Roy Campanella (on the right) as a member of the Baltimore Elite Giants. (Auction Link) Crouching with Campy is his catching mentor Robert 'Eggie' Clark. Eggie was about 33-years old at the time and would soon be a backup to Campy the following season.On the right is a 1941 team photo of the Baltimore Elite Giants, and as you know this is the club that featured Roy Campanella. (Auction Link) He is seated on the far left.
Amazingly, the Baltimore Elite Giants continued to provide several more future Dodger stars. Jim 'Junior' Gilliam, who would go on to coach in Los Angeles and have his number retired by the club, began his playing career with this Negro League team. Below is a 1947 team photo of the Elite Giants. (Auction Link) Gilliam is seated in the front row - right in the middle.
A couple of years later we see a team photo of the Baltimore Elite Giants featuring not only Jim Gilliam, but also fellow Dodger teammate Joe Black. (Auction Link) Joe can be found standing in the top row, on the far left. Gilliam is in the same row, but is the second person on the right.
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