Indianapolis Clowns Newport News and Portsmouth Game Contracts (1949)

This contract is between Syd Pollock (Indianapolis Clowns) and Joe Lewis (Portsmouth) for a series of games to be played at Suffolk, Newport News and Portsmouth. The booking contract is for games to be played by Indianapolis Clowns vs Winston Salem, Indianapolis Clowns vs Elites and New York Cubans against an unnamed opponent. The “Bunny” that is mentioned in the contract is McKinley "Bunny" Downs who was the business manager and traveled with the team.

Mc Kinley "Bunny"  Downs - Indianapolis Clowns

The contract spells out in great financial detail the monetary arrangements for the games. Syd Pollock was known as a very detailed oriented person when it came to money. This is probably why he lasted so long in barnstorming baseball.

Syd Pollock founded the Indianapolis Clowns in 1938 when he took the Miami Giants and changed the team’s name to the Ethiopian Clowns. The Ethiopian Clowns eventually became the Indianapolis Clowns and played in the Negro American League from 1944 to 1955. Before they entered the league, they played a barnstorming season that would involve 200+ games a year. After the Clowns dropped out of the Negro American League they went back to a barnstorming schedule. Team ownership changed over the years, but the Clowns kept on playing baseball until they quit traveling after the 1988 season.

Pollock knew virtually every sports promoter and booking agent in the country. He dealt with the “big boys” in the major markets like New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc. Syd also worked with all the small promoters in towns like Portsmouth, Norfolk, etc.

Joe Lewis was a local promoter in Portsmouth, Virginia. He booked games in Virginia during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Contract Envelope Joe Lewis