Kokomo Clowns Sam R. Huff Booking Agency Game Contract (1938)

This contract was used to book a baseball game between the Kokomo Clowns and the Petersboro baseball club of Petersboro, Ontario, Canada. The game was played on Monday, June 13, 1938 at 6:30 p.m. at Petersboro Field. The contract calls for the Clowns to receive a $ 150.00 guarantee against 50 % of the gross collected gate admissions. The contract is signed by Sam R. Huff.

The Sam R. Huff Booking Agency was located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Huff had sports contacts all over the eastern seaboard. They were one of the major booking agents for black sports on the East Coast and eastern Canada. The Huff Agency booked baseball, basketball and football teams.

The Kokomo Clowns were an independent barnstorming baseball team that traveled all over the East Coast of the United States and eastern Canada during the 1930’s and 1940’s. The Clowns primary advertising attraction was “nite baseball circus under the flood lights.” Portable lighting for night baseball had been introduced in the early 1930’s by the Kansas City Monarchs. Night baseball was still very unique when the Kokomo Clowns toured and they used this feature to help promote their games. The Kokomo Clowns players actually dressed and played their games in clown costumes with painted clown faces.

Kokomo Clowns Broadside (c. 1940's)