The term “Negro League baseball” has come to mean a lot of different things to different people. Some view Negro League baseball only as those teams that played at the highest level or the “Major Leagues” of black baseball. Others view an even more limited definition in that if you didn’t play before 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, then you didn’t play in the Negro Leagues. Still other people use the early 1950’s or 1955 as their cut off date for participation in the Negro Leagues.

The Center for Negro League Baseball Research (CNLBR) has taken a much broader approach in its research of Negro League baseball. We believe that it is important to recognize everyone’s contribution to the history of black baseball in America. Negro League baseball is defined by the Center for Negro League Baseball Research to include the following facets of black baseball:

• Negro “League” teams – These teams played at the highest level of black baseball in America. These teams comprised the “Major Leagues” of black baseball.
• Barnstorming teams – Rather than playing in an organized league, these teams traveled all over the United States and even into Canada and Mexico. They played both black and white teams at all levels: professional, semipro, industrial league, town teams and they even played games against the “Negro League” teams. 
• Independent teams – Like the barnstorming teams, these teams did not play in an organized league but played an independent schedule. The big difference between the barnstorming and independent teams was the scope of their travel. Independent teams played in a defined geographic area, scheduling games close to their home base and typically did not travel all over the country like barnstorming teams did.
• Negro “Minor” League or Regional League teams – Virtually every area of the country had its own Negro League. Often these were considered the “Minor” leagues, but in truth they played very competitive baseball. 
• Winter League Baseball teams – When the Negro League season was over, many players would head south to play in the winter leagues of: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela and Colombia. There is a saying in Negro League baseball “that the sun is always shining somewhere.”
• Local Town teams and Industrial League teams – In baseball’s heyday, virtually every town in the country had a local baseball team. Another important component of local baseball was the industrial leagues which were sponsored by local companies and industries.
• Black Baseball in the Military – For many young African Americans, their first experience of being away from home was when they were drafted into the military. For many of these young men it was also their first experience playing baseball away from their hometown.
• Black College Baseball teams – Many Negro League players got their real start in playing organized baseball playing at the college and university level.