Ben “Chico” Richardson  New Orleans Black Pelicans (1949-1951)

This uniform was worn by Indianapolis Clowns player James Cobbin when he barnstormed with the Clowns during their 1957 season. The uniform includes the jersey, pants, undershirt, socks and glove.

James Cobbin - New York Black Yankees

The Indianapolis Clowns was the longest running black baseball team. They were founded in 1938 by Syd Pollock when the Miami Giants became the Ethiopian Clowns. Pollock would continue to use Miami, Florida as his base of operation, but the Clowns would barnstorm all over the United States and Canada. The Clowns entered the Negro American League (NAL) in 1943 as the Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns. In 1946 they became known only as the Indianapolis Clowns. They dropped out of the Negro American League in 1955 to pursue a full time barnstorming schedule that was financially more successful. The Clowns continued to barnstorm under four different owners: Syd Pollock (1938-1968), Ed Hamman (1955-1976), George Long (1976-1983) and Dave Clark (1984-1988). The Clowns baseball barnstorming tour ended with the 1988 season.

James Cobbin - New York Black Yankees (1956)

James Cobbin began his baseball career playing in the Youngstown, Ohio area for the Nebo Indians. During his high school years he also played for the Buckeye Elks, Southside Lions and North Side High School. When he graduated from high school in 1953, he turned down contract offers to play for the St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds in order to accept a college scholarship to Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1956 he signed with the Indianapolis Clowns. During the 1956 season he played for both the Indianapolis Clowns and their traveling team, the New York Black Yankees. Cobbin's play with the Clowns was recognized by the Pittsburgh Pirates who signed him to a contract in 1957. After spending spring training with the Pirates in New Brunswick, Georgia, he was resigned by the Clowns to enable him to play on a daily basis. In 1958 he was offered a contract with the Milwaukee Braves but got drafted into the U.S. Army instead. He had an outstanding military baseball career, winning several military baseball championships and being selected to numerous military all-star baseball teams.



When he got out of the military in late 1959, he played for the Clowns for a short period of time in 1960 before retiring from baseball to enter a very successful career in the transportation industry.