TeamBaltimore Elite Giants
LocationBaltimore, Maryland
Closed1949
Capacity6,000
About Bugle Field
A modest 6,000-seat ballpark in East Baltimore that was nonetheless one of the most important developmental venues in Negro League history. Roy Campanella — the future three-time NL MVP and Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer — signed with the Baltimore Elite Giants at Bugle Field at age 15 in 1937 and learned his craft here over five seasons under the mentorship of Biz Mackey. The Elite Giants were one of the most consistent Negro League franchises across the 1930s-40s, never the dominant team but always competitive.
Fun facts
- Roy Campanella's professional baseball home from age 15 (1937) to age 20 (1942), when WWII interrupted.
- Biz Mackey — also a future Hall of Famer — directly mentored Campanella here; Campanella later called Mackey "the best catcher I ever saw."
- The Elite Giants franchise originated in Nashville (1921), moved through Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, and Washington before settling in Baltimore for their 1938-1950 peak.
- After Bugle Field was demolished in 1949, the Elite Giants played at Westport Stadium until folding in 1950.
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