Jackie Robinson would not break the color barrier for nearly a decade, but Monte Irvin, back row left in this 1938 Newark Eagles team photo, would ride Robinson's wake into the majors. Many of his Eagles teammates, however, including the sensational pitcher Leon Day (front left), would have to accept greatness where they were. Telling 8 x 10 with handwritten IDs catches the Eagles, posing proudly at their Ruppert Stadium home field, in just their third year of existence after the Newark Dodgers merged with the Brooklyn Eagles. Both tape-repaired tears at the top and thumbtack holes are away from the image. The Bears were said to be the first professional team owned and operated by a woman, Effa Manley, and they later graduated Larry Doby and Don Newcombe to the majors. But in 1938, they were a relatively new Negro League outfit, fighting for respect and a pennant.