Manley was an imposing woman with social connections, fur coats, fancy cars, and manners. James A. Riley, in his book The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Leagues, wrote that Abe Manley ordered the trade of Terry McDuffie to the New York Black Yankees in 1938 for "two old bats and a pair of used sliding pads" because McDuffie was involved with Effa Manley.
To most of her players, she was a demanding matriarch, who insisted they come to work with shoes shined, because she did not want them judged as rubes when the majors opened up. At the end of 1945, Rickey signed Robinson away from the Kansas City Monarchs, owned by J.L. Wilkinson, a white man who was voted into the Hall on Monday. Manley soon lost Doby to Cleveland, Monte Irvin to the Giants, and Don Newcombe to the Dodgers, and the Eagles were out of business after 1948.
"She campaigned to get as much money as possible for these ballplayers, and rightfully so, despite what Branch Rickey said," Lester said on Monday.
Manley died in 1981 at the age of 81. With Irvin and Doby, she will have plenty of company in the Hall, because Biz Mackey, the Eagles' manager, was also voted in.
Somebody with a sense of humor at the Hall of Fame can put Manley's plaque next to Rickey's. On long nights when the doors are shuttered, Manley can give the old orator an earful about how much he owes her.
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