Tom Wilson Park / Thomas T. Wilson

Tom Wilson Park, formerly located near this site, opened in 1929 and was home to the Nashville Elite Giants of the Southern Negro League. Owned by Thomas T. Wilson, it was one of two African-American owned professional ballparks and also hosted spring training sessions for the Nashville Vols., a minor league team of the Southern Association. Spring training games brought Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Roy Campanella to the park. In 1946, Tom Wilson resigned and discontinued all ball activities there. Thomas T. Wilson, a businessman, sportsman, and founder of the Nashville Elite Giants, began his baseball association with the Nashville Maroons in 1909 and organized the Nashville Elite Giants in 1921. Besides being an owner, he served as secretary and president of the Negro Southern League and vice chair, treasurer, and president of the Negro National League. After quitting baseball and ending ball activities at the park, he opened the Paradise Ballroom on the same site, where entertainers included Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, and Sarah Vaughn.

Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee · United States