What Exactly Was Barnstorming?

During the baseball season Negro League players were not allowed to play ball with the the Major League players the off-season was quite different. Players from the Major Leagues would get up a team and players from the Negro Leagues would get a team together, head south and then play on the same ballfield as if it was just an everyday routine. Barnstorming is one way the Negro League players used segregation to benefit them. During the winter months there was baseball in the warmer states and south of the border. Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama and other South American countries cherished baseball and anyone who played baseball regardless of the color of their skin. There was money to be made south of the border and the warmer weather made it so the guys could keep making a paycheck after the regular baseball season shut down for the year. The money was often better than in the states. This had a negative effect to some extent as the players would often choose to stay south of the border during the summer baseball season to make the better money.
 Barnstorming lasted for years after Negro League players were playing in the Major Leagues but just like the Negro Leagues there was a decline in interest after the mid 50’s. There was good money in barnstorming and many of the players liked playing in the south after the season. Warm temeratures, good money, and it was good to be accepted as just a ball player with ability.
 Connie Johnson played throughout the south and into Cuba, Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico. Even after he was pitching for the Chicago White Sox he was on Roy Campenella’s team. This team was what Campanella called the greatest barnstorming team ever to play. There were Major League players at every position.