# James Semler

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**James "Soldier Boy" Semler** (June 23, 1895 – October 15, 1955) was an American sports executive who co-owned the [New York Black Yankees](/source/New_York_Black_Yankees) of the [Negro National League](/source/Negro_National_League_(1933%E2%80%931948)). For much of the club's history, he owned the team along with [Bill Robinson](/source/Bill_Robinson).[1]

## Career

Semler worked as a tailor in [Harlem](/source/Harlem).[2]

When the Harlem Stars reorganized as the New York Black Yankees in 1932, Semler served as the club's inaugural secretary.[3] In 1933, Semler, with the help of [Nat Strong](/source/Nat_Strong), secured control of the team after president M.E. Goodson and treasurer Oscar Barnes withdrew their financial interests.[4] He retained the role of secretary while also acting as team president.[5]

In March 1935, [George Scales](/source/George_Scales), who managed the club from 1932 to 1934, sued Semler, arguing that he had no right to be team's sole owner.[6]

During the 1935 season, Semler expressed disinterest in the Black Yankees joining the [Negro National League](/source/Negro_National_League_(1933%E2%80%931948)),[7] though the club would ultimately join the league for 1936.[8]

## References

1. Riley, James A. (1994). *The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues*. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.

1. ["Black Yankees Improve Team"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93665493/black-yankees-improve-team/). *[Brooklyn Times-Union](/source/Brooklyn_Times-Union)*. March 6, 1935. p. 10. Retrieved January 28, 2022. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["George Scales to Manage Reorganized "Black Yankees""](https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252011%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Age%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Age%25201931-1932%2520%2520Grayscale%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Age%25201931-1932%2520%2520Grayscale%2520-%25200619.pdf%23xml%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D3e32f65%26DocId%3D1695519%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520U%26HitCount%3D8%26hits%3D1fa%2B1fb%2B904%2B905%2B9bc%2B9cf%2B1264%2B1265%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf). *[The New York Age](/source/The_New_York_Age)*. Fultonhistory.com. March 5, 1932. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

1. Rosee, Irwin N. (14 November 1934). ["Black Yankees Kept Wolf From Door in Early Days"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93667041/black-yankees-kept-wolf-from-door-in/). *[Brooklyn Times-Union](/source/Brooklyn_Times-Union)*. p. 15. Retrieved 28 January 2022.

1. ["Semler Says Black Yanks Will Work With League"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93667399/semler-says-black-yanks-will-work-with/). *[Pittsburgh Courier](/source/Pittsburgh_Courier)*. March 3, 1934. p. 15. Retrieved January 28, 2022. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["George Scales vs. James Semler"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93666072/george-scales-suing-james-semler/). *[Brooklyn Times-Union](/source/Brooklyn_Times-Union)*. March 14, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved January 28, 2022. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Just Below the Majors"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93666401/just-below-the-majors/). *[Brooklyn Daily Eagle](/source/Brooklyn_Eagle)*. June 5, 1935. p. 24. Retrieved January 28, 2022. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["1931 Harlem Stars"](http://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/team.php?yearID=1931&teamID=HAR). *Seamheads Negro League Database*

## External links

- [Seamheads.com profile](https://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/official.php?playerID=semle01jim)
- [New York Black Yankees at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum](https://web.archive.org/web/20120427015055/http://www.nlbpa.com/new_york_black_yankees.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Semler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Semler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Semler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.