William Sousa "Soo" or "Sou" Bridgeforth Jr. (March 23, 1907 – July 26, 2004), was the owner of several Negro leagues baseball teams as well as the New Era Club in Nashville.

[1] In the 1940s, Bridgeforth raised enough money to purchase the Baltimore Elite Giants, a Negro league baseball team.

[1] Bridgeforth purchased the Birmingham Black Barons the year Willie Mays left the Club to join the majors.

Bridgeforth told of how Paige would sit in the back of the team's bus and play his music, often annoying those trying to sleep.

Eta James needed an album to spark her career, so she recorded "Live at the New Era," Bridgeforth's Club.

The appellate court found them guilty but set aside the verdict because there had been no attempt to defraud the IRS nor to avoid paying for the stamp.