Leland Giants
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Union Giants, the top black baseball team in the Midwest or West in the first decade of the 20th century, changed its name in 1905 to the Leland Giants, after manager and owner Frank Leland
.
Bruce Petway
took over catching duties in 1906 and the talent improved dramatically in 1907 as Rube Foster (HOF), Pete Hill
(HOF), "Big Bill" Gatewood
, "Mike" Moore and four other players came from East Coast teams. The 1907 team compiled a 110-10 record, including 48 straight wins.
The Giants went 64-21 against semipro teams in 1908 and tied a cross-region match-up with the Philadelphia Giants
at three games apiece. The team was managed by Foster in 1909 and was just 8-10 against other top black teams.
The team faced off against the Chicago Cubs
in a mid-October series. Johnny Evers
and Frank Chance
sat out. In game one the Cubs' Three-Finger Brown
beat Walter Ball 4 to 1. The Leland Giants were leading 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth the next day as Foster faced Ed Reulbach
, but Rube allowed four runs in that frame to fall on a controversial final play at the plate. In game three, Brown beat Pat Dougherty 1-0. The Leland Giants had lost two one-run decisions and another fairly close game against a team that had won 104 games in the National League
, showing they could compete with the top white teams in the country.
In 1910, Foster and Leland split and Foster won the rights to the Leland Giants name; Leland's new team was called the Chicago Giants
. The Leland Giants went 11-0 against top black teams that year and said they went 123-6 overall. The club was the most talented to date, as Home Run Johnson
and Pop Lloyd
(HOF) joined to play the middle infield, Petway, Hill and Foster returned and Frank Wickware
joined the staff.
After the season, the team traveled to Cuba for the winter, playing the island's top teams. Cuban teams signed Lloyd, Hill, Johnson and Petway to play with them against the touring Detroit Tigers
and Philadelphia Athletics. Black players gained recognition in the Detroit series by outhitting Ty Cobb
and Sam Crawford
.
In 1911, the club was renamed the Chicago American Giants
.
Frank Leland
Frank C. Leland was an African-American baseball player, field manager and club owner in the Negro Leagues.Leland was born in Memphis, Tennessee...
.
Bruce Petway
Bruce Petway
Bruce Franklin Petway was a Negro League catcher in the early 20th century who came to be known as having one of the best throwing arms in the league...
took over catching duties in 1906 and the talent improved dramatically in 1907 as Rube Foster (HOF), Pete Hill
Pete Hill
* , Personal profiles at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. – identical to Riley -External links:* – unknown content, URL confirmed 2010-04-16...
(HOF), "Big Bill" Gatewood
Bill Gatewood
William "Big Bill" Gatewood was a Negro Leagues pitcher and manager for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League, and in its first few seasons. He pitched for the Leland Giants, Chicago Giants, Chicago American Giants, New York Lincoln Giants, Cuban X-Giants,...
, "Mike" Moore and four other players came from East Coast teams. The 1907 team compiled a 110-10 record, including 48 straight wins.
The Giants went 64-21 against semipro teams in 1908 and tied a cross-region match-up with the Philadelphia Giants
Philadelphia Giants
The Philadelphia Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1902 to 1916. From 1904 to 1909 they were one of the strongest teams in black baseball, winning five eastern championships in six years. The team was organized by Sol White, H. Walter Schlichter, and Harry Smith.- Founding...
at three games apiece. The team was managed by Foster in 1909 and was just 8-10 against other top black teams.
The team faced off against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in a mid-October series. Johnny Evers
Johnny Evers
John Joseph Evers was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946...
and Frank Chance
Frank Chance
Frank Leroy Chance was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. Performing the roles of first baseman and manager, Chance led the Chicago Cubs to four National League championships in the span of five years and earned the nickname "The Peerless Leader".Chance was elected to...
sat out. In game one the Cubs' Three-Finger Brown
Mordecai Brown
Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown , nicknamed "Three Finger" or "Miner", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. Due to a farm-machinery accident in his youth, Brown lost parts of two fingers on his right hand and eventually acquired his nickname as a result...
beat Walter Ball 4 to 1. The Leland Giants were leading 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth the next day as Foster faced Ed Reulbach
Ed Reulbach
Edward Marvin "Big Ed" Reulbach was a major league baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs during their glory years of the early 1900s....
, but Rube allowed four runs in that frame to fall on a controversial final play at the plate. In game three, Brown beat Pat Dougherty 1-0. The Leland Giants had lost two one-run decisions and another fairly close game against a team that had won 104 games in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, showing they could compete with the top white teams in the country.
In 1910, Foster and Leland split and Foster won the rights to the Leland Giants name; Leland's new team was called the Chicago Giants
Chicago Giants
The Chicago Giants were a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois which played in the Negro Leagues. The team was founded by Frank Leland after he and his partner, Rube Foster, split up the Leland Giants in 1910. The new club was sometimes also known as the Leland Giants...
. The Leland Giants went 11-0 against top black teams that year and said they went 123-6 overall. The club was the most talented to date, as Home Run Johnson
Home Run Johnson
Grant "Home Run" Johnson was an American shortstop in baseball's Negro Leagues. He played for many of the greatest teams of the deadball era. Born in Findlay, Ohio, he died at age 88 in Buffalo, New York....
and Pop Lloyd
John Henry Lloyd
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was an American baseball player and manager in the Negro leagues. He is generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro league history, and both Babe Ruth and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, reportedly believed Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever.He was a...
(HOF) joined to play the middle infield, Petway, Hill and Foster returned and Frank Wickware
Frank Wickware
Frank Wickware was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He would play pitcher and played from 1910 to 1925.Wickware served in the military during World War I....
joined the staff.
After the season, the team traveled to Cuba for the winter, playing the island's top teams. Cuban teams signed Lloyd, Hill, Johnson and Petway to play with them against the touring Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and Philadelphia Athletics. Black players gained recognition in the Detroit series by outhitting Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....
.
In 1911, the club was renamed the Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...
.