Chicago Giants

For other uses, see Chicago Giants (disambiguation).
Chicago Giants
1910–1921
Chicago, Illinois
League affiliation(s)

Independent (1910–19)

Name(s)

The Chicago Giants were a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois which played in the Negro leagues.

History

The team was founded by Frank Leland after he and his partner, Rube Foster, split up the Leland Giants in 1910. Frank Leland's new club was sometimes also known as Leland's Chicago Giants, until a court injunction forced Frank Leland to stop using the name Leland Giants.[1]

A 1910 article about an upcoming game and parade, announced everyone would wear the team colors, "white and maroon."[2]

After Leland's death, November 14, 1914,[3] the team came under the control of longtime player Charles "Joe" Green.

In 1920, the Chicago Giants became a founding member of the Negro National League (NNL). They played as a travelling team, without a home field, and finished in last place in both 1920 and 1921. Their best player was a young catcher/shortstop named John Beckwith, who was purchased by Rube Foster for his Chicago American Giants after the 1921 season.

Franchise continuum 

1887 Chicago Unions─────────────┐                                               ┌─1910 Chicago Giants──────1921
                                ├──1901 Chicago Union Giants/Leland Giants (I)──┤
   1899 Chicago Columbia Giants─┘                                               └─1910 Leland Giants (II)/Chicago American Giants─────1952

References

  1. ↑ "Frank C. Leland Enjoined From Using the Name Leland Giants" Chicago Broad Ax, Chicago, IL, Page 2, Column 2
  2. ↑ "Chicago Giants Will Raise Flag Sunday" Chicago Broad Ax, Chicago, IL, Page 2, Columns 4 and 5
  3. ↑ "Certificate and Record of Death of Frank Leland" Chicago Department of Health, Chicago, IL, November 14, 1914

External links