Chicago Union Giants 1900-1904

A powerhouse Negro Baseball Team during the first years of the 1900s

The Chicago Union Giants leading players of the early 1900s included Home Run Johnson, 

When Frank Leland bought the team in 1905 by paying off its debts, the team name was changed the Leland Giants.

The Negro team’s new owner Frank Leland became the on-field manager. In 1906 Bruce Petway was the starting catcher and a pair of Hall of Fame players, Rube Foster and Pete Hill, plus Big Bill Gatewood led the team. In 1907 the team posted a brilliant 110-10 record, including 48 straight wins during one stretch. 

In 1910 Rube Foster took over the team and the name was again changed, this time to the Chicago Giants and finished the year with a sterling 123-6 wins/losses record behind the play of Frank Wickware, Pete Hill, Rube Foster, and Bruce Petway.

Photos from old Chicago Daily News 1905 African American Team

   Click on Photos to enlarge

Baseball player, Joe Miller, Chicago Union Giants, right arm extended, pitching from the mound

Baseball player, Home Run Johnson, Chicago Union Giants, standing at home plate in batting position

   1905 Photo  Click on to enlarge

Baseball player, Lytle, Chicago Union Giants, following through after a pitch from the mound

Baseball player, Joe Miller, Chicago Union Giants, right arm extended, pitching from the mound

Chicago Daily News, Inc., photographer.

    Click on Photos to enlarge

Baseball player, Rose, Chicago Union Giants, reaching out to catch a ball at first base

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