The Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues
During their run in the Negro Leagues, the Chicago American Giants enjoyed great success. They won the World Series twice and also made a deep impression on fans, managers, and players. They also became very successful in the business side of baseball.
History
During the 1920s, Chicago was the center of black baseball. The city was home to the East-West all-star game in the 1930s. The American Giants were considered one of the best teams in the league for most of its existence. They were also considered the longest running franchise in the history of Black baseball.
The Negro Leagues were a great way for Black athletes to play professionally. These organizations honored racial equality and showcased the talents and grace of Black athletes.
The Negro National League was founded in February 1920. The Negro Southern League joined in 1921. The league was governed by the National Association of Colored Professional Base Ball Clubs.
The leagues began to disband in the early 1960s when talented stars from the majors entered the leagues. There were numerous reasons for this.
Players
During the 1920s and 1930s, Chicago American Giants were considered one of the top teams in the Negro Leagues. The team was led by a number of players who would later be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The team was coached by Derrek Lee, the son of Leon Lee, the former president of the Sacramento Athletics. Their roster included John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, a former major leaguer who would later play in the minors, and Bruce Petway. The Chicago American Giants won five of the first seven championships in the Negro League. They lost only to the 1916 Indianapolis ABCs.
The team was the longest running franchise in Black baseball history. The organization was founded by Rube Foster, who was a White business partner of John Schorling.
Managers
During the early years of the Negro National League, the Chicago American Giants were the most dominant team in the league. Foster led the team to two straight World Series victories and helped to establish a winning tradition for the American Giants.
The league was modeled after Major League Baseball and players were paid regular bonuses. The Negro League had teams that moved from city to city. It was a great way to get the last gate receipts from a season.
The Negro League emphasized speed and pitching. The American Giants were a fast and aggressive team. They were able to win five of the first seven championships in the NNL.
The American Giants played their first game in the league on May 2, 1920. They lost to the Indianapolis ABCs in the inaugural game. They then split a series with the Eastern Division, with each side scoring more than.500 against the other.
World Series victory
During the 1920s, the Chicago American Giants were the most dominant black baseball team. Their success began in 1910, when Rube Foster founded the ballclub. He was the manager and player. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981. The team won five pennants in the Negro National League during the 1920s.
When the Great Migration hit, the team became even more prominent. They were the longest-running continuous franchise in the Negro Leagues. The franchise shared Comiskey Park with the White Sox starting in 1941. They also played in Cuba.
The Negro Leagues were formed to showcase African American players. They were modelled after Major League Baseball. The teams barnstormed after the regular seasons ended. They were given regular bonuses and traveled on Pullman coaches.
Relationship with McGraw
During the early twentieth century, the Chicago American Giants were a popular barnstorming team in the Midwest. Founded by Rube Foster, the team won five of the first seven championships in the Negro National League. But they have hardly been remembered today.
John McGraw managed the team for thirty years. He had a successful career, earning Hall of Fame status and ranking third all-time in NL wins with 2,763 games. He won ten pennants and was second in three more World Series. He won four 100 plus win seasons.
His team won the National League pennant by nine games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also managed the San Francisco Giants for thirty years. He was ranked the third best manager of all-time behind Connie Mack and Tony La Russa.
