Baseball | Chicago American Giants | 1909—Chicago Cubs vs Leland’s Giants
The Chicago Unions (1887) and the Chicago Columbia Giants (1899) merged for the 1901 season creating the Chicago Union Giants, who in 1905 changed their name to the Leland Giants. The Leland Giants then split into two teams for the 1910 season creating the Chicago Giants and the new Leland Giants, who later changed their name to the Chicago American Giants.
In 1907 Leland’s Giants Baseball Association was located at 6258 S. Ashland, in 1909 at 2551 State Street.
Chicago Union Giants
1905
Inter Ocean, March 11, 1911
The process of converting the old White Sox grounds at Thirty-Ninth street and Wentworth avenue into a semi-pro plant was started yesterday, when the first clods of earth were turned by workmen employed by John Schorling, the lessee of the new way station in the Chicago Baseball league circuit. The old Auburn Park magnate. is going after the title of “the parlor home of baseball,” originally coined and copped by the Chicago Cubs, and when he gets through in a few weeks he promises to give the fans a perfect little gem of a grand stand.
The new stands are being planned to seat 4,500 people and will cost $15,000 to erect. Schorling. the new owner of the grounds, has lined up a club that will equal the grand stand in the American Giants.
Rube Foster will le the boss of the club and will have one of the strongest list of negro players ever secured on any one team.
For twenty or more years the grounds where the new park is being installed have been used for sporting events. At the time of the World’s Fair the old Wanderers Cricket club secured the plot of ground and carefully nursed a magnificent award of green on it until President Comiskey of the White Sox cast a judicial eye on the place and annexed it for the baseball public. Two years ago Commy was offered his new grounds four blocks nearer town and he snapped the offer up, putting his old park back on the market, where it was picked up by John Schorling.
Inter Ocean, May 14, 1911
GIANTS PARK TO BE OPENED.
Spaldings Chief Attraction of First Day at Old Comiskey Park.
Semi-pro magnates will complete the local chain of parks that will cater to the minor Cans in 1911 today, when the new American Giants’ park will open its gates for a game between the home team, “Rube” Foster’s American Giants and the Spaldings. The new park is built on the former site of Comiskey’s White Sox grounds, at Thirty- Ninth street and Wentworth avenue, and the grand stand is said to be the prettiest small ball park in the entire country.
Games scheduled for today are as follows:
- At American Giants’ Park—American Giants and Spaldings.
At West End Park—West Ends and Red Sox.
At Gunther Park—Gunthers and Rogers Park
At Normal Park—Leland Giants and Joliets
At Rogers Park—F. C. Webers and Chicago Stars.
At Roseland Eclipse Park-Roseland Eclipse and Tom Murrays.
At Torstenson’s Park—Pullmans and Normals.
At Lawndale Park—Original Crawfords and Yales.
At Roseland Eclipse Park—Roseland Eclipse and Joliets.
At Ogden’s Grove-Magneta and B. J. Coena.
Morning games scheduled as follows:
At Roseland Eclips Park—Roseland Eclipse an Joliets.
At Ogden’s Grove—Ogden’s Athletics and Marquettes.
Chicago American Giants 1914
In the front row, from left, are Billy “Little Corporal” Francis (third base), Richard “Dick” Whitworth (pitcher), Joseph Preston “Pete” Hill (shortstop), Andrew “Rube” Foster (owner-manager), Bruce Petway (catcher), James “Pete” Booker (catcher) and an unidentified person. In the back row, from left, are Bill Gatewood (pitcher); Jesse Barber, also Barbour (first base); Leroy Grant (first base); John Henry “Pop” Lloyd (shortstop); and Robert “Jude” Gans (outfield).
Chicago American Giants 1919
American Giants’ Inaugural 1920 Season
Chicago American Giants 1920
Cristobal Torriente (top row, far left) is standing next to Rafael Almeida as the two have a conversation. Other men pictured are Bernardo Baro, Pelayo Chacon, Ramon Herrera, Merito Acosta, Adolfo Luque, (next is unidentified), Emilio Palmero, Armando Marsans, Bartolo Portuondo, Eufemio Abreu, Mascot, and Isido Fabre.
Chicago Whip, March 20, 1920
What promises to be the greatest season at Schorling Park in its history, will be augmented with the opening of the season, Sunday, April l1th, promptly at 3 P. M., when, the pride of Chicago, American Giants, cross bats with the Crack Rogers Park Club of Chicago Ball League.
American Giants to present many new faces.
Several promising players, new to the fans here will be trotted out for inspection to the followers of the Giants, many Stars who has been idolized by the fans will be missing, The most prominent among them are Whitworth, the Ace of the piteing staff, wo will go to Detroit Stars, Carleston, the erack centerfielder of last kear’s club returns to A, B, C, of Indianapolis; Francis, third baseman and Barber, right fielder, goes east. We know these players who had won much favor with the fans, will be missed, and we with you mourn the loss of such favorites.
Yet due consideration must be given Foster, as he has manipulated many deals, and said it was good for the game to exchange players in order to maintain the interest, instead of seeing two good clubs. Each Sunday we will witness men who have proved their worth, at the same time the clubs will be utilized in equal strength. There was only one way to meet the demands of the fans, and we know with this end in view, Foster separated with such stars.
Giants will maintain their class.
One must not with losing these players think the Giants will not remain the same classy aggregation of years, they have added new men to fill the shoes of the boys who have left, and with Brown and Dixon, catchers, Grant, Demoss, Williams, Malarcher, infielders, Reese of Phila., Torriente, Gans, Tom Williams, Tom Johnson and Dave Brown, Pitchers, they have the class equal in strength to defeat any club of color in the business, yet there will be 16 new men here in addition to these men, for tryouts, who will be reserved for future use, so we will not worry over the outcome. It is certain when these players appear here, standing room will be at premium.
Chicago Whip, March 20, 1920
The season of the Cuban Winter League is drawing to a close and has been a big success, the hundreds of tourists from the desert States having contributed immensely to the patronage of the games played. Various players who spend their summers in the States in major and minor leagues will now report and take up the game in America where they left it off in Cuba, for the Cuban ball player is a tireless individual and therein sets an example for his lazier Northern cousin.
The Cuban winter season has had its features and its biggest sensation, according to travelers, has been the batting of the “Black Babe Ruth.” Christopher Torriente, who has out-Babed the Babe with his tremendous stickwork. He has won such fame that various independent teams not particular about color in the States are bidding for the services of the colored Behemoth.
Cuba’s Black Babe hasn’t been hitting against Cuban pitchers only to Idlemonstrate bis prowess. He showed fit against some of the best major league pitching previous to the opening of the regular Winter league season.
He Whaled National Leaguers.
In ten games played by his team against the team that played under George Cutshaw’s management in Cuba, facing such big league pitchers as Ed Pfeffer and Leon Cadore, of the Brooklyn team, and Carlson and Ponder, of the Pirates. Terriate pasted the pellet for the healthy batting average of .377. In six games against the All-Americans, batting against Jack Quinn. Bob Geary and Mule Watson. Torriente managed to compile a batting average of .408. and in the regular championship race of the Cuban League he has a neat batting average of .450. Never in any season of series he has played in Cuba has he fallen below .350, and it never appears to matter to him whether it is American big leaguers he is facing or his own island brothers.
Torriente, they say, is the surest and hardest hitter Cuba has ever produced. He broke ap one of the Pittsburg gates with a terrific home run belt off Harold Carlson that traveled so far into right center field that he had completed the circuit of the bases before Outfielder Max Carey had reached the ball. In one of the All American games he went to bat with two on and two out and his team two runs behind and slammed one of Bob Geary’s pitches so for into the same pasture that he loafed coming up the third base line and had crossed the plate on la slow trot before the ball has been returned to the infield. This ferocious swat won a game that until that minute appeared to be hopelessly lost, and the Cuban fans, with whom he is an idol stood up in the grandstand and threw him money until he had collected $32 from the grass around the home plate.
In still another game against the All-American he whaled out two home runs, one of the swats going to the left field fence and the other one to the right field barrier. For “Black Babe” hits with equal force to either field.
He’s a Left Hander, Too.
Like Babe of the Yankees, “Black Babe” hits and throws left-handed. But his posture at the plate reminds one more of the naturally careless style of Frank Schulte than it does the crouch of “White Babe.” Like Ruth, he is bulky and strongly built about the shoulders, but his legs are of more slender mould and he is much faster than the Yankee slugger.
He covers more ground in the outfield and can beat out a bunt and steal bases with as much proficiency as he whales them to the fences.
At the plate he is the perfeet picture of the natural hitter, and Frank Schulte, champion home run hitter of the Natiomal League for many years, remarked at a game that Torriente was one of the best looking hitters he had over seen. “He looks natural up there.” Schulte said, and he takes the right kind of a cut at the ball and doesn’t swing at any bad ones. If they could whitewash that bird he’d help some big league ball club a lot.” And Frank ought to know.
Christopher Torriente is a native of Cuba, having been born in Cienfuegas, about 300 miles from Havana 26 years ago. He has played in America with colored teams, with the American Giants of Chicago, and with the All Nationals of Kansas City, and has made five tours through the States with Cuban Stars.
Chicago Whip, June 5, 1920
The largest crowd in the history of Schorling’s Park, estimated at 16,000 (sic), saw the first game Sunday between Cubans and American Giants, the latter winning by a score of 4 to 1. The same teams play today. Score:
Giants 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0——4 8 2
Cubans 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0——1 4 1
Batteries—T. Williams and Dixon; Hernandez and Abreau.
SECOND GAME
Another record crowd turned at Schorling park to see the American Giants win the second game from the Cabans, 3 to 2. Count La Blane and Lieut. Tom Johnson hooked in a twirling duel, the latter having the better of it by holding the Islanders to three hits. Score:
Giants 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0——3 7 2
Cubans 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0——2 3 4
Batteries—Johnson and Dixon; Blane and Abreau.
Chicago Defender, January 5, 1924
By ANDREW RUBE FOSTER
For fear that continued criticism appearing in various papers might lead you to form an opinion that would prejudice your patronage to see clubs in the Negro National league perform, would like to have you suspend your criticism against the clubs until you are convinced by proof that they have done better than expected:
League Has Done Well
With less than $12,000 to work with or on, all of this for individual clubs, not one cent was used for promotion. The league has been able to function and has paid out to players $423,000 and for the use of parks $165,000. For railroad fares, sleeping car fares and board, $130,000. This has nothing to do with the incidental expense of ench club. advertising, balls, bats, equipment and help at the ball parks, umpires, etc.
There are only 27 Sundays and holidays in the playing season. It is a proven fact that on Sundays only have clubs been able to play at a profit.
Detroit and Chicago have 18 Sundays during the season that can be played at a profit. Kansas City. Indianapolis and St. Louis hare 11 Sundays.
The week days have on many occasions been a complete loss and many times the clubs after playing have had to dig down in their pockets and pay an additional expense, the gate being too small to even pay expenses. Yet four years ago the combined salaries of the clubs we had West did not amount to $15,000. These are facts and are worthy of your consideration.
There is a demand for a schedule. the things the big leagues are doing and a continual knocking by giving comparison with what big leagues are doing. and why we should do the same things. Probably you have never taken into consideration that men who operate big league clubs are rich men. Their wealth can be counted in millions, that a man cannot own a big league club that has not millions of dollars, that we have only the faith in the weather man and cannot see our way clear to do so. We are willing and know what can be done, but have nothing to do it with. There are plenty of places for sale on Sheridan Rd.. also on the North side; plenty of places for sale in tho Loop. You could own them easier than we could afford to operate as big league clubs or minor associations.
Constructive Criticism Is Just
Criticism either makes or breaks one and many times prepares one to do better. We have been severely criticized hy some, yet the same critics cannot even make a living themselves. When one so criticizes just ask him to show you what he has accomplished, or how many men’s welfare he is responsible for. When he answers you you will have a better chance to see why some people knocK. If conditions are wrong I for one welcome a change, but don’t break up something unless you have something equal to give in return.
Several articles have anpeared in different newspapers that have been very detrimental. They have not been based on any truth, just deliberate lies. yet it was considered good news and went to the people.
Our people mostly believe all they read, but are fast waking up to the belief that reading a thing does not make it correct, and are thinking some for themselves.
I take great pride when I refer to the American Giants. They have done wonders. When there were no other clubs in existence tho Giants traveled thousands of miles to play ball. Each trip has brought renown to Chicago. Anyone familiar with such trips knows they are all taken with sure loss of money. Yet we believed a better day was coming and set out for California and the far Northwest to make the Colored players heard of. Our various successes are now history. The Giants have done more to keep a friendly feeling between the Negroes and whites than any other institution of its kind in the world. They are the best card in baseball from merit and accomplishment.
Color Line Not a Barrier
Mr. Schorling is one of the best and most honorable men I have ever come in contact with. He made it possible for us to enjoy baseball in the city. The park was built exclusively for us, has been used the same way, and is an investment that runs into thousands of dollars. He has allowed to be paid through my hands over $700,000 to Colored people alone. In our 12 years together, there has never been a difference of opinion. He has never asked me why I did anything or censured me for any steps taken. He has paid me more than any man before; he has given me many thousands of dollars that I knew did not come from the games, as it was just three years ago we were able to pay for the park.
You can see or better judge the type of man he is when you take into consideration that every game, all contracts and permission for the use of the park, what anyone receives, all help and employees, rental of grounds have been trusted to me, and no one has been able to do any business with him until they came to me. This will give you better insight into how some men are made. When he wanted me he said, “I am fixing to invest lots of money in baseball. I want you with me. Name the terms.” I told him. He said: “If that’s what you want you must be worth it.” That was our last business talk. This was 12 years ago.
Appreciating the many favors and patronage we have been accorded by the fans everywhere, especially at Chicago, I want you not to sorry over rumors concerning the club. We have always given you the best; we will make efforts to continue. You have seen the stars leave here. Some criticized me for sending many of the best players in the world away, yet you had confidence enough to await developments, and have seen developed the greatest players in the country. None of these players made the American Giants. It is an institution and will live: its resources can he depended on.
Men sometimes outlive their usefulness. There sometimes do things that are detrimental to the best interests of the club. Players leaving here have done this, hence the change. All players who have been asked to remain or tendered contracts have signed. Leave the rest to us.
Chicago Defender, December 13, 1930
Andrew “Rube” Foster, the master wind of baseball, perhaps the most colorful figure the game has known, was called out by Umpire Father Time after a battle of two years in an effort to regain his health. He died Tuesday evening at 9 o’clock in a hospital in the central part of Illinois.
Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon from St. Mark’s M. E. church, 59th and Wabash ave., at 3 o’clock. The Rev. John B. Redmond will preach the service. The North Star lodge No. 1 of Masons and the Stranger lodge No. 26 Knights of Pythias will take part. Burial will take place Monday at Lincoln cemetery.
Mr. Foster was bern in Calvert. Tex., Sept. 17, 1819. the son of Rev. and Mrs. Andrew Foster. His father was presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married to Miss Sarah Watts at Temple, Tex., Oct. 28. 190S. The wife and one son, Earl Mack Foster. age 20, a student at Wilberforce university, survive him. A little girl, Sarah, died at the age of 3 years In 1921. Other relatives to mourn his loss are two sisters. Miss Geneva T. Foster, teacher in Sapulpa, Okla., and Mrs. Gertrude Edwards of Santa Monica, Cal, and one brother. WIll Foster. now pitching baseball in Los Angeles.
Mr. Foster’s colorful career not only as a ball player and pitcher but as a manager and later as president of the Negro National league, which he founded in 1920, starts back in his home town of Calvert, Texas, where he learned the game on the sand lots.
He went to Fort Worth to become a member of the Fort Worth Yellow Jackets, and while a member of that team in 1899 he was at Hot Springs. Ark., where Connie Mack’s Philadelphia American league team did their spring training. Just to show them he “could fling them over” in grand style, Rube pitched to Mack’s men for batting practice. When Mack went east he carried the news of the greatness of this young “Rube.”
Foster got his first northern trial as a member of Frank Leland’s Giants in Chicago in 1901. After a year with Leland, Foster went east to play with the Philadelphia Cuban Giants. who were then owned E. B. Lamar.
He rejoined the Leland Giants and brought with him from the East such men as Nate Harris, Danger Talbot, James Booker. Pete Hill, Andrew Payne. George Wright and Pat Moore, all first-class ball players. The team played at 79th St. and Wentworth Are. and was a member of the Chicago City league.
Foster founded the American Giants in 1910 and played all comers, including all-star teams with such major league. players on their roster as Jimmy Callahan. manager of the Chicago White Sox; Jimmy Hutton, now head of the Postoffice league; the late Jake Stahl, who afterward went to manage the Boston American league club: Mike Donlin of the New York Giants, Percy Skillin, Gus Munch, McNichols and others.
In 1920 he founded the Negro National league. It was a child of his brain, and Foster not only invested time but lost considerable money trying to assist promoters of teams in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo and other cities. In fact, he was not only the brains of the league but was the league itself.
Ho save away enough ball players to make four first-class clubs. asking nothing in return. He was president of the league at the time, two years ago, when his health caused him to give up the game and seek a rest.
Rube Foster’s name is not only written is in the baseball history of his Race. but he is known wherever baseball was played between 1900 and today. He knew more big league players and owners than any other individual, and knew perhaps more newspaper men than any of the present-day players with the possible exception of Babe Ruth, who is the only man to have more space devoted to him in the dally newspapers than Mr. Foster.
His death comes on the eve of the midwinter meeting of the league which he founded. His loss is more than a loss to basceall—it is a loss to mankind.
Chicago Tribune, December 16, 1930
FOSTER, HERO OF NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE, BURIED
Andrew (Rube) Foster, founder of the Negro National Baseball league and noted colored pitcher, was buried at Lincoln cemetery at noon yesterday. The North Star lodge of Masons conducted the rites.
Foster was buried as he lived—the hero of thousands on the south side. Throngs on Sunday paid their last respects at St. Mark’s Methodist Episcopal church, 50th street and Wabash avenue, where the Rev. John B. Redmond delivered the eulogy.
The auditorium was packed, while outside 3,000 stood in the snow and rain. Representatives of the Negro National league, the Umpires Protective association, owners of various semi-pro ball clubs, and men and women from all walks of life attended the services.
The altar and each side of the huge bronze casket were banked with flowers.
Chicago Sunday Bee, May 14, 1941
The “new deal” planned for Chicago American Giants’ followers is working out to perfection.
They’re going to have a great club to watch this season in the struggle for the Negro American League pennant and a beautiful place to see at least the opening home games.
From the office of President H. G. Hall in Chicago comes word that preparations are under way to make a gala affair of the home opener on Sunday afternoon, May 18, when a gala doubleheader with the champion Kansas City Monarchs will be staged in Comiskey park.
Because of the fire that swept the American Giants’ stands to the ground during the winter, they have accepted the kind offer of the Chicago White Sox management to use the big stadium at 35th and Shields until their own park is ready.
But more than that, comes the pleasing word from the South of the power being exhibited by the Giants on their long swing through the South. With many old favorites back in the fold, lured by the attractive program being pursued by the south side club in its efforts to regain the glory of past years, and the new players among the best ever recruited, it’s no wonder that the pennant bee is starting to hum among the Giants’.
For one thing, the veteran rooters.
“Candy Jim” Taylor is back as manager after a season of piloting the Birmingham Black Barons. The wily Taylor, one of the top-ranking Negro managers, is tickled pink with his squad and has gone on record as saying it’s the team to beat for the Negro American League crown.
Further cause for rejoicing is the return of such old favorites as Willie Cornelius, the great pitcher; “Pepper” Bassett, sensational young catcher; Billy Horne, top second, baseman, and others to the club after being.away awhile.
The Giants are blessed with good talent at every position. The pitching staff should be one of the best in the league with Willie Cornelius, Willie (Lefty) Hudson, the pitcher Manager Taylor rates as the best southpaw prospect since the days of Willie Foster, Henry Fletcher, another crack left-hander; Ted Alexander, and the star-bidding Ferrell brothers.
And the catching—oh, man! If it weren’t cause for rejoicing that the popular Bassett is back after a season of stardom in Mexico, there’s the presence of hard-hitting Oscar Boone to split the receiving duties with Bassett, leaving big Ed Young available exclusively for first-basing.
The infield will be tops, for there’ll be besides Young and Horne at first and second, the sensational Curtis Henderson at short and hard-hitting and sure-fielding Ted Gipson at third, plus some fine utility talent.
The outfield likewise is a joy to behold. First, out in right field will be the leading home-run hitter of the league last year, Donny Reeves, himself, slugging harder and more consistently than ever. Centerfield will have the player the fans will be talking plenty about, Jimmy Crutchfield. And, in left, is the especial apple of Taylor’s eye, eighteen-year-old Art Pennington, a fast and sensational outfielder, a good hitter and possessor of what the Giants’ manager terms= “the best throwing arm in the league.”
Yes, it looks like a return to the good old days for the Giants who have been sweeping all before them on their swing through the South. At least they will be a team hustling all the way, able to put up a hard game against the best of them and a team that will play pleasing ball at all times.
Chicago American Giants 1941
United Press International, June 30, 1950
CHICAGO -(UP)– The Chicago American Giants Thursday announced the signing of two White players, the first in the 17-year history of the Negro American League.
The players were Louis Clarizio, 20-year-old outfielder, and Lou Chilban, 19-year-old pitcher, both former players at Crane Technical high school here.
Mr. J. B. Martin, owner of the Chicago Negro team and president of the league, said that the players had been scouted during their high school careers.
They were graduated two years ago and since have been playing for the Armour meat packing team in the city industrial league. They will join the Giants July 9.
Clarizio said he accepted the post with the Giants “to get started in baseball.” Chilban said he received overtures from the Chicago White Sox, but was advised by the Sox to join the Giants as a means of gaining experience without playing in the White bush leagues.
Chicago Defender, July 8, 1950
How did the American Giants learn about the two white ball players they signed last week? That’s one of the questions fans have been asking since the man. agement made the announcement.
Well, it was disclosed this week that the Giants’ -management had had the two players—Louis Clarizio, 20, and Lou Chirban, 19, scouted for more than a year. The man doing the scouting is George Harney, former ace pitcher for the Giants back in the 1930’s.
“We had. heard about the two players from Harney,” said William Little, president of the Chicago team, “and we asked him to keep us posted on their progress.
“Some weeks back Harney told us that the two men were ready. He also said that Chirban, the pitcher, was an excellent prospect. Knowing Harney’s reputation, we decided then and there to sign them.”
Johnny Talmo was the first to sign, but he later asked a release from the cotract. Clarizio was then signed to replace him. Clarizio is an outfielder.
A stocky five foot eight inches, weighing 150 pounds, Clarizio is regarded as a fair hitter and packs plenty of power in his bat. He graduated from Crane Technical High School in Chicago two years ago. He has been playing with the Armour Packing House team. Chirban, a big six-footer, is also a graduate of Crane where he pitched on the school team, winning three and losing one game last year. He won two and lost one for Armour this season.
Both players will quit their jobs with Armour and report to the American Giants this week, and will be in the lineup when the Chicagoans play the Indianapolis.
Chicago Tribune, July 9, 1950
The Chicago American Giants, with two white players in their lineup, will be back in Comiskey park today to engage the Indianapolis Clowns in a Negro American league double header, starting at 1:30 p. m.
A large crowd is expected to see the league debut of two former Crane Tech athletes, the first white players ever to perform with the Giants. They are Out-fielder. Louis Clarizio, 20, and Pitcher Lou Chirban, 19.
Chirban to Pitch Today
Manager Ted Radcliffe has announced he will start both white players in the seven inning second game. Chirban will pitch, and Clarizio will replace Cowyn Hyde in right field. The white players also will travel with the Giants on the road for the remainder of the season.
The Giants will use Harry Rhodes, southpaw, who has won three starts at home, on the mound in the opener. He will be opposed by Jimmy Cohen. Edward Davis will be Chirban’s mound foe in the second game.
Art Pennington, Giants’ center fielder, is hitting .403 and is expected to be the home club’s offensive sparkplug.
Hairston Leads Clowns
The Clowns, powered by Catcher Sam Hairston’s .425 average, are leading the eastern division of the circuit, while the Giants have slipped to third. Lineups:
LEFT: Lou Chirban (second from left, a 19-year-old pitcher, and Louis Clarizio (second from right). 20-year-old outfielder, chat with Chicago American Giants Manager Ted Radcliffe (right) before making their first appearance with the team in Chicago. Both from Chicago they are the first white players in the Negro American Baseball league. At left is Al Dubetts, southpaw pitching prospect from Havana. who is seeking to join the team.
AP Photo, July 9, 1950
RIGHT: Manager Ted (Double Duty) Radcliffe talks to his four white players before the game. Left to right they’re Lou Chirban, pitcher: Frank Dyll and Stanley Marka, infielders, and Lou Clarizio, outfielder. Chirban and Clarizio were the first two signed by the Chicago American Giants.
Chicago Defender, July 29, 1950
Chicago Defender, July 15, 1950
Biggest News in Negro baseball history was the recent signing of two crack white players by the Chicago America Giants. Owner William Little closed the deal.
Dr. J. B. Martin. president of the Negro American League, congratulated the two New Dealers’ after the historic contracts had been signed. They were Louis Clarizio, 20 years old, and outfielder, and Lou Chirban, 19, pitcher. After a round of hand-shaking by all present, the boys’ only comment was, “Color makes no difference to us.”
If a few more white players follow the lead set by Clarizio and Chirban, it may well be the shot in the arm’ so badly needed to boost the dwindling gate receipts of Negro baseball.
The sports-loving public likes to see interracial, friendly com-retition in all games—amateur and professional, and so far as the fans themselves are concerned, the question of ‘color or race’ is seldom raised.
At present, there are nine Negroes in Big League baseball-four with the Dodgers. two with Cleveland, two with New York (Giants) and one with Boston (Braves). With the fans balloting, three of the nine were selected for the All-Star game played July 11, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. They were Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella of the Dodgers. playing for the National League team, and Larry Doby, Cleveland Indians, berthed on the Ameri-can. League team.
By a singular coincidence, the two white players- Clarizio and Chirban~- played their first game in Negro baseball, when they faced the Indianapolis Clowns in a double-header at Comiskey Park.
So, the happy and welcome trend of the day is that in base-hall. the interracial rule works both wars. Whites play with Negroes. and vice-versa, and the resultant increase in gate receipts is welcomed by the team owners.
Here’s a case in point, showing how the Chicago American Giants need the “blood infusion” of the two white players at the box office. When the Brooklyn Dodgers played their last series in Chicago against the Cubs, the Sunday game—with Jackie Robinson as a stellar attraction—drew an attendance of neariy 40,000. An estimated 6.000 Negro fans were on hand to cheer Jackie and the “Bums.” On the Southside. the same day at Comiskey Park, the American Giants plaved a visiting Negro team. Although the “net paid” was not announced, the fans sadly admitted that the attendance was less than 1,000—and Comiskey Park has a seating capacity of over 50,000. Which shows that the Negro fans went to the Northside to see Jackie and the Dodgers at Wrigley Field.
Old-timers, enjoying the spectacle of Negroes playing in the Big Leagues, some of them making outstanding records, recall many stars of the past who were in the heyday of their careers shortly after the turn of the century. They also wonder how many have been considered big league material then, had the color bar been dropped 35 or 40 years ago.
They call to mind the great Rube Foster, captain and star pitcher of the old American Giants. Legend has it that after the late John J. (Muggsy) McGraw, manager of the New York Giants, saw Rube pitch. he said: “If Foster was a white man, he’d be on the Giants’ team.”
As with baseball. so it is with track and football. True sports fans are the most democratic people in the world, rating sportsmanship and performance above color, race or religion.
Two outstanding examples: Famed Jesse Owens, Olympic star and holder of three world records—broad jump. 100-yard dash and the 220—was recently named by the sports writers of America as the world’s greatest athlete of the past 50 years.
The great Fred (Duke) Slater—now a distinguished Judge of Chicago’s Municipal Court—made history as a linesman on the University of Iowa’s football team and was named an All-Time, All-American by Walter Eckersall, renowned gridiron expert.
Each year at the Homecoming in Iowa City, Duke Slater attends the game and sits as honored guest in the box occupied by the Governor of the state and the Mayor of the city. In one of the main buildings at the University, the shoes worn by Duke in his last varsity game are enclosed in a glass case.
Over the case is this inscription: “Who Will Fill Them?”
January 6, 2012 by Tom Owens
White Negro Leaguer Louis “Gray Cat” Clarizio Salutes The Men Who Just Wanted To Play Ball
Imagine your life feeling like a made-for-TV movie.
Louis Clarizio Jr. lived a baseball adventure that no fiction could match. In 1950, this Caucasian outfielder played for a Negro League team, the Chicago American Giants. His humble letter provided a fascinating picture of the power of baseball.
First, I asked about his childhood. Clarizio replied:
Growing up on the west side in Chicago in Little Italy, I was not exposed to many Black people. In elementary school there was only one. In high school, there were several.
Fast-forward to an instant baseball career!
While playing on the team called the Chicago Roamers, I was invited to spring training to Paducah, Kentucky, a Phillies farm club. My friend called and told me the Amour Stars needed ballplayers. I would play two games and week and one on Sunday. Most of the players were Black. Armour Stars were part of the Industrial League. I worked at the stockyards in daytime and played ball three times a week. That’s when I started to noticed that Blacks were not treated fair.
Admirably, Clarizio couldn’t recall teammates complaining.
We rarely discussed race. When we did, it went something like this:
‘We love playing baseball. Things are the way they are.’
While with the Armour Stars, I was one of the leading batters in the Industrial League, and I was noticed by the Chicago American Giants.
Jackie Robinson was signed in 1947 by the Dodgers. The racists were angry. They complained no whites in Negro Leagues. That’s when I was signing up.
Clarizio included a photocopy of a 2009 article about his experiences. In the feature, he explained that teammates asked, ‘Can this gray cat play baseball?’ They didn’t say ‘white.’ In those days, everyone was a cat. While Comiskey Park was Clarizio’s home ballpark (when the White Sox were traveling), the rest of the American Giants’ schedule was unpredictable.
When we played, every small town had a baseball team. The American Pastime. The Major League sponsored them. That was, and still is, their farm clubs. A typical day started at 11 a.m. We boarded the bus and traveled to these small towns to play. The first thing we did when we got to the ballparks was eat HOT DOGS. I can’t tell you how many. Some towns didn’t even have one Black person living there. We would fill the little stadiums. Most people were good.
By “people,” I assumed Clarizio meant fans. He added:
The bad racists threw their beer bottles at me, firecrackers. When I’d get to the dugout we would all have a big laugh. ‘Double Duty’ (manager Ted Radcliffe) would say, ‘Are you starting World War III?’ He would ask me if I wanted to move to center field or right.
Chicago Tribune, January 9, 1951
The Chicago American Giants, one of the oldest teams in Negro baseball, changed ownership yesterday when it was purchased from J. B. Martin by Winfield S. Welch and a group of Chicago business men in an estimated $50,000 transaction.
Martin will remain as president of the Negro American league, of which the Giants are long time members. Martin, who had owned the club 12 years, said the sale was made so he could devote more time to league operations.
Welch, who started his baseball career as a player with the New Orleans Crescents in 1922, is credited with helping develop such outstanding stars as Luke Easter, Art Wilson, and Satchel Paige. In the early 1930s, Welch became manager of the Crescents. Later he piloted the Birmingham Black Barons, Cincinnati Crescents, New York Cubans, and the American Giants in 1949.
“I could not have sold the Giants to a better baseball man,” said Martin. “I am sure he will make the club a power again in Negro baseball.” Welch also is road secretary of the Harlem Globe Trotters basketball team.
While the quality of play in the Negro Leagues was on a major league level, the wages, travel, playing conditions, press coverage, and record-keeping were more varied, primarily due to systemic racism. Additionally, Negro League teams played a shorter regular season schedule, but with an extensive amount of exhibitions and barnstorming games that made for seasons that often approached 200 or more games in total.
The Negro Leagues were fading away by the 1950s. The top players were being snapped up rapidly by Major League Baseball; those too old for the majors were finding better options financially in the Mexican League or minors. The Negro Leagues by this point were primarily an early development system for prospects. Quality of play was low, teams were folding rapidly and many resorted to showmanship and clowning to draw fans. The East-West Game remained, but was a shadow of its former self.
Source: Seamheads Negro Leagues Database
Chicago Tribune, July 4, 1982
Andrew “Rube” Foster starred in professional baseball in Chicago for most of the first quarter of this century. He was one of the best players and most successful managers in baseball history and is in the major-league Hall of Fame. But you won’t find his name in major-league record books because Foster played in a league where, in author Robert Peterson’s phrase, “only the ball was white.”
Foster, a pitcher out of a small town near Waco, Texas, was for black baseball a combination of Cy Young, John McGraw, and Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
For Chicago’s Leland Giants he pitched against the Cubs in three closely fought contests in 1909, losing by a run in one of them when the Cubs scored four in the ninth inning. One of the runs was scored by Joe Tinker, who ran home while his teammates argued about Foster’s stalling tactics.
Foster did take his time on the mound, prompting a local newspaper, the Chicago Inter-Ocean, to credit him with “the coolness and deliberation of a Cy Young.”
He had come to Chicago in 1902 at the invitation of the team’s owner, Frank C. Leland, who warned him the going would be rough because the team, then called the Union Giants, would be playing “all the good white
“I fear nobody,” replied Foster, who stood 6. foot-4, weighed more than 200 pounds, and arrived packing a pistol Texas-style.
Later he played for the Philadelphia Giants, where Jack Johnson, who later became the heavyweight boxing champ, played first base. This best of the “colored” teams played Sunday contests for $100 a game.
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