1909 Leland Giants

A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1909 Leland Giants

1909 Leland Giants

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

January 16, 1909

Chicago, IL
"A Feast of Reason and a Flow of Soul - at the Chateau De Plaisance, 5324 State Street. January 23, 1909. - There will be an Old Fashioned Dance and Skate Contest, followed by an Old Time Supper. Reels, Break Doqn, Square and Round Dancing, Southern Quartet, Good Music while there will be served - Fried Rabbit, Possum, and Yaller Yams, Crackling Bread, Roast Pork and Gravy, Baked Goose with stuffing, Kentucky Oysters (chittlings), Pumpkin Pie, etc. Those wishing a good time and a rare treat will not fail to attend. Two prizes: First, Best Old Fashioned Dressed and Dancing; Second, Best Old Fashioned Dressed and Skating. Admission One Dime. - N.B. - At 12 midnight sharp there will be a midnight Vaudeville in the Cafe and a prize will be awarded to the person eating the greatest amount of Possum and Yaller Yams. Leland Giants Base Ball and Amusement Association.

"Mr. Andrew Foster, better known as Rube, Captain and Manager of the Leland Giants Base Ball Club, the world's greatest pitcher, arrived in the city last Monday evening with his bride from Calvert, Texas, and wishes to meet his friends and fans Saturday and Sunday evening at the Leland Giants Skating Rink. Come out and give him a hearty welcome and join the Leland Giants 1909 Rooters Club that will be organizes for the season. Mrs. Rube Foster will take her first lesson on Rollers next Tuesday afternoon at the Chateau Rink.

"Mr. Frank Leland, our new County Commisssioner also manager of the Leland Giants Base Ball Club paid a hurried visit to the Chateau last Saturday evening on business of importance with Secretary and Treasurer, B.F. Moseley.

"Rube Foster, the wander is in town and will be floor Manager at the Chateau."

January 18, 1909

Chicago, IL
"A league has been organized in Chicago consisting of a team in Milwaukee and five in Chicago, the Logan Squares, the Gunthers, the West Ends, the Leland Giants, and Anson's Colts. It will ask for protection under organized base ball."

Chicago, IL
* Same article from the New Haven Union Newspaper

Chicago, IL
* Similar article from the Bridgeton Pioneer newspaper

January 19, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Mr. Danger Talbert, Third Baseman of the Leland Giants Base Ball Club left for Palm Beach, Florida last Tuesday."

January 21, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The stockholders of the Leland Giants Base Ball and Amusement Association held their annual meeting last Thursday, January 21st, at the office of Mr. B.F. Moseley, 6258 Halsted Street, and the following members were elected to hold office for the ensuing year. Frank C. Leland, President, Major R.R. Jackson, 1st Vice President; W.V. Jefferson, 2nd Vice President; B.F. Moseley, Secretary and Treasurer; J.H. Bolden, Manager; Andrew Rube Foster, Manager and Captain of the Team. Mr. John Brown of Cleveland, Ohio paid a visit to the Chateau last week."

Chicago, IL
"A Pleasant Winter Evening - Are You in Search of One? - Then Visit the Chateau, 5324 State Street, Tonight. - There is a fine Picture Show, Roller Skating, Dancing and superb music, refreshments and a jolly good time for good people. No proscription. Special prize program every Saturday and Sunday. - Admission 10 cents - one dime. - Leland Giants' Baseball and Amusement Association"

January 23, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Chateau Rink Notes - The Old Fashioned Skate and Dance fest and Possum and Sweet Potatoe Supper at the Chateau last Saturday night was a huge success. Prominently among those present was Col and Mrs. John R. Marshall, Major and Mrs. R.R. Jackson, Honorable E.H. Wright, A.A. Wells, H.C. Catlin, G. Goings, Alex Stephens, J. Trott, Mrs. Seams, Miss Collon, Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Fitts, Mrs. Moore, Miss Rena Brokenberg, County Commissioner Frank Leland, Andrew Rube Foster, Miss S. Smith, Julius F. Taylor, Editor The Broad Ax, Beauregard F. Moseley and many other prominent citizens, who had the pleasure of partaking of some Old Time Viands and to listening to Mr. Williams Drinking Song, which with the rest of the menu was palatable indeed."

February 13, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants to Open Season April 28th - Pennant Winners of the Chicago City League of 1908 to Make Record Tour - Prospects of Team are Good. - Chicago, Illinois - To the Sporting Editor of The Freeman. Dear Sir - I thought I would drop you a few lines concerning the Leland Giants. They will be as good if not better when the season opens April 28th. We won the pennant last year in the Chicago City League, composed of seven white clubs and one colored, the Lelands. We won 108 games out of 126 played, and had 40 shut-outs. Foster succeeded in hanging up a world's record in pitching. He pitched 66 innings (successive) without a run being scored off him. He also lead the team in hitting. The Lelands were also admitted in the new Chicago League, and hold a franchise in the same, which is composed of all park teams, namely, the Logan Squares, managed by J.J. Callahan, formerly manager of the Chicgo White Sox; Anson Colts, A.C. Anson, manager, formerly manager of Chicago National League Club; Gunther's West Ends, Milwaukee White Sox, and Leland Giants, the only colored team that has in recent years been admitted to leagues composed of all white players and promoters. The Lelands will be composed of the following players; Catcher, Booker and Strauthers; pitchers, Rube Foster, Ball, Gatewood and Southpaw Hayes; infielders Moore at first base, Harris at second base, Wright at shortstop, Talbert at third base; outfielders Winston in left field, Hill in center field, and Payne in right field. In payne, Winston and Hill, the Lelands have an outfield equal to any in the Major League ranks, as fast and as accurate in throwing, exceptional hitters and great fielders, and in speed surpass any outfield in the country. The infield, composed of Moore, Harris, Wright and Talbot, are all great players in every way. Wright and Harris around second base and short are the equal of any two players in the world, and the steadiness of Moore and Talbot on third base and first base and their machine-like execution of different plays, merits them their name of the Gibralter Infield, and it is common to hear some fans and players say, 'That infield is as strong as Gibralter.' In catchers, Booker is called the king of colored baseball. He is brainy, a graceful receiver, a sure-as-death thrower, and to see him work is a treat. Base runners seldom try to steal on him. He is full of ginger. Strauthers is the making of a good catcher. In pitchers, there are few teams in the country as well supplied in first-class pitchers as the Lelands. Ball, Gatewood, and Foster are a trio that no team care to face. Ball is noted for his speed and fast breaking out curves; Gatewood for his tremendous speed, side-arm delivery and drop. Rube Foster has no limit to his speed, but he seldom uses it. He throws over hand, under hand, side arm, and has a different delivery for every ball, and he is considered the brainiest and coolest pitcher in tight places that has ever been in the game. Besides this he is as tricky as a fox. Foster has no superior as a pitcher, and under his management the past two years, the Leland Giants have made more money than during their entire existence. He has sent all of his men South. Some are at Palm Beach, Florida, and some at Havana, Cuba. They will all report at Chicago March 15th, and on March 16th they begin their 3800-mile trip through Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama, opening in Chicago April 28. This is by far the longest trip ever attempted by a colored team. Some of the players will take their wives. The Lelands will use a private car for their entire trip, three waiters and two cooks. Rube Foster, manager of the club, closed the deal last week. The fans of Chicago are all daffy over the Lelands, America's greatest colored team. Your respectfully, Rube."

February 20, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Champion Leland Giants to Go South for Spring Training. - First Time in History of Game That a Semi-Professional Team Goes on Training Tour. - President Buregaurd Mosley and Manager Rube Foster of the Leland Giants Amusement Company have decided to send the champions on an early spring tour, providing they can find enough teams in the many different cities to play the Giants. This will be the first time in the history of national game a semi-pro fessional team, black or white, has ever been sent on a training tour. The arrangement for the present year brought it about. Chicago, Milwaukee and Joliet have a league of star clubs with a regular appointed commissioner under the protection of the American and National League. The Committee of three appointed by the American and National League selected as one of the clubs. This bit of news startled the baseball world. From a local standpoint, it looks like the Lelands are about to break that strong barrier of race prejudice. Everything depends on the results of this year. There is no one in or around Chicago, black or white, who has any doubt about the outcome, as they are all clean baseball players and gentlemen on and off the field. Without a doubt they are the biggest drawing card in this section of the country and would have been a dangerous factor to have had on the outside. The wise heads look on the financial side of the problem. It wouldn’t surprise the writer that if in a year or two there would be colored teams in many of the small leagues. It looks like the colored baseball players will get just a peep into that long looked for promised land. But a lot depends not only on the Leland Giants, but all colored clubs, for their knockers will be busy. The smallest detail will be laid before the commissioners. When President Mosley and Manager Foster were approached on the subject, they would not talk about the matter. They said only that there might be some truth in it, but they were not at liberty to give out anything to the press for publication at present. That their time was all taken up in trying to see their way clear in sending the team south. Also that they are in doubt as to which direction the team would travel back home, as they had given their word to reputable business men of the South that should they ever send the team South they would play their towns. The situation is quite puzzling, as these towns are too far apart to make the trip a success, except New Orleans, which has been definitely set upon as the opener. The State of Texas demands Foster, their native son. who would be a drawing card for any club, let alone the Leland Giants. On the other hand the cities along the Atlantic coast are just waiting for them. At this writing it is unsettled which the team will be. Foster has given this much information, that he has signed the regular line-up of fourteen men, but will carry along five young pitchers and. two outfielders. The roster will be twenty-one men, the largest aggregation of colored baseball players in the world. Then he intends to leave some time early in March for the South. He says also that he will either mobilize in Jacksonville, Fla., or New New Orleans as the most of his players are in Cuba playing with the Cuban League, and won’t need much training. He also adds that his greatest trouble will be in developing a young twirler, what he is most in need of for the coming season."

March 6, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The Leland Giants expect to carry off honors this coming season. With an unusually strong pitching staff and a fast infield, as well as an outfield of a good fielding average, the Lelands will play ball equal to that of the big league nines. The team will take a trip south for spring practice and will be in fine shape when they open their season April 28."

"Haynes With Lelands. - Special to The Freeman. - Chicago. - Special — E. W. Haynes will be on the Leland Giants’ pitching staff this season. He expects to be in the best possible shape. Haynes pitched for the Chicago Unions last season and won fifteen of the twenty games he pitched, which is an unusually good record. He has played on some of the best teams that travel out of Chicago. Haynes is expected to be a strong factor in the Lelands winning the pennant in the Chicago league."

"COLORED BASEBALL LEAGUE TO BE ORGANIZED - Indianapolis May Have Team in the Circuit—Season to Commence in May. - Special to The Freeman. - MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Articles of incorporation were filed by the Colored Baseball and Park Association, with a capital stock of $5,000. The purpose will be to organize a circuit of Negro clubs with Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Cairo, Paducah, Louisville, Indianapolis, and possibly other towns. The season will commence in May and end in September. A meeting will be held in Chicago later."

March 13, 1909

Chicago, IL
"J. Blaine Boyd, of the Globe Publishing Company at Nashville, Tennessee, would like to correspond with Rube Foster, manager of the Leland Giants."

"SOME BASEBALL GOSSIP. - LELAND GIANTS. - Now that the season is on hand, it is time to figure on what our good Colored teams are going to do, and who they expect to have in their lineups. Of course, the world's Colored champions, Leland Giants, will not make many changes this season. Harry Moore, Nathan Harris, George Wright and Talbert will be the infield. Probably Lloyd, of the Philadelphia Giants, and McMurray, of the St. Paul Gophers, may be seen romping in Leland Giants uniforms before the season is over. The outfield will, as usual, be Bobby Winston, Pete Hill and Andrew Payne, while the slabmen will no doubt be Walter Ball, the peerless “Rube” Foster, and probably Gatewood, with another to be signed yet, more than likely a southpaw’ artist. Harry Booker will be found catching the slants of the mighty Walter Ball and “Rube" Foster. Strouthers will be the other receiver, unless the Colored champions fail to land Petway, the “Johnny Kling” of Colored receivers."

March 20, 1909

Havana, Cuba
"Diamond Dust. - In Cuba, now the players all call Petway the 'Black Kling.' - Shutouts are getting to be common occurences with Walter Ball in Cuba. - Pete Hill, of the Lelands, is standing the natives on their heads by his terrific speed and slugging. - Nathan Harris, of the Lelands, is also in Cuba, as are Buckner, Booker, Lloyd, Bobby Winston and several others.

"If Walter Ball shoots them across the plate at Auburn Park this summer as he is doing now in Cuba, the Leland Giants will romp in the City League. - There is a great demand just now for Lloyd, Petway, Earl, McMurray and Gatewood, and there is tall hustling going on among the managers for their services. - Rube Foster looks to be in pink condition now. The Demon twirler takes his champions on a training trip this month, the first ever taken by a semi-pro team in Chicago."

March 27, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Manager Rube Foster of the Leland Giants, has completed the route of the famous sluggers."

April 6, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The Leland Giants. - Chicago Special. - The Leland Giants, the champion colored team of the world, leaves Chicago April 6, playing Chattanooga, Tennessee April 7-8-9; Memphis, Tennessee 10-11-12; Birmingham, Alabama 14-15-16; Fort Worth, Texas 18-19-20; Waco, Texas 21-22; Temple, Texas 23; Dallas, Texas 24-25-26; Wiley University, Marshall, Texas 27; St. Louis, Missouri 29-30; openeing in Chicago in City League, May 1. Andrew Rube Foster, the Giants Manager and Captain of the Lelands, has been working on the trip for two months, and has at last, through enormous expense, completed all arrangements. President Frank C. Leland of the club, who books all the games for the Lelands, has been indisposed, and he turned all arrangements over to Rube Foster, and his success proves that, besides being a great pitcher, he is without a doubt the best financier ever in colored baseball, and the fans of Chicago are satisfied that when President Leland, who was for fourteen years manager and owner of the Lelands, interested B.F. Mosely, secretary and treasurer of the club, Major R.R. Jackson, ex-President and Vice President, in forming a stock company, his other duties were of such a nature that he, after placing the Lelands on a strictly business basis, nominated Andrew Rube Foster for manager and captain of the club. the other officials knew little or nothing of Foster, and hated to see President Leland retire from active service, but through persuasion he carried his point and had Foster appointed manager and captain of the team. Rube Foster gained his first Northern experience as a pitcher through President Leland, and being a native of Texas, had never played North. Leland brought him to Chicago in 1901, and his success was great. His great pitching was the sensation of Chicago, and all the managers of the big teams were after him. E.B. Lamar, manager of the Cuban Giants, of New York, induced Foster to come to New York in 1902. The Cuban Giants played the Philadelphia Giants for the championship of the world, and through Foster's great pitching, won the championship, Foster winning four games out of the series played, and failed to be defeated in any game. He had the Philadelphia Giants completely at his mercy. The Philadelphia Giants were then composed of Captain Sol White, Frank Grant, William Monroe, John Patterson, Bob Foote, Harry Buckner, Kid Carter, William Bell, and Binga. The season of 1904 found Foster with the Philadelphia Giants, and the Philadelphia Giants and Cuban Giants played again for the Championship of the World. All baseball critics did not give the Philadelphia Giants a look-in. Foster's teammates, sore at his desertion, were doubly eager to get at him. The Cuban Giants were composed of Clarence williams, Ray Wilson, Bob Jordan, Patterson, Home Run Johnson, James Smith, Jackson, Moore, Buckner, Dan McClellan, Walter Ball, William Smith and Robinson. The week of the series Foster was taken ill, but Captain White insisted on his going to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where the opening game of the season was played. The Cuban Giants all laughed and said Foster was afraid to pitch, but when the umpire announced the battery - Foster and Johnson for the Philadelphia Giants, Ball and Williams for the Cuban Giants - the people who thronged the grounds cheered for the Cuban Giants as no team was ever cheered for in the East. Foster broke the record in these championship games, striking out eighteen of the Cuban Giants and winning by a score of 8 to 4. The Philadelphia Giants won the second game, 3 to 1, and the last and deciding game was won by Foster, 4 to 2, allowing the Cuban Giants only two hits. Foster remained with the Philadelphia Giants three seasons, and in 1907 Manager Leland persuaded him to go to Chicago. Foster brought all the men, with the exception of Talbot, from the East. The success of the Lelands in Chicago and other places has been the best ever achieved by a colored team. They won the pennant in the City League, losing one game, and in 1907 defeated a team of all stars, composed of such noted players ats Mike Donlin of the New York Giants; J.J. Callahan, of the Chicago White Sox; Jake Stahl, of the Boston American League team; Jimmy Ryan, Hildebrand and McNichols, for a side bet of $1,500, Foster winning four out of six game - every game he pitched. The Lelands' trip will cover 4,465 miles. They will travel in a private car, and the people of Chicago will give them a rousing send-off, and upon their return to Chicago they will receive a welcome greater than any other team ever received."

April 7, 1909

Chattanooga, TN
"...playing Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 7, 8 and 9"

April 8, 1909

Chattanooga, TN
"...playing Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 7, 8 and 9"

April 9, 1909

Chattanooga, TN
"...playing Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 7, 8 and 9"

April 10, 1909

Memphis, TN
"...playing Memphis, Tennessee, April 10-11-12"

Dallas, TX
"Diamond Dust from Dallas. - Play Ball! - Will the Lelands take all three games here? - The public expects a clean game this season. - Classy teams will get patronage, so it's up to the managers to put forth their best efforts to obtain good players. - Greenville, Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas will have several semi-professional teams. - The fans of Dallas, Texas are anxious to see the Leland Giants, the World's Colored Champions, in action. The Giants are scheduled to play there April 24, 25, and the 26th, as well as playing at Fort Worth, Waco, Temple, and Marshall, Texas. Before the Chicagoans leave for home the fans of the big State will see some great ball playing."

Memphis, TN
"The Leland beat Memphis, Tennessee 10 to 1."

April 11, 1909

Memphis, TN
"...playing Memphis, Tennessee, April 10-11-12"

Memphis, TN
"The Lelands beat Memphis, Tennessee 15 to 6."

April 12, 1909

Memphis, TN
"...playing Memphis, Tennessee, April 10-11-12"

April 14, 1909

Birmingham, AL
"...playing Birmingham, Alabama, April 14-15-16"

Birmingham, AL
"The Lelands beat Birmingham, Alabama 3 to 0."

April 15, 1909

Birmingham, AL
"...playing Birmingham, Alabama, April 14-15-16"

Birmingham, AL
"The Lelands beat Birmingham, Alabama 4 to 2."

April 16, 1909

Birmingham, AL
"...playing Birmingham, Alabama, April 14-15-16"

April 18, 1909

Fort Worth, TX
"...playing Fort Worth, Texas, April 18-19-20"

Fort Worth, TX
"A big delegation of fans will go to Fort Worth, Texas to witness the Leland Giants-McGar's Wonders games, which begin tomorrow and continue three days."

Fort Worth, TX
"The Lelands beat Fort Worth, Texas 8 to 5."

April 19, 1909

Fort Worth, TX
"...playing Fort Worth, Texas, April 18-19-20"

April 20, 1909

Fort Worth, TX
"...playing Fort Worth, Texas, April 18-19-20"

April 21, 1909

Waco, TX
"...playing Waco, Texas, April 21-22"

April 22, 1909

Waco, TX
"...playing Waco, Texas, April 21-22"

April 23, 1909

Temple, TX
"...playing Temple, Texas, April 23"

April 24, 1909

Dallas, TX
"...playing Dallas, Texas, April 24-25-26"

Dallas, TX
"We will have an opportunity to see the famous box artist, Andrew Rube Foster and his fellow team mates when the Leland Giants play here, April 24, 25, 26."

April 25, 1909

Dallas, TX
"...playing Dallas, Texas, April 24-25-26"

April 26, 1909

Dallas, TX
"...playing Dallas, Texas, April 24-25-26"

April 27, 1909

Wiley University, Marshall, TX
"...playing Wiley University, Marshall, Texas, April 27"

April 29, 1909

St. Louis, MO
"...playing St. Louis, Missouri, April 29-30"

April 30, 1909

Chicago, IL
"...opening in Chicago, in City League, May 1."

May 2, 1909

Houston, TX
"Houston Notes. - The famous Leland Giants, of Chicago, will cross bats with the Black Buffaloes of this city three days, beginning with tomorrow afternoon. The Buffaloes have promised to give the famous tossers a good sound baseball thrashing as they have never gotten before. The Giants have not been underestimated, but the localities believe themselves the Windy City's superiors."

Houston, TX
"The Lelands beat Houston 5 to 1, 8 to 5, and 5 to 0."

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants at Home. - Have Been in the South for Several Weeks Playing Winning Ball. - Chicago, Illinois. - The famous Leland Giants made their first local appearance this year Sunday against Jimmy Callahan's Logan Squares, the contest being the first one at Callahan's Park in the league, and also the colored team's first shot for the local championship. The Lelands, who have the same lineup as last year, with Gatewood added to the pitching staff, are said by Manager Leland to be stronger than ever in their history. For several weeks the colored boys have been barnstorming through the South, and are ready for a hard battle against the other teams in the Chicago league. Walter Ball is said to be vastly improved over his old form, although he showed high class toward the end of the season. During the winter he has been pitching in the Cuban League, and he has picked up a lot of new curves that are expected to make him the equal of Rube Foster, who has wintered in Chicago and lack midseason form so far."

May 15, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Frank C. Leland, owner of the Leland Giants, is preparing to take his team to California at the close of the present season to play the league of that State. They will be there about eight weeks."

"Houston, Texas Notes - The Leland Giants, of Chicago, defeated the Black Buffaloes in three consecutive games. The fans are crazy for the return of the Windy City team next year. They won much favorable comment as the result of their good playing and fine sportsmanship."

"Four thousand people attended the games played between the local boys and the Leland Giants. - Nobles umpired the games played between the home boys and the Leland Giants, the scores were in favor of the latter 5 to 1, 8 to 5, and 6 to 0."

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants Complete a Successful Southern Trip - Windy City Players' Tour Covered 4,465 Miles - Win Every Game Played - Foster Highly Greeted. - Chicago, Illinois. - Special. - The Leland Giants returned from their spring training trip after covering 4,465 miles undefeated. The strong teams of the South were toys in the hands of the champs. The Lelands beat Memphis 10 to 1 and 15 to 6; Birminghmam, Alabama 3 to 0 and 4 to 2; Fort Worth, 8 to 5; Austin, 5 to 1; San Antonio, 5 to 0 and 3 to 2; Prairie View State Normal, 6 to 0; Houston, Texas 5 to 1, 8 to 5, and 5 to 0. In both San Antonio and Birmingham the teams are far above the average. The following players; Third Baseman Leroy of Houston, Catcher Henderson of Fort Worth, Pitchers Baby Webb and Big Cyclone Joe are conceded to be fast and good enough for any team. The reception given the Lelands every place they went will go down in history as not only the greatest efforts of the people, but the greatest time ever accorded any team. The people were surprised at the intelligence of the players and their conduct, and spoke words of praise about them, and begged the management to return again next year. The Lelands jumped from Birmingham, Alabama, to Fort Worth, Texas, the last place that Rube Foster, now manager and captain of the Lelands, played in Texas. They arrived there at 12:20 noon, April 18, and the station was packed with both white and colored to greet Foster on his return to Texas. When he came in sight he was given a welcome that would have done honor to the President of the United States. The people had carriages, automobiles and a opera coach for the club, and long before time to play the grounds could not accommodate all the people. The same thing happened at Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. The last stopping place of the Lelands capped the climax in more ways than one. It drew the largest crowd during the trip, and also the largest crowd ever at a baseball game in Houston. A large delegation of people from Calvert, Texas, the home of Rube Foster, was at Houston, and the portion of the grandstand they had reserved made it knownt aht they were from Rube's home and that they approved of him. The ovation from men of every walk of life given Foster gives prominence to the high esteem of the people all over the country. Foster is without a doubt the most popular ball player in the country. When he first began to lay out plans for the long trip of the Lelands, many baseball men said it would be a financial loss and the trip would never be taken. But those who know Foster knew if he ever made up his mind to take the trip, the trip was assured, and when the announcement came out in the Freeman that the Lelands would leave Chicago April 6 on a 4,465 mile trip, every baseball man in the country sat up and took notice. The Lelands rolled into Chicago in their private Pullman car, completing the first and longest trip ever attempted by a colored team. This trip was greater than any of the minor league teams, and but one club in the major league circuits, and Chicago White Sox, exceeded the Lelands' trip. The Lelands will go to California October 17 to play all the clubs in the California State League. The southern trip was also a financial success. Phil E. Reid, manager and owner of the St. Paul Gophers, of St. Paul, Minnesota, accompanied the Lelands during the entire trip, and says that he had the finest time of his life."

May 21, 1909

West Baden, IN
"The Chicago Leland Giants found plenty to do at West Baden, Indiana Friday of last week, in defeating the West Baden Sprudels, it being a pitchers' battle and honors even until the twelfth inning, when the Giants scored on a safe hit to deep center, making the score 1 to 0. Batteries - Sprudels, Daugherty and Pierce; Giants, Ball and Booker. Attendance, 2,000."

May 22, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants' Home Games. - Have Nineteen More Games at Home Before Going West. - Chicago, Illinois, Special. - The Leland Giants have nineteen more of their home games to play. they lost their first local game to the Logan Squares. They will play again against the Gunthers Saturday, June 5; West Ends, June 6; Logan Squares, June 12; Gunthers, June 13; West Ends June 19; Anson Colts, June 20; Milwaukee White Sox, June 26; Anson Colts, July 18; Gunthers, July 31; West Ends, August 1; Logan Squares, August 7, Milwaukee White Sox, August 8; West Ends, August 14; Logan Squares, August 15; Milwaukee White Sox, August 28; Anson Colts, August 29; Gunthers, September 12; Anson Colts, September 19; Milwaukee White Sox, September 26."

May 25, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Chicago, Illinois - The Leland Giants have returned from a trip to the South, where they won every game played the locals totaled sixty runs in five games to their opponents' three. They played the first two games in Nashville, Tennessee, winning both in a runaway. The following are the games in detail: Nashville, Tennessee, May 25. - The Leland Giants shut out the Standard Giants. The feature of the game was the pitching of Gatewood and the heavy hitting of the Giants."

May 26, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Nashville, Tennesee, May 26. - The famous colored champions today proved to the Nashville public that they were the real thing by shutting out the Standard Giants a second time. Left Fielder Winston was put in the box by Manager Rube Foster, and he pitched fine ball, just the same as if he was one of the regular staff. He struck out fourteen men and allowed the local boys only two hits."

May 29, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The Leland Giants, of course, are going for the top of the Chicago City League."

May 31, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Lelands Play Nashville. - Chicago, Illinois. - The Leland Giants left Monday for Nashville, Tennessee, under the biggest guarantee ever given a semi-professional team. They are scheduled for Louisville, Kentucky and West Baden, Indiana."

June 4, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Decoration Day Game. - In the game at Logan Square Park, Walter Ball, pitching for the Giants, was the whole show. The speedy right hander allowed Callahan's players only four hits, which he kept well scattered. Bob Meinke and Frank Meinke each made a hit, and Hertel secured two, one of which was a double. As usual, Pete Hill starred with the bat for the Giants. Shortstop Wright prevented the Logan Squares from scoring by making a wonderful one-handed catch over second base with a man on third. Torrey, who defeated the Giants in their first game of the season, did not have much success against them this day. He was hit hard in seven innings, and was taken out to give Pelliter a chance. The latter worked well in the last three innings, and allowed no hits or runs. The Logan Square team played a brilliant game in the field, Meinke, Hage and Pearce pulling off some fast plays."

June 5, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play again against the Gunthers Saturday, June 5."

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants Defeat Guntehrs and Logan Squares. - Foster Pitches Some Against Gunthers - Ball Fans Six Men and Blacks Logan Squares. - Special to the Freeman. - Chicago, Illinois. - After playing five out of town games, the Leland Giants returned home to defeat the fast Gunthers, 5 to 1. The Leland Giants put in Rube Foster against the North Siders, and he showed in his first league game that he was as good as in former years. The game was an even one up to the fifth inning, when Rugar filled the bases with but one man out. Fred Bergmann took hold and retired the side for two runs. The Guthers landed their lone tally in the first inning on doubles by White and Gertenrich. The Giants put up a fine fielding game behind Foster. Rube allowed the Gunthers six hits, while the Giants bumped the pill for a score of taps. As usual he had good control, and only one man walked on him. The Gunthers scored one run in the first inning, but made the bull's eye in the eight following. Goeckel umpired the game."

June 6, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the West Ends Sunday, June 6."

June 12, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the Logan Squares June 12."

Chicago, IL
"Eighteen hits off Standard Giants in a nine-inning game. Oh, you Leland Giants! - Moore, of the Leland Giants, is playing real baseball at first. And Wright, his playing speaks for itself. - Fourteen strike-outs: Thurston, of the Leland Giants did it to the Standard Giants, and he is a left fielder, too."

"Three long games with small scores: Colored Keystones - Faribault, fifteen innings, score 0 to 0; Union Giants - Hyde Park, sixteen innings, 1 to 0; Leland Giants-West Baden, twelve innings, 1 to 0."

June 13, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the Gunthers June 13."

June 19, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the West Ends June 19."

June 20, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the Anson Colts June 20."

June 26, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the Milwaukee White Sox June 26."

June 28, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the Anson Colts June 28."

June 31, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants will play against the Gunthers June 31."

July 9, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Leland Giants Beat Cubans in Deciding Game. - Windy City Boys Bumped the Sphere Hard and Beat Islanders by a Score of 7 to 4. - Special to the Freeman. - Chicago, Illinois. - Lelands won the deciding game of their series with the Cuban Stars yesterday by the score of 7 to 4. The rubber game was bitterly fought by both teams and the Cubans looked to have stowed away in the second inning when doubles to Sanches and Villa, with a single by Magrinat sandwiched in, netted two tallies. The Lelands tied the score by lone tallies in the third and fourth innings on long hits by Ball and Hill, followed by singles, and in the fifth innings put across three runs on the same number of hits, Pete Hill's three bagger putting across most of the runs. Two more runs were added in the eighth on hits and an error by Magrinat. The only error by the Lelands was made by Wright on a bad bounder, but it let Hernandez score after he had hit a three-sack safety. Pete Hill and Mason, the temporary outfielder of the Giants, hit freely for most of the local team's runs."

July 17, 1909

Indianapolis, IN
"We love you Cub Stars, but Oh you Leland Giants."

July 26, 1909

St. Paul, MN
"St. Paul Gophers Win Championship Series - Leland Giants Bested for Three Games out of Five - Steel Arm Johnny Wins Deciding Game. - St. Paul, Minnesota. - Picture two colored ball teams, such as the Leland Giants of Chicago, which played a five-game series last week beginning on Monday, farfamed as the best in the land, and the St. Paul Gophers, the record-breaking of the Northwest, handing a ball game back and forth, one to the other, for eleven innings in the presense of a thousand or more colored fans and a goodly sprinkling of white ones, and then make your own book on just how much excitement, noise, and fun there must have been on tap. Then add to this the winning of the game in the eleventh by a two-bagger, closely followed by a home run drive. In the first inning the Gophers scored one, in the fourth the Lelands made four, then in the fifth the Gophers tied the score with three, then the Lelands came back in the sixth with one, and the Gophers got two again and tied, and then the Lelands got one and back came the Gophers with two more to give them a lead of one, and then in the ninth the Lelands got one to tie the score. Nothing turned up in the tenth, but in the eleventh the Lelands got one. Things looked bad for the Gophers when Milliner, the first man up, was out on a grounder to Harris, but in rapid succession Binga singled. Johnson followed with a double and Bob Marshall nailed the first ball pitched over the cigar sign just to the left of the home run pole and dropped the ball over in the lots on the other side of the street."

July 27, 1909

St. Paul, MN
"St. Paul Colored Gophers on Annual Tour. - Have Won Nineteen Games and Lost but Three - Booked Solid to August 13. - Special to the Freeman. - St. Paul, Minnesota - The Famous Colored Gophers are now in the 4th week of their present tour of the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Twenty-two games since leaving St. Paul on June 13 have been played with 19 wins and 3 lost. The remaining schedule calls for games at Hibbing, Eveleth, Duluth, in Minnesota, Bessemer, Michigan and Ashland, Rhinelander, Hayward, Barron and Cumberland, in Wisconsin. Their season began on May 16 at Kenyon, Minnesota, and at present writing are booked solid to August 12 and 13, when they meet Jimmy Callahan's Famous Logan Squares of Chicago, at Fennimore, Wisconsin, for a purse offered by the Big Day Committee of the latter city. Unusual interest is being manifested in the coming of Rube Foster and his crack Leland Giants who play the Colored Gophers here July 26-27-28-29-30. During the Grand Lodge of the W.B.F. The Gophers are prime favorites througout the northwest, having beaten everything in this section in the past three seasons and the twin city public and surrounding country are eager to see them against a team the caliber of the crack Leland Giants. - Notes from the Colored Gophers. - The two Taylor Brothers James and Steel Arm John, recently secured from the Birmingham Giants, are a distinct hit with the fans in this section. - Artie McDougal, our crack little shortstop, leads the team in batting, his hitting, fielding, and throwing being the cause for much praise and comment everywhere. - Captain Felix Wallace, the Owensboro, Kentucky boy, is playing the game of his life this year and is considered by many the equal of any of the big league stars as a second baseman. - Our Southern tour will begin about September 12, out of Chicago, and managers desiring games can address Irving Williams, 40 E. 3rd Street, St. Paul, Minnesota."

St. Paul, MN
"Tuesday's Game. - Dougherty, the Leland Giants' crack southpaw, tied the Gophers in such a hard knot Tuesday afternoon that it took the Gophers nine innings to untie it, only doing so just in time to avoid a shutout by the narrowest margin. This new recruit whom the visitors picked up a short time ago at West Baden, Indiana, held the locals down to four hits and struck out nine of them. It was as fine an exhibition of twirling as is seen, even in the big leagues. Davis, who twirled for the Gophers, managed to keep the fair hits off his delivery scattered until the seventh inning, when the Lelands fell on him hard and with the aid of two errors, one by Davis and another by Marshall, came across with the first three runs of the game. After that the visitors had no difficulty in finding the local man, and before the game was over were able to count up thirteen hits and eight runs, three more of the runs coming in the eighth and two in the ninth."

July 28, 1909

St. Paul, MN
"Wednesday's Game. - Johnny Taylor, former habitat Alabama, present abode St. Paul, star twirler of the Gophers, stood in the box Wednesday afternoon and wound and unwound himself to such good effect during all of that period that only four scattered hits were gathered by the Lelands, Taylor would throw arms and legs about in bewildering fashion, suddenly knot up like a porcupine, and then just as suddenly his left foot would dangle and shake in the air at the astonished batter as the ball flew past him. Six strike outs were the accomplishment of the toe stunt and had he stuck to it, according to the sad philosophy of the chagrined Gopher, that ninth inning slaughter would never have come. But in the ninth the toe tired and disgisted Taylor went down to defeat and disaster in a shower of five hits - one of them a home run - that came so fast and in such rapid succession that the bewildered Taylor just stood in the box and blinked his eyes as if he was waiting for the rain to blow over. The game was one of the intensely interesting kind that the Gophers and Lelands usually put up and abounded with clever plays and skillful box work up to the last fatal inning. In the fifth Milliner went back up against the left field fence for a hard drive and nabbed the ball within a foot of the little hillock. In the sixth, Jimmy Taylor, brother of the agile Johnny, made a great catch of a hot drive at short, nabbing the ball with one hand within a foot from the ground while going at full speed. It was one of the most remarkable catches ever seen at the park."

July 29, 1909

St. Paul, MN
"Thursday's Game. - The Gophers Thursday took the fourth game of the series with the Leland Giants of Chicago, heralded as the best colored team in the country. This gave the Gophers an even break with the visitors. The feature of the game was the pitching of Gatewood for the Lelands and London for the locals. The former allowed but three hits. Unfortunately these were all bunched in the first inning. London was only hit for four, but these were well scattered. In the seventh, when it looked as if the visitors were finding him, Davis took his place, and, with fair support, held out. The Lelands scored one in the fourth on a base on balls, a single and an error, another in the sixth on a base on balls, a steal and a double, and one more in the eighth on a hit, an error and an outfield fly. In the ninth it looked as if the visitors were going to repeat their rally of the day before. Talbert flied out, Moore got first when Milliner dropped his long gly. Wright followed him when Taylor fumbled his grounder, but Green, the next up, fanned and Gatewood went out on a grounder to short."

July 30, 1909

St. Paul, MN
"Friday's Game. - The Gophers, by defeating the Giants Friday, won the undisputed title of the World's Champion colored baseball team. The Gophers are the first colored team that ever won a series from the Lelands. Dougherty, the big Chicago southpaw, had the Gophers at his mercy at all times during the game up to the eighth inning. Not a single hit was made off him in that time. Then three singles and a triple came in rapid succession, good for three runs and the game. Johnny Taylor pitched a good game, giving but eight hits."

"The Gophers won three of five games. - Hard hitting by both teams featured the first game. - Twenty-five hundred people saw the first two games. - Errors were numerous with the Apostles in Tuesday's game. - Hill and Payne played the game and did good stickwork. - Steel Arm Johnny tossed some good ball. He won the deciding game. - Marshall's good eye and timely swings won the opener for the Saints. - Dougherty is making good with the Leland Giants He is an Indiana pitcher. - Mista John Taylor is of the well-known baseball family of four brothers. - The Gophers hit Gatewood and Ball heavily, making twenty-two hits. The four pitchers used in this game gave ten bases on balls."

July 31, 1909

Indianapolis, IN
"The Leland Giants Baseball and Amusement Association has a captial stock of $100,000."

Indianapolis, IN
"Leland Giants Tours - Southern, Western, and Pacific States - October and November 1909. This famous Team of colored baseball players will tour the Southern, Western, and Pacific states at the close of their 1909 Season in the Chicago League, beginning October 5, and ending December 5, 1909. Exhibition games can be arranged now by writing to the undersigned for terms and conditions. Those wishing to make money as well as give the Public an opportunity to see the world's greatest Ball Players in action will do well to organize local clubs and arrange dates. - Address all communications to Beauregard F. Moseley, Secretary and Treasurer Leland Giants Base Ball and Amusement Association 6258 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois."