1910 St. Louis Giants

A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1910 St. Louis Giants

1910 St. Louis Giants

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

April 16, 1910

Indianapolis, IN
"Championship Race to be Hot. - Teams All Over the Country Will Fight for it. - Perhaps the most talked about event in baseball that is to happen this season will be the try-out for the world's colored championship by the most prominent colored baseball clubs in the country. It is expected that the world's series will begin immediately after the closing games of the various leagues throughout the United States. There is a longer list of teams of standing which will compete for the pennant than last year, and every one of them is working hard to get into the championship ranks, so that they might be given a chance at winning the flag. So far the list is quite limited as to the teams that will compete for the supremacy mark. It includes Leland's Chicago Giants, Leland Giants, Cuban Giants, St. Louis Giants, Birmingham, Alabama Giants, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Giants, Royal Giants of Brooklyn, New York, Kansas City Kansas Giants, Kansas City, Missouri Royal Giants, Louisville Cubs, St. Paul Gophers, and Minneapolis Keystones. - Should Award a Cup. - The Freeman is of the opinion that the various managers should get together and make the contest the more interesting by appropriating a certain amount to use for prizes. A loving cup of real silver should serve as the price to be won by the club winning the world's championship. It is also slated that these games are to be played in Chicago this year, where baseball is being richly supported each year, although much talk is going the rounds concerning the idea of holding the battles in New York."

St. Louis, MO
"St. Louis Giants Will Be a Factor - In Settling Colored Championship of Country for Season of 1910. - Charles A. Mills. - The St. Louis Giants base ball club has been geoing along since the season of 1907. Prior to the season of 1909, they were practically in the unknown class, save for the information brought to light through the representive talent sent forth to represent the city upon different clubs of the country. It is a well known fact that St. Louis from an attendance standpoint is considered the best in the big leagues attendance figures for the past two years at colored games upholds the above statement in every way. The trolley league here is one of the best known and greatest drawing organizations in the semi-professional class figures kept upon such games show that the colored Giants outdrew them two to one last season. The Leland Giants of Chicago, the Kansas City Giants and clubs from all parts played here and all drew record breaking crowds, some of which ran up as high as 4761 actual paid admissions; something very few clubs can boast of. We have now organized an association to promote base ball upon a scale which we hope to land us right in line with any of the big clubs of the country. Our association which will be incorporated is composed of a number of young men who are considered by all who know them to be a good representative type of the twentieth century business man. We have a park which is considered the finest semi-pro park in the city. It is centrally located, and transient facilities are such that a car from any part of the city can be had at intervals of four minutes apart. We have a modern grandstand and bleachers. The capacity of our grand stand is two thousand five hundred. Our bleachers will seat seventeen hundred people, and we have ample space for enlargement of both. Our average attendance figures two thousand easily. We make a claim which we believe no other club in the semi-pro ranks can honestly equal, considering the capacity of our grounds. With the Memphis and Nashville Giants as attractions, we were compelled to close our gates at 2:30, one hour before play was called; the crowd swarmed upon the field, making ground rules necessary. We expect to be right up with the bunch for the coming season, both from a financial and a playing standpoint. We have secured the services of William McMurray, who will captain our team. This lad has seen service upon a half dozen of the leading clubs of the country, and is considered by experts to have excellent talent for leading. George Gatewood, star pitcher upon the Leland Giants, Cuban X-Giants and other big clubs, will probably be one of our twirlers. The sprinkling of old heads together with the promising young talent at hand we think will enable us to make a fight for the proposed championship honor, which will cause the name of St. Louis to echo from coast to coast. The personnel of our association includs the following: Board of directors, George Robinson, James Williams; Charles A. Mills, business manager; Edward Foster, president; John Thomas, vice-president; Russell Shaw, secretary; William Bell, assistant secretary; Byrd Wilkins, treasurer; William McMurray, captain."

April 23, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"St. Louis Giants Off to a Successful Opening - Spectacular Street Parade Cheered by Thousands Along the Line of March. George Gatewood Pitching for St. Louis, Pitches a No-Hit, No-Run Game, Defeating the Louisville Stars by Score of 11 to 0. - By David Wyatt. - The St. Louis Giants pulled off a demonstrative honor of Negro baseball, the like of which has never been equaled in the history of the game. A monstrous street parade in which automobiles, landaus, coupes and traps played a conspicuous part, started promptly from in front of the Missouri Negro Republican League quarters at 12 o'clock and passed over a route which included all the principal thoroughfares inhabited by the Negro in St. Louis. The face that Negroes in St. Louis are the best housed of all in any part of the country was fully demonstrated. It required a period of two hours to cover the route, and all along the line of march thousands crowded sidewalks, windows and roofs of buildings and yelled until their throats were sore. - Notable Men Take Part. - Enthusiasm was at fever heat and men, women and children all along the route could be seen fighting for points of vantage for the purpose of doing honor to the men of wide renown who were lending their support to further the cause of the great national pastime. The occupants of the carriage which headed the parade included Mr. Floyd Ross, chief of the True Reformers in St. Louis; Mr. A.W. Llyd, grand councillor of the K. of Ps in Missouri; Mr. Edward Foster, president of the Missouri Negro Republican League; Mr. William H. King, owner and editor of the Central Afro-American News Journal, and the Freeman correspondent. The fact that the Freeman representative would attend the opening contest was known far in advance, therefore the writer and the paper which he was representing came in for a lot of complimentary praise, which brought about an amount of hand-shaking which the writer considered a real test of physical endurance. - Live Manager at the Helm. - Mr. Charles A. Mills, the genial and hustling business manager of the St. Louis club, proved conclusively that he is a type of a young business man who is not only endowed with spirit and proclivities of the up-and-doing variety, but he is putting the same into circulation and getting results. This demonstration at the opening contest should go down as a landmark in honor of this young man and his business associates. Mr. Mills has placed before the people of St. Louis a baseball team which by far outclassed the misfit aggregation which had the nerve to display their ability before the vast crowd which assembled at the Giants' Park today. Aside from the great pitching of Gatewood, the snappy playing of McMurry, Williams, Hewitt, and Jones, the game was practically dead. An ill-shaped dingie from the backwoods in the vicinity of Louisville essayed to pitch for the travelers. The captain said he answered to the name of Brown, Black, or Blue; anyhow, the Giants rapped his delivery to such an extent that he became real blue before the cap threw out the big hook of relief. A long, lean, lanky lad by the name of Lively, who acted just the opposite to what the name assures, took up the burden and the St. Louis boys took to his delivery with such an amount of energy that the crowd suggested a call to the fire deparment to put the Giants out. The stars with their new uniforms added a brilliant luster to the assemblage of about five thousand fans, but the luster was dimmed to such an extent by the St. Louis boys that it cast a dark gloom over the crowd, which caused hundreds to leave before the contest had ended. Bug Rose, formerly of the Leland Giants - St. Paul Gophers, lead the visitors up to the block for slaughter, and aside from Rose, there was not a man who appeared to know enough of real baseball to enable him to get inside a park without the old proverbial quarter. The St. Louis Giants conducted themselves like veterans. Their every move indicated practice, study and intelligent training. The game was full of comedy, mostly furnished by the visitors. This feeble attempt to make up for lack of baseball ability was met with hoots and jeers from the crowds to such an extent that the Louisville boys didnt know whether they were grabbing at fowls in a chicken coop or snatching at melons from the vines along the banks of the old Ohio river. This overripe assortment of Kentucky fruit turned out to be the worst bunch of lemons that was ever uncrated in a baseball park, and they have put the teeth of the St. Louis people on edge for all time against such misfit aggregations parading under the name of baseball players."

May 2, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Under Guise of Cuban Stars Team Fools Public. - Deceives the St. Louis Giants Management. - St. Louis, Missouri, May 13. - Much talk is going the rounds over the way in which the management of the St. Louis Giants were deceived by a bunch of get-rich-quick schemers, who claimed to be real Cuban Stars, when in fact there was not a Cuban in the club. After great preparations had been made for the opening game in the new park secured by the Giants' Club for their game with the Cuban Stars on May 2, when over 3, 600 fans had gathered to see the Cubans, a Mr. C.L. East, advance agent for the supposed Cubans, brought to the city a set of misfits to fool the public and get the money. However, it has been learned by the public that it was in no way a fault of the St. Louis Giants Club management, as Charles A. Mills, the business manager, acted in good faith in securing the engagement. Such business has been done before and Manager Mills is not the first one to fall a prey to such work. His letters that we produce below are self-sustaining in the fact that he had been tricked in a high-handed way by a party who makes a business of defrauding the people. The letters follow and explain clearly the innocence of the St. Louis baseball manager: St. Louis - Honerable Elwood C. Knox: Dear Sir - I booked a club here who called themselves the Cuban Stars, to open our new park May 2. After big preparations had been made for this said game of May 2, and over 3,600 fans had gathered in the new ball park to see these Cubans, Mr. C.L. East, advance agent for the supposed Cubans, brought to our city a club, and a misfit at that, with not a Cuban in his bunch, to deceive the public and get the money. Such a high-handed affair has never occured here, and in justice to the real Cubans and the public, I want to warn all managers to be very careful of this crowd. As far as Charles A. Mills, of the St. Louis Giants is concerned, letters will show he acted in good faith when booking supposed Cuban Stars. I do hope that someone will put a shop to this high-handed game to defraud the public. This unpleasant occurence has caused our club, the St. Louis Giants, to be unjustly criticised by some of our best followers and the public. Mr. C.L. East (white) has misrepresented his club, and managers of other clubs should be very careful. I am yours respectfully, Charles A. Mills, Business Manager St. Louis Giants. 2320 Pine Street, St. Louis, Missouri."

"The following is the letter received from C.L. East, business manager of the supposed Cuban Stars, in which he accepts engagement: Centralia, Illinois, April 17, 1910. Mr. Charles Mills, Manager St. Louis Giants: Dear Sir - In reply to your letter of the 14th, Mr. Gomalez informs me that he has wired you accepting game. I will be in St. Louis by the 24th or 25th. Go ahead with the advertising. We will be there rain or shine. I leave tonight for Mattoon, Illinois. Will be in Decatur the 14th and Springfield the 21st. Mail can reach me at those points. Yours truly, C.L. East."

May 15, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Warning to the Public. - New York City, May 15, 1910. - Manager the Freeman: I note in your issue of last week where the St. Louis Giants were fooled by a team calling themselves the Cuban Stars, and I desire to say that I am the only American representative of the Cuban Stars in the United States and that we carry no advance agent, neither do we employ any business manager, and C.L. East is an unknown party to our organizeation or to myself, and warn clubs not to be fooled into doing business with others believing they are playing the Cuban Stars, who are fully incorporated under the laws of the State of New York and the name is also copyrighted at Washington, D.C., and clubs scheduling games under the name of Cuban Stars will be prosecuted by law. Nat C. Strong, World Building, New York City."

May 28, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"St. Louis Giants - Would like to hear from all first class clubs. Address all communications to Charles A. Mills, 2320 Pine Street, St. Louis, Missouri. - We own our own Park - on direct car line."

St. Louis, MO
"Big Bill Gatewood left last Friday for St. Louis to play with the home team in a series against Louisville, and will return Wednesday."

June 4, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"The Illinois Giants, of which Dave Wyatt is manager, have been in St. Louis, Missouri."

St. Louis, MO
"Illinois Giants Win. - Special to the Freeman. - The last game between the Illinois Giants and the St. Louis Giants turned out in the form of a slugging bee, in which the Chicago boys led with a total of 32 bases. Johnson, Booker, Knight of the Chicagos hit for home runs. Johnson pitched star ball."

June 12, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Cairo Giants 3, St. Louis Giants 15."

June 13, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"June 13 - Cairo Giants 0, St. Louis Giants 7."

June 16, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"June 16 - St. Louis Police Department 0, St. Louis Giants 9."

June 18, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"June 18 - Police Department 2, Giants 10."

June 19, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"The banner attraction of the year was when the St. Louis Giants defeated the Kansas City Royal Giants before one of the largest crowds that ever gathered to see a colored semi-professional game in St. Louis. Jack Johnson, the manager of Kansas City, was the most disappointed man in St. Louis. Little Primm electrified the large crowd by his perfect throwing around the corners. Score: Sunday, June 19 - St. Louis Giants 10, Kansas City Royal Giants 4. Game called in seventh inning on account of rain."

June 20, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"June 20 - St. Louis Giants 14, Kansas City Royal Giants 11." Notes of the Games. - Manager Charles Mills, of the local Giants, was walking through the stands with a smile that wouldn't come off. The corner boy cleaned up on the three to one bet against their pets. Jefferson Avenue looked like Atlantic City, Everybody had money. Mr. Weaver and Jack Johnson showed themselves good losers. It is said that the pockets of Manager Mills could not hold the money. He was seen taking bets on all sides."

June 25, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"The St. Louis Giants. - Some of Their Best Games. - Special to the Freeman. - After shifting his men, Captain McMurray, of the Giants, has finally got them hitting their stride. It seems as though he has the right men in the first place. With the addition of Lyons, the crack southpaw, whom he secured from Chicago, and little Primm, the catcher, from Louisville Cubs, he certainly has given the public a run for their money."

June 26, 1910

Chicago, IL
"The best game of baseball of the season at the Leland Giants Baseball Park, 69th and Halstead Street, Kansas City Giants vs. Leland Gaints, Sunday, June 26th. Game called at 3:30p.m. Come early and get a good seat. Battery Frank Wickware and Bruce Petway for the Leland Giants, Bill Lindsay and William Tenney for Kansas City Giants."

St. Louis, MO?
"Sunday, June 26: St. Louis Giants 4, Hot Springs 2."

June 27, 1910

St. Louis, MO?
"Monday, June 27: St. Louis Giants 2, Hot Springs 0."

July 2, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Saturday game - St. Louis Giants 9, St. Louis Police 6."

July 3, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Will play in St. Louis July 3, 4 ad 5, with the St. Louis Giants. This club is owned by W. Smith. R. Morgan, president; W.S. Hunt, secretary."

St. Louis, MO
"The Nebraska Indians. - Defeated by the St. Louis Giants in Two Well-Contested Games. - Special to the Freeman. - St. Louis. - After defeating the Nebraska Indians two games the St. Louis Giants have been playing great ball. - Sunday game - St. Louis Giants 8, Nebraska Indians 5."

"Notes of the Game. - It looks as if the holes that have been plugged up by Captain McMurray has resulted in a wonderful team. Harrison, you are all right, but you must learn to hold your head. Clean ball is what we want. Play shortstop, Hewitt, and not left field. - It looks as if there is nothing but the fair sex in the grand stand. They are certainly turning out in great number. Good baseball will sure bring them out. President Foster is a busy bee around the park. When the Giants are winning he is the happiest man in town. - Lyons and Primm form the winning battery."

St. Louis, MO
"The St. Louis Giants in Splendid Form - Special to the Freeman. - Manager Mills, of the St. Louis Giants Baseball Club, has one of the best colored teams in the country under his wing; and this has been clearly demonstrated by the wonderful article of ball they have been playing in the past several weeks. On July 3 and 4 the St. Louis Giants defeated the Memphis Unions before one of the largest crowds that ever assembled under one roof to witness a semi-professional ball game in the city of St. Louis. The Giants gave Memphis two sound wallopings. St. Louis Giants 14, Memphis Unions 1. Attendance, 7,250."

July 4, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Memphis Giants at St. Louis Giants, July 4."

St. Louis, MO
"Monday Game - St. Louis Giants 3, Nebraska Indians 1."

July 5, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Memphis Giants at St. Louis Giants, July 5."

July 10, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"The St. Louis Giants continued their long string of victories by taking two games from Nashville, July 10 and 11, before a big crowd. First Game - St. Louis Giants 10, Nashville 4. Attendance 4,500."

July 11, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Second Game - St. Louis Giants 9, Nashville 0. Attendance 2,800."

July 17, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Before one of the most fashionable crowds of the season the Giants continued to win by downing the Black Eagles of New Orleans, in two brilliant games, July 17 and 18. First Game - St. Louis Giants 3, New Orleans Black Eagles 2. Attendance, 5,200."

July 18, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Second Game - St. Louis Giants 9, New Orleans Black Eagles 3. Attendance, 3,100."

"Notes of the Game. - Little Primm is certainly the candy kid. His brilliant catching and accurate base throwing are certainly a pleasure to the fans. - Oh, you Stevens, keep up your brilliant work in the box and you will be reckoned among the greatest boxmen in the country. - Big Chief Nathan Knight has gained the title of Home Run Knight. They just can't keep him from hitting it over the fence. - Manager Mills is all smiles these days. - Alex Jones is now quite a favorite with the fans, because of the wonderful one-hand catches he has been making in left field and saving several games. - It seems as if the Giants are going to set a new record in winning victories. They have annexed their twenty-sixth victory. - Charles A. Mills."

July 23, 1910

Chicago, IL
"On Monday of this week the Chicago Baseball League passed a rule barring games between its members and all visiting colored ball clubs from now on, the rule being made to include the Cuban clubs that have been playing around the circuit the past two years. The rule will work very badly against the Stars of Cuba, who figured on playing on the Chicago League Circuit after the Cuban Stars left the city. This action means that the Chicago Leaguers will not play visiting colored teams any more in the future."

July 25, 1910

St. Louis, MO
"Kansas City Cyclones. - Claim Championship of the West. - Special to the Freeman. - The Kansas City Cyclones are now claiming the championship of the West. They defeated the St. Louis Giants July 25 by a score of 5 to 3."