1909 Chicago Unions

A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1909 Chicago Unions

1909 Chicago Unions

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

January 16, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The Chicago Unions to Have Strong Baseball Team - Several of the Indianapolis Boys Will Land Berths - Prospects of the Fastest Team in Years. - Special to the Freeman. - The Chicago Unions of the coming season will be one of the strongest teams in the field. The team will be composed of some of the fastest players in the game, most all of whom will be new to this team. Several of the Indianapolis stars will land berths on the Union team. The players already booked are as follows: Jas. Shawler, left field; W. N. Pryor, third base; Frank Young, second base; John Lolla, first base; G. Washington, catcher; Hutchinson or Toney, shortstop; G. Brinkenship, right field; John Reeves, center field and manager; Lewis Johnson, William West and Frank Talbert, pitchers, and Samuel Thompson, catcher."

January 24, 1909

Milwaukee, WI
"Name 'Jack' Herzog - Popular Manitowoc Man Elected President of the Lake Shore League in Annual Meeting - Union Giants May Get In - John F. Herzog of Manitowoc was elected president of the Lake Shore League at the annual meeting at the Republican House in Milwaukee, Sunday. The new president, who was the manager of the twice champions of the league, had intended to step out of baseball this season, but was induced to act as the head of the league. Herzog has had a great deal of experience in minor league baseball and has turned down numerous offers to manage teams this season and ought to make a valuable man to handle the affairs of this league. William Liebl was elected vice-president and John Kaiser, Jr., was re-elected secretary and will also act as treasurer of the league for the coming year. In order to avoid the calling of numerous meetings in the future most of the business of the league will be transacted by an executive committee. The committee which was selected to handle all of the matters that will come up will consist of President Herzog, Secretary Kaiser of Port Washington, and Directors Joseph M. Carney of Milwaukee and Peter Breen of this city. The circuit will undoubtedly be the same as last season, Racine being the only city that is in doubt at the present time. President Herzog was instructed to visit Racine at once and look over the situation in that city. Manager Peters of the Union Giants of Chicago was present at the meeting and offered to take a franchise in case any vacancy occurred. He has an option on one of the finest parks in Chicago and would be a valuable acquisition to the league. The Sheboygan franchise over which there has been some dispute was awarded to the Sheboygan Athletic association. All directors present reported that the prospects for a successful season looked promising in their respective cities. Those present at the meeting were as follows: J.F. Herzog, Manitowoc; William Liebl, Sheboygan; John Kaiser, Jr., Port Washington; Joseph M. Carney and E.H. Fitzgerald, Milwaukee; Peter Breen, Kenosha; eorge Pierce, Menasha, and Morris Prindeville, Chicago. The next meeting of the league will be held at Sheboygan on February 7."

February 27, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The Chicago Union Giants will play their thirtieth season when the game opens."

"CHICAGO UNIONS' PROSPECTS. - Several Hoosier Players Will Try to Make Good. - Special to The Freeman. - CHICAGO. Ill. - Special. - The Chicago Unions are no longer known as an independent team. W. S. Peters, president of the team, has entered it in the Lake Shore and Wisconsin League. The Unions are expected to be a strong contestant for the pennant. The team will be composed of some fast young players with two or three exceptions, and indications show that these will make a fast bunch to pick from. The following boys will try for positions Shawler, left field; Young, second base; Blankenship, right field; Reeves, center field; Talbert and Dougherty, pitchers. All of these boys are from Indianapolis. Among others there will be: Tooley, first base; Knight, of St. Louis, catch; Pryor, of Chicago, third base; Lindsey, of Kansas City, Mo., shortstop; West, of Danville, Illinois, pitch Johnson, of Champaign, Illinois, pitch; Lolla, first base, and Thompson, of Indianpolis, catch. Reeves, the new manager, hails from St. Louis and was a member of the Unions in 1906. He is one of the fastest outfielders on the team and is a fast base runner."

April 11, 1909

Kenosha, WI
"Kenosha Base Ball Team to Play the Union Giants of Chicago Sunday - The base ball season in Kenosha will be properly opened at Breen Park on next Sunday afternoon when a double header will be played. The opening game will be between the Kenosha Riversides and the All Nation team of Chicago. This team is the most unique bunch of base ball players ever sent out from Chicago and it includes a representative of nine nations, including a Chinaman. The second game will be between the Union Giants of Chicago and the Kenosha Lake Shore League team. Pulse, Smith, and Cleary will all be in the box for Kenosha and they will be backed up by the regular team. The first game of the regular season will be played later in the month. It is declared that there will be no change in the makeup of the Lake Shore League and that the plans for the proposed Wisconsin-North Shore League have fallen through."

March 13, 1909

Chicago, IL
"UNIONS HAVE JOINED LEAGUE. - Team Has Existed for Thirty Seasons — League Season Opens May 2. - CHICAGO, Illinois - Special. - The Chicago Union Giants will do down once more in the history of baseball for being the first Colored team to own a franchise in a white league. The Unions are the oldest Colored team in the West, this being their thirtieth season. They have seen such clubs as Bowen’s Eclipses, Chicago Models, Chicago Giants, Fuque Giants, Chicago Clippers, all come and go. The Unions are the first Colored team to be admitted in the Lake Shore League, one of the best paying leagues in the lower part of Wisconsin. The towns are Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Menasha, Manitowoc, Port Washington nd Sheboygan. At the meeting Sunday, in Milwaukee, Wis.. after accepting the Unions to membership, they agreed to open the league May 2 and play every Saturday and Sunday until the last Sunday in October. The Unions are out for the pennant, and if they win this year, next season one of the largest and best ball parks in the West ever put up by a Colored team will be built. Manager Peters has picked one of the Indianapolis boys to captain the team this year - James Shawler. He is a gentleman and a first class ball player."

"UNION GIANTS. - There seems to be quite a discussion among the players just as to who will form this team, but when they get straightened out they will line up near this shape: Washington and Thompson, catchers; Ramsey, West, Taylor, pitchers Robinson or Latta, of Louisville, first base; Frank Young, Toney and Pryor will fill the other infield vacancies, while Green, Ramsey and the battery men will round up the ball in the outfield."

March 27, 1909

Chicago, IL
"The Chicago Union Giants will depend a great deal on the boys from the Hoosier metropolis."

May 2, 1909

Kenosha, WI
"May 2 - Chicago Unions at Kenosha."

Kenosha, WI
"Games Played Sunday. - Kenosha 4, Union Giants 3. - The Lake Shore League opened its season on Sunday when the Kenosha team started right by defeating the Union Giants of Chicago by a score of 4 to 3. Raw and unsettled weather prevailed all along the circuit and the opening was anything but an auspicious one. In Kenosha, the weather was so threatening that the crowd at the game was not more than 300 people and in fact until the time for the calling of the game it looked as if the opening of the season would have to be laid over for another week. The parade failed to materialize as the Giants did not reach the city until nearly time for the calling of the game, but Mayor Scholey was on hand at the park and pitched the first ball of the season and the game was on. The victory was not an easy one for Kenosha and up to the very close of the game it looked as if the home team would open the season with defeat. The two teams played great ball under the circumstances and it was only a garrison finish in the last half of the ninth inning that put the game in the Kenosha column. The Giants play ball in winter and summer and the cold west wind had no terrors for them and early in the game they piled up a lead of two runs on the locals. Smith went in for Kenosha and pitched all but one inning of the game. He was in good form, but the Giants managed to get busy in the fourth inning and rapped out hits enough for a couple of earned runs. In the fifth the Kenosha boys cut down the lead to one, but in the seventh the Giants added another. In the ninth the Kenosha batters came in great shape and they rapped out the ball all over the field. Three singles, coupled with a base on balls, a fielder's choice and a rank error on the part of the third baseman of the Giants, gave the Kenosha boys three runs and the game. Davis who pitched for the Giants was in good form and he had the Kenosha batters guessing in all the innings save the last. Score: Kenosha 4, Union Giants 3."

May 9, 1909

Sheboygan, WI
"May 9 - Chicago Unions at Sheboygan."

May 15, 1909

Chicago, IL
"Hutchinson and Shawler, of the A.B.C.s, have joined the Chicago Unions."

Manitowoc, WI
"Manitowoc Fails to Score - Chicago Union Giants Take Lake Shore Game 1 to 0. - Manitowoc, Wisconsin. - Special. - The Union Giants of Chicago and members of the Lake Shore League defeated Manitowoc in their first game of the season. Pryor's double, followed by an out and a single to left field by Hutchinson, sent Pryor home with the only run of the game."

"Notes of the Game. - Shawler hit the ball hard and often, but could not get them safe. Young played a marvelous game at first base. Pryor put up a fast game at third, and gave some fine exhibition of throwing to first base. Campbell, the midget second baseman, fielded his position in the Johnny Evers style. Washington caught a great game and his throwing to the bases was a feature. Davis showed his class as a pitcher when three men were on base and no one down by striking out two of the opposing batters and making the third batter pop up an easy out. Reeves, who is managing the team on the road, did some fine coaching in tight places and showed he is capable of running a ball team."

May 16, 1909

Sheboygan, WI
"May 16 - Chicago Unions at Sheboygan."

Sheboygan, WI
"Sheboygan, Wisconsin. - The Chicago Unions defeated the home team here the 16th in a hard-fought game. The wind was high and made fly balls hard to judge. The colored boys are going to make a hard fight in the Lake Shore League. The feature of the game was the batting of Hutchinson. W.S. Peters is proud of his 1909 Leauge team, and is confident of finishing not lower than third place."

"Notes of the Unions' Game. - With the addition of Hyde at first base, Hutchinson at shortstop and Shawler in left field, the Unions are stronger. - The feature of the game was the hitting of Pryor, Hutchinson and Washington. In the seventh, four hits, with Hutchinson's three two-baggers of the game, netted three runs. - Harry Hyde played a star game at first base, taking every chance with ease and fielding in his old-time form. - Pryor, the third sacker of the Unions, keeps up his good work in fielding and throwing to bases. - Young played center field like a regular outfielder, accepting everything coming his way, and saved the day for his teammates by throwing out a man at home from deep center in the last inning, stopping the enemy from tying the score. - Shawler played a star game in left field, going into the crowd and pulling down a hard drive with one hand which looked good for a home run. He runs bases like a deer, stretching a single into a two-bagger. - Davis, the star pitcher, is pitching fine ball. In a tight place he is a master of the spit ball. - Ramsey is playing a fine game in the right garden, throwing men out at first on clean hits. - Washington is catching superb ball, not having a passed ball this season. He has not had a man steal on him in three games. - Campbell played a star game at second. Reeves is having quite a success with his team in the Lake Shore League. He has pulled his team from last place to second in one week."

May 22, 1909

Indianapolis, IN
"Diamond Breezes. - Jim Shawler is holding his own with the Chicago Union Giants."

May 24, 1909

Indianapolis, IN
"Puggy Hutchinson is playing good ball with the Chicago Unions. An Indianapolis lad, of course."

May 29, 1909

Sheboygan, WI
"Puggy Hutchinson made three two-base hits in the Chicago Unions - Sheboygan game of the Lake Shore League."

May 30, 1909

Manitowoc, WI
"May 30 - Chicago Unions at Manitowoc."

Manitowoc, WI
"Manitowoc 12, Union Giants 2."

May 31, 1909

Manitowoc, WI
"May 31 - Chicago Unions at Manitowoc."

Manitowoc, WI
"Manitowoc 2, Union Giants 0."

June 5, 1909

Menasha, WI
"June 5, Chicago Unions at Menasha."

Chicago, IL
"Scraps from the Sporting World - Pryor, of the Chicago Unions, is playing a good game."

June 6, 1909

Menasha, WI
"June 6, Chicago Unions at Menasha."

Menasha, WI
"Games Played Sunday - Union Giants 4, Menasha, 1."

June 12, 1909

Kenosha, WI
"June 12, Chicago Unions at Kenosha."

Minneapolis, MN "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

Kenosha, WI
"June 13, Chicago Unions at Kenosha."

June 26, 1909

Kenosha, WI
"Chicago Unions at Kenosha."

June 27, 1909

Kenosha, WI
"Chicago Unions at Kenosha."

Kenosha, WI
"Giants Were Easy - Kenosha Takes Fourth Victory of Season From Famous Colored Team of Chicago - Pulse Holds Visitors Safe - Kenosha Team Bats in Four Runs in the Nine Inning Session and Visitors Fail to Get Man Over the Home Plate - The Kenosha team shut out the Union Giants in the fourth game of the year between the two teams at Breen's Park on Sunday afternoon, the game proving an easy one for Breen's players. The weather was hot and the hot weather affected the players making the game a listless one with nothing to feature it save the heavy hitting of Lang and the good work of Pulse in the box. The Kenosha team gave Pulse good support, but the game was devoid of the snap shown by the team in other games. The Giants seem to have worn out their welcome on the Kenosha diamond and the crowd was not as large as has attended the games earlier in the season. Pulse was in great form during the afternoon and allowed the visitors but five scattered hits and he kept these so well scattered that there was never a time when the Giants had a chance to score. Ramsey, who pitched for the Giants, proved decidedly easy for the Kenosha batters and it was just like batting up flies. Dillon, Lang, Klose and in fact nearly every member of the team fattened up their batting averages and nearly every one of the Kenosha runs were earned by hard hitting. Kenosha got her first run in the fourth when Dillon lead off with a hit and Klose followed with another one to the same spot. Dillon scored on a sacrifice by Wallace. In the sixth, Kenosha got another pair of runs when with one out Hennessey doubled to left field and scored on a hit by Pulse and Pulse came in a minute later on Lang's drive to the fence for two bases. The last run was made in the seventh when Convey drew a base on balls and made the circuit of the bases on two rank errors by the third baseman of the Giants. The Giants never succeeded in getting a man past second base. It is declared that this will be the last appearance of the colored player in Kenosha this year and next Sunday the Kenosha team will meet the Marquettes of Chicago. Score of the game: Kenosha 4, Union Giants 0."

July 4, 1909

Sheboygan, WI
"Chicago Unions at Sheboygan."

July 5, 1909

Sheboygan, WI
"Chicago Unions at Sheboygan."

July 25, 1909

Menasha, WI
"Chicago Unions at Menasha."

July 10, 1909

Chicago, IL
"What has become of the Chicago Unions, are they still in old-time form?"

July 16, 1909

Fort Atkinson, WI
"July 16: Fort Atkinson 6, Union Giants 14. Lytle and Washington."

July 16, 1909

Racine, WI
"July 16: Racine 1, Union Giants 7. Snow and Washington."

July 18, 1909

Chicago, IL
"July 18: Rodgers Parks 6, Union Giants 1. Johnson and Washington."

July 19, 1909

Chicago, IL
"July 19: Felix Colts 1, Union Giants 2. Lytle and Washington."

July 20, 1909

Huntley, IL
"July 20, Huntley Illinois: Huntley 6, Union Giants 11. Lytle and Washington."

Huntley, IL
"Chicago Unions on Tour. - Huntley, Illinois, July 21. - The Chicago Unions reached here over the Northwestern on the 21st, playing their first game of a six weeks' trip, defeating Huntley 11 to 5."

July 21, 1909

Meringo, IL
"July 21, Meringo, Illinois: Meringo 1, Union Giants 4. B. Lyons and Washington."

Meringo, IL
"The Athletics of Marengo were defeated by the Unions. Score: Marengo 1, Chicago Unions 4."

July 22, 1909

Maquaketa, IA
"July 22, Maquaketa, Iowa: Maquaketa 2, Union Giants 1. J. Lyons and Washington."

July 23, 1909

Maquaketa, IA
"July 23, Maquaketa, Iowa: Maquaketa 5, Union Giants 4. Hyde and Washington."

July 24, 1909

Menasha, WI
"Chicago Unions at Menasha."

Anamosa, IA
"Anamosa, July 24. - Anamosa 5, Chicago Unions 15. Battery - Lytle, J. Lyons and Washington."

July 25, 1909

Menasha, WI
"Chicago Unions at Menasha."

Buxton, IA
"July 25, Buxton, Iowa: Buxton 6, Union Giants 1. B. Lyons and Washington."

Buxton, IA
"Chicago Unions Winning. - Windy City Lads Issuing Out Small End of Scores to Opponents. - Antigo, Wisconsin - The Chicago Unions defeated the following teams last week: Buxton, Iowa, Sunday, July 25: Buxton Wonders 6, Chicago Unions 1. Batteries Blodig and Armstrong; B. Lyons and Washington. The game was played in the rain."

July 26, 1909

Buxton, IA
"July 26, Buxton, Iowa: Buxton 0, Union Giants 4. J. Lyons and Washington."

Buxton, IA
"Buxton, Iowa, July 26: Buxton Wonders 0, Chicago Unions 4. Batteries: Pang and Armstrong; J. Lyons and Washington."

July 27, 1909

Albia, IA
"July 27, Albia, Iowa: Albia 2, Union Giants 4. Lytle and Washington."

July 28, 1909

Hiteman, IA
"July 28, Hiteman, Iowa: Hiteman 1, Union Giants 4. J. Lyons and Washington."

July 29, 1909

Washington, IA
"July 29, Washington, Iowa: Washington 1, Union Giants 5. B. Lyons and Washington."

July 30, 1909

Portage, WI
"July 30, Portage, Wisconsin: Portage 6, Union Giants 13. Lytle and Washington."

July 31, 1909

Portage, WI
"July 31, Portage, Wisconsin: Portage 0, Union Giants 4. B. Lyons and Washington."