The Chicago City League was a minor league baseball league based in Chicago, Illinois . The Independent level league played with teams based entirely in Chicago. The league played in 1887, from 1890 to 1894 and 1909 to 1910 as a minor league. In the era of segregated baseball, the 1909 and 1910 leagues were integrated, with the Leland Giants joining as a member.
40-400: The Chicago City League began minor league play in 1887. The 1887 league member teams are unknown. The 1890 Chicago City League played with six team members. The Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys , Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends and Chicago Whitings were the six league franchises. Records and standings are unknown. The Chicago City League continued play in 1891 with
80-710: A Championship Series held between the Chicago American Giants and the New York Lincoln Giants . This Series is considered the first postseason contest between Negro league baseball teams, with this played between what was considered the best teams of the East and West. The Park would host playoff games involving the American Giants nine times: 1920, 1921, 1922, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1934, 1937. The American Giants were victorious for
120-491: A fire heavily damaged the ballpark. Though often stated as happening on Christmas Day of 1940, it actually happened on the 23rd. [1] Instead of rebuilding, the American Giants abandoned the site and would play their remaining seasons at Comiskey Park . Today, the Chicago Housing Authority 's Wentworth Gardens housing project occupies the site. The South Side Park/Schorling's Park/Wentworth Gardens site
160-466: A major league team. The team abandoned the wooden ballpark, with its capacity of 15,000, in the middle of the 1910 season after the new (and much larger) steel and concrete Comiskey Park was finished, just three blocks north of the old park (corner to corner). So began a run of 80 + 1 ⁄ 2 seasons for the White Sox in their new home. Meanwhile, after some rebuilding, South Side Park became
200-574: A resident of 3800 South Michigan Avenue, killing her. The house, on the southwest corner of 38th and Michigan, was reported to stand "close behind the inclosure" of the ballpark. That indicates 38th as the northern boundary of the ballpark. The park fell into disuse once the Union Association abandoned Chicago. The last reference to it in local newspapers came in the winter of 1884-1885 when the Chicago National League club
240-465: Is located across Pershing Road from a junkyard site which was named a Superfund site in the late 1990s. South Side Park was the host of three games in baseball's first crosstown World Series in 1906. The Chicago White Sox defeated their crosstown rival Chicago Cubs in 6 games to clinch the title at home with an 8–3 victory to capture their first World Series title. Schloring Park became part of Negro league history in 1913. It hosted Games 5–14 of
280-601: Is located at the site, on the corner of Ashland Avenue and Leland Avenue. A Cuba based team, called the Stars of Cuba had been barnstorming in Chicago in 1909 and 1910. In July, 1910, it was reported the "Chicago Baseball League" as it was formally known, had barred member teams from playing against outside "colored baseball teams," including the Cuban teams. The ban did not include the member Leland Giants. On August 27, 1910,
320-438: Is located at the site, on the corner of Ashland Avenue and Leland Avenue. A Cuba based team, called the Stars of Cuba had been barnstorming in Chicago in 1909 and 1910. In July, 1910, it was reported the "Chicago Baseball League" as it was formally known, had barred member teams from playing against outside "colored baseball teams," including the Cuban teams. The ban did not include the member Leland Giants. On August 27, 1910,
360-629: Is of particular interest because it was within a block of the eventual South Side Park (III) , the first home of the Chicago White Sox and then the long-time home of the Chicago American Giants . The local papers were calling it "Daly's ball park" by 1896, and then "Columbia Giants ball park" when the Columbia Giants moved to the city in 1899. Chicago Garden Citys players Chicago Whitings players Leland Giants players Chicago Garden Citys The Chicago City League
400-484: Is of particular interest because it was within a block of the eventual South Side Park (III) , the first home of the Chicago White Sox and then the long-time home of the Chicago American Giants . The local papers were calling it "Daly's ball park" by 1896, and then "Columbia Giants ball park" when the Columbia Giants moved to the city in 1899. Chicago Garden Citys players Chicago Whitings players Leland Giants players South Side Park South Side Park
440-479: Is stated as the main entrance. That leaves the question of the northern boundary, which is given in the reports of a tragedy described in Tribune articles from July 20, 1884, p. 15; and from July 21, 1884, p. 8. The ball club had some fireworks left over from July 4, and they conducted a show on the night of the 19th, to use them up. One of the aerial bombs failed to explode in flight, and came down hard on
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#1732801980259480-555: The 1893 season. The 1894 Chicago City League reduced to six teams. The 1894 league played with the Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals and Chicago Whitings as the member teams. The Chicago City League disbanded after the season, in part because the league's better teams could schedule games independently and make more profit. The Leland Giants played regular exhibition games against Chicago City League teams, integrating
520-508: The 1909 team winning by 7.0 games, with a 31-9 record. The league ballparks are mostly unknown. Reportedly, the 1910 Leland Giants played home games at a Auburn Park, located where Wentworth Gardens is today. Today, the address is 3770 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, IL. The 1891 ballparks were listed as: North - Clybourn and North Avenues; South - 39th Street and Wentworth Avenue; West - Ogden Avenue and Rockwell Street.[Chicago Tribune , June 7, 1891, p.4] The 39th and Wentworth location
560-503: The 1909 team winning by 7.0 games, with a 31-9 record. The league ballparks are mostly unknown. Reportedly, the 1910 Leland Giants played home games at a Auburn Park, located where Wentworth Gardens is today. Today, the address is 3770 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, IL. The 1891 ballparks were listed as: North - Clybourn and North Avenues; South - 39th Street and Wentworth Avenue; West - Ogden Avenue and Rockwell Street.[Chicago Tribune , June 7, 1891, p.4] The 39th and Wentworth location
600-771: The Anson's Colts team. It was reported that the Leland Giants won the 1909 Chicago City League championship by 7.0 games with a 31-9 record. The Leland Giants then played a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs in October, 1909. The Cubs won the first game 4–1 on October 18, 1909. With a 9th inning rally, the Cubs won the second game 6–5 and then the Cubs took the final game 1–0. The games were held at Gunther Park, located at 4701 North Ashland Avenue. Today, Chase Park
640-599: The Chicago clubs. In the 1909 and 1910 seasons, the Chicago City League played again as an Independent minor league. The exact teams in the final two seasons are unknown, but the league was integrated, as the Leland Giants joined the league in 1909. Other league members of the reformed league reportedly included the Anson's Colts, Logan Squares, the Gunthers, the West Ends and Rogers Park. Cap Anson owned
680-489: The Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals and Chicago Whitings as the member teams. The Chicago City League disbanded after the season, in part because the league's better teams could schedule games independently and make more profit. The Leland Giants played regular exhibition games against Chicago City League teams, integrating the league games. In February, 1909, former Chicago White Sox player Nixey Callahan , owner of
720-409: The Chicago City League played again as an Independent minor league. The exact teams in the final two seasons are unknown, but the league was integrated, as the Leland Giants joined the league in 1909. Other league members of the reformed league reportedly included the Anson's Colts, Logan Squares, the Gunthers, the West Ends and Rogers Park. Cap Anson owned the Anson's Colts team. It was reported that
760-553: The Chicago Cubs declined the offer to play the Leland Giants after the 1910 season. In June, 2017, the Chicago Cubs honored the Leland Giants of the Chicago City League, wearing Leland Giants replica uniforms in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates . The Chicago City League's yearly standings and team records are unknown. It was reported the Leland Giants won the league championship in 1909 and 1910, with
800-418: The Chicago Cubs declined the offer to play the Leland Giants after the 1910 season. In June, 2017, the Chicago Cubs honored the Leland Giants of the Chicago City League, wearing Leland Giants replica uniforms in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates . The Chicago City League's yearly standings and team records are unknown. It was reported the Leland Giants won the league championship in 1909 and 1910, with
840-438: The Leland Giants won the 1909 Chicago City League championship by 7.0 games with a 31-9 record. The Leland Giants then played a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs in October, 1909. The Cubs won the first game 4–1 on October 18, 1909. With a 9th inning rally, the Cubs won the second game 6–5 and then the Cubs took the final game 1–0. The games were held at Gunther Park, located at 4701 North Ashland Avenue. Today, Chase Park
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#1732801980259880-516: The Logan Squares and Rogers Park played a night game, using a temporary lighting system. The Logan Squares won the game, 3–1, with 3,500 in attendance. Callahan played center field for his team in 1910 and led the league in stolen bases with 38, while hitting .333. On October 31, 1910 the Chicago Cubs defeated the Logan Squares 3–1 in an exhibition game. It was reported the Leland Giants won the Chicago City League championship again in 1910 and
920-452: The Logan Squares and Rogers Park played a night game, using a temporary lighting system. The Logan Squares won the game, 3–1, with 3,500 in attendance. Callahan played center field for his team in 1910 and led the league in stolen bases with 38, while hitting .333. On October 31, 1910 the Chicago Cubs defeated the Logan Squares 3–1 in an exhibition game. It was reported the Leland Giants won the Chicago City League championship again in 1910 and
960-488: The Logan Squares team in Chicago, petitioned the National Commission for a working agreement for his team and other teams in Chicago. This occurred a year after major league stars Ty Cobb and Tommy Leach had approached Callahan about the possibility of leaving their teams to join the Logan Squares. The major leagues formally recognized player contracts with the Chicago clubs. In the 1909 and 1910 seasons,
1000-586: The South Side in 1892. When the World's Columbian Exposition opened in 1893, the League club wanted to break with their no-Sundays tradition and start playing Sunday games to attract Fair visitors, but their South Side lease forbade Sunday ball. They sought a new location, which turned out to be West Side Park (II) . After drawing well on their first few Sundays, the club abandoned the South Side park and moved to
1040-652: The West Side on a full-time basis. The south end of the property was the site of Comiskey Park from 1910 through 1990, and is now a parking lot for the current Sox ballpark . Armour Square Park was established in 1905 and still has ball fields on it. The third South Side Park , the best known and longest lived venue by that name, was on the north side of 39th Street (renamed Pershing Road in 1920) between South Wentworth Avenue and South Princeton Avenue, located at 41°49′28″N 87°37′58″W / 41.82444°N 87.63278°W / 41.82444; -87.63278 . It
1080-472: The ballpark was on a block bounded by 39th Street (south); South Wabash Avenue (west); 38th Street (north); and South Michigan Avenue (east). The Unions played 35 games at this park between May 2 and August 1. The papers indicated they were then headed on a three-week road trip. After that road trip, they re-emerged as the Pittsburgh entry, which played five home games at Exposition Park before taking to
1120-430: The grandstand was being built on the 33rd Street side of the block, to hold 4,000 patrons, and additional "bleaching boards" seating to accommodate another 3,000. The League club acquired the lease on the grounds after Comiskey's team and the league folded. They played a partial schedule at this field in 1891, continuing to play other games at West Side Park (I) during 1891. They then played their complete home season on
1160-430: The home of the newly formed Negro league baseball team called the Chicago American Giants in 1911. It was renamed Schorling's Park for team owner Rube Foster 's white business partner, John M. Schorling, a south side saloon keeper who leased the grounds. It was also called Cole's Park and American Giants Park during this era. The American Giants played their games there through the 1940 season. In late December,
1200-469: The league games. In February, 1909, former Chicago White Sox player Nixey Callahan , owner of the Logan Squares team in Chicago, petitioned the National Commission for a working agreement for his team and other teams in Chicago. This occurred a year after major league stars Ty Cobb and Tommy Leach had approached Callahan about the possibility of leaving their teams to join the Logan Squares. The major leagues formally recognized player contracts with
1240-500: The road for the last few weeks of their existence. There are no known photos or illustrations of the ballpark, and it does not appear in contemporary maps or city directories. The meager descriptions of the ballpark require some research to pin down its precise location. The ballpark was built in the summer of 1883. The Chicago Tribune of June 17, 1883, p. 9, gives the location of the new park as "Thirty-ninth Street, between Michigan and Wabash Avenues." The corner of 39th and Wabash
Chicago City League - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-513: The same footprint as the future Comiskey Park along with Armour Square Park . The Chicago Tribune , in an article on January 19, 1890, stated that the property was bounded by 33rd and 35th Streets to the north and south, and by Wentworth Avenue and the Rock Island Railroad to the east and west respectively. The article said the grandstand would be built along 35th Street. However, another article exactly one month later stated that
1320-425: The same six franchises remaining. The 1892 Chicago City League added two teams. The 1892 league members were the Chicago Brands, Chicago Crystals, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends and Chicago Whitings. The same eight teams continued Chicago City League play in the 1893 season. The 1894 Chicago City League reduced to six teams. The 1894 league played with
1360-446: The six league franchises. Records and standings are unknown. The Chicago City League continued play in 1891 with the same six franchises remaining. The 1892 Chicago City League added two teams. The 1892 league members were the Chicago Brands, Chicago Crystals, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends and Chicago Whitings. The same eight teams continued Chicago City League play in
1400-751: Was a minor league baseball league based in Chicago, Illinois . The Independent level league played with teams based entirely in Chicago. The league played in 1887, from 1890 to 1894 and 1909 to 1910 as a minor league. In the era of segregated baseball, the 1909 and 1910 leagues were integrated, with the Leland Giants joining as a member. The Chicago City League began minor league play in 1887. The 1887 league member teams are unknown. The 1890 Chicago City League played with six team members. The Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys , Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends and Chicago Whitings were
1440-575: Was a few blocks west of the 1884 ballpark. The 39th Street Grounds served as the playing field of the Chicago Wanderers cricket club during the 1893 World's Fair and then through 1899. After Charles Comiskey built a wooden grandstand on the site in 1900, it became the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League . It served as home to the White Sox first in 1900 as a minor league team, and then from 1901 to June 27, 1910, as
1480-571: Was shopping around for a new location after having been driven from their lakefront ballpark. The Tribune for February 25, 1885, p. 6, reported that "the old Union grounds" at 39th and Wabash were looked at, but were considered too far from the business district to be suitable. The second South Side Park was first the home of the Chicago Pirates entry in the Players' League of 1890 (whose roster included Charles Comiskey ), and then
1520-433: Was soon replaced by "Brotherhood Park". Although the club continued to call themselves "White Stockings", local papers frequently referred to the team as the "Pirates". Comiskey would adopt the "White Stockings" name again with his new team in 1900. The park's location was typically given as 35th and Wentworth, which was the location of the main entrance, and convenient to an east–west rail line. The field generally occupied
1560-633: Was the home of the National League club now called the Chicago Cubs during parts of 1891–1893. In 1890, it was usually called Brotherhood Park in the local newspapers, as with several of the Players' League venues. By 1890 the National League club had become generally known as "Anson's Colts". The new Players' League club co-opted the old nickname "White Stockings" and initially labeled their ballpark as "White Stocking Park". That name
1600-488: Was the name used for three different baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago, Illinois, at different times, and whose sites were all just a few blocks away from each other. The first South Side Park was the home of the short-lived Chicago Browns entry in the Union Association of 1884. The venue was also called Union Base Ball Park and 39th Street Grounds in local newspapers. Indications are that
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