Founded in 1911 by Andrew “Rube” Foster, often referred to as the father of the Negro Leagues, the Chicago American Giants would go on to be one of the most dominant teams during the Negro Leagues era. As a charter member of the Negro National League in 1920, the American Giants had one of the longest franchise histories in the Negro Leagues operating for 42 seasons, including their time in the independent leagues. During this time, they would win 2 of the Negro Leagues World Series Championships back-to-back in 1926 and 1927.
During their championships and well into the 1930’s, the American Giants played at South Side Park – a wooden ballpark that originally hosted the Chicago White Sox. By 1941, the Chicago American Giants would go on to share Comiskey Park with the White Sox where they would play while the White Sox were on the road. By some accounts the American Giants’ games would, on occasion, draw larger crowds than the White Sox.
As one of the top rivals to the Kansas City Monarchs, who they defeated to take home their 1926 Negro Leagues World Series Championship, the American Giants players were known for their fielding, pitching, speed, and “inside baseball” style of play. Along with Rube Foster, who at different points in their history was an owner, manager, and player of the team, the American Giants fielded a notable roster of Negro Leagues players.
To learn more about the Chicago American Giants, and the continued impact of the Negro Leagues on baseball, be sure to check out Storylines: The Negro Leagues – Season One only available in MLB® The Show™ 23.