The Chicago City League was a minor league baseball league based in

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. The

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

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.

History

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 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 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 The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

player

Nixey Callahan James Joseph Callahan (March 18, 1874 – October 4, 1934) was an American pitcher and left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Colts/Orphans, and Chicago White Sox. He also managed the White Sox, as we ...

, 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 Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. He was born in rural Narrows, Georgia. Cobb spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, the las ...

and

Tommy Leach Thomas Andrew Leach (November 4, 1877 – September 29, 1969) was a professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball from 1898 through 1918 for the Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and C ...

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, 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 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 The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

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 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, 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 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 Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

Teams by season

*1887: Unknown *1890: (6) Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends, Chicago Whitings *1891: (6) Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends, Chicago Whitings *1892: (8) Chicago Brands, Chicago Crystals, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends, Chicago Whitings *1893: (8) Chicago Brands, Chicago Crystals, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals, Chicago West Ends, Chicago Whitings *1894: (6) Chicago Brands, Chicago Franklins, Chicago Garden Citys, Chicago Lake Views, Chicago Rivals, Chicago Whitings *1909: (6) Anson's Colts, Chicago West Ends, Gunthers, Leland Giants, Logan Squares, Rogers Park *1910: (6) Anson's Colts, Chicago West Ends, Gunthers, Leland Giants, Logan Squares, Rogers Park

Standings

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 the 1909 team winning by 7.0 games, with a 31-9 record.

Ballparks

* The exact ballparks are unknown. Reportedly, the 1910 Leland Giants played home games at a Auburn Park, located where

Wentworth Gardens Wentworth Gardens is a low rise 344-unit housing project operated by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). it lies just south of Guaranteed Rate Field in Bronzeville on Chicago's south side. History The site had originally been home to South Si ...

is today. Today, the address is 3770 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
alumni

* Cap Anson, Anson's Colts, owner (1909–1910) * Rube Foster, Leland Giants (1909–1910) * John Henry Lloyd, Leland Giants (1910)

Notable alumni

Jim Andrews James Pratt Andrews (June 5, 1865 – December 27, 1907) was an American professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1890 for the Chicago Colts of the National League. He was a native of Shelburne Falls, Mass ...

, Chicago Whitings/Lake Views (1891/1892–1894) *

Art Ball Arthur Clark Ball (April 1876 – December 26, 1915) was an American Major League Baseball player from Kentucky. Ball played parts of two seasons in the Majors; one game for the 1894 St. Louis Browns, and 32 games for the 1898 Baltimore Oriol ...

, Chicago Rivals (1893) *

Bill Bowman William, Willie, Will, Bill, or Billy Bowman may refer to: Sportspeople * Bill Bowman (baseball) (1867–1944), American baseball player for the Chicago Colts * William Bowman (fencer) (1881–1947), American Olympic fencer * Bill Bowman (America ...

, Chicago Rivals (1890) *

Charlie Cady Charles B. Cady (December 1865 – June 7, 1909) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher/outfielder in the 19th century. In 1883 he played in three games for the Cleveland Blues of the National League, and in 1884 played in six games for t ...

, Chicago Rivals/Garden Citys (1891/1894) *

, Logan Squares, player/owner (1909–1910) *

John Carbine John C. Carbine (October 12, 1855 – September 11, 1915) was an American professional baseball player who played first base for the 1875 Keokuk Westerns and 1876 Louisville Grays. External links

Keokuk Westerns players Louisville Grays p ...

, Chicago Franklins (1890) *

Pete Galligan Peter F. Galligan (January 20, 1860 – May 20, 1917) was an American politician who also played Shortstop in Major League Baseball in one game for the 1886 Washington Nationals. Galligan was born in Chicago, Illinois and went to Saint Ignatiu ...

, Chicago Garden Citys (1891) *

Ed Gastfield Edward Gastfield (August 1, 1865 – December 1, 1899) was an American professional baseball player in the 1880s. He appeared in 25 games in Major League Baseball, principally as a catcher, for the Detroit Wolverines in 1884, and in one game for ...

, Chicago Franklins (1891–1894) *

Emil Geiss Emil August Geiss (March 20, 1867 – October 4, 1911) was an American professional baseball player who was a pitcher and infielder for one season in Major League Baseball. He appeared in three games for the Chicago White Stockings (1870–8 ...

, Chicago Brands (1894) *

Lou Gertenrich Louis Wilhelm Gertenrich (May 4, 1875 – October 20, 1933) was a professional baseball player. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball as an outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions ...

, Chicago Garden Citys (1894) *

Pretzels Getzien Charles H. "Pretzels" Getzien (surname sometimes spelled as Getzein; February 14, 1864 – June 19, 1932) was a German-born American professional baseball pitcher. He played all or parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with five di ...

, Chicago Franklins (1894) *

Charlie Hallstrom Charles E. Hallstrom (January 22, 1863Swedish churchbook "Jönköping Sofia CI:7" – May 6, 1949), nicknamed the "Swedish Wonder", was a Swedish Major League Baseball player who pitched one game for the Providence Grays of the National League. ...

, Chicago Whitings (1890–1891) *

John Hollison John Henry Hollison (May 3, 1870 in Chicago – August 19, 1969 in Chicago) was a professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the major leagues in 1892. He played in one game for the Chicago Colts The following is a North American profes ...

, Chicago Whitings (1892) * Marty Honan, Chicago Whitings (1890) *

Home Run Johnson Grant U. "Home Run" Johnson (September 23, 1872 – September 4, 1963) was an American shortstop and second baseman in baseball's Negro leagues. In a career that spanned over 30 years, he played for many of the greatest teams of the deadball era ...

, Leland Giants (1910) *

Charlie Irwin Charles Edwin Irwin (February 15, 1869 – September 21, 1925) was an American professional baseball third baseman. He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1893 and 1902 for the Chicago Colts, Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Supe ...

, Chicago Rivals (1890) *

Walt Kinzie Walter Harris Kinzie (March 16, 1858 – November 5, 1909) was an American professional baseball player who played shortstop in 1882 for the Detroit Wolverines and in 1884 for the Chicago White Stockings and St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Brow ...

, Chicago Whitings/Rivals (1890/1891) *

Frank Meinke Frank Louis Meinke (October 18, 1863 – November 8, 1931), was an American professional baseball pitcher from 1883 to 1887. He played two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Wolverines from 1884 to 1885. In 36 major league games, ...

, Chicago Brands (1890) * Joe Murphy, Chicago Whitings (1891) * Pete O'Brien, Chicago Whitings (1891) * Eddie O'Meara, Chicago Rivals (1891) * Chick Pedroes, Chicago Franklins (1891) *

Skel Roach Rudolph Charles "Skel" Roach (born Rudolph Charles Weichbrodt, October 20, 1871 – March 9, 1958) was a baseball player and coach. He played professional baseball from 1895 to 1905, including one game in Major League Baseball with the Chica ...

, Chicago Whitings (1894) *

George Rooks George Brinton McClellan Rooks (born George Brinton Mc Clellan Ruckser; October 21, 1863 – March 11, 1935), was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Boston Beaneaters of the National League The National League of Professio ...

, Chicago Rivals (1894) * Edward Santry, Chicago Franklins (1890) *

Mort Scanlan Mortimer J. Scanlan (March 18, 1861 – December 29, 1928) was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played three games for the New York Giants of the National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known ...

, Chicago Whitings (1891–1892) *

Dangerfield Talbert Dangerfield F. Talbert (March 8, 1878 – June 20, 1914) was an American baseball third baseman in the pre-Negro leagues. Talbert was born in Platte City, Missouri and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, attending the public schools there. He be ...

, Leland Giants (1909–1910)

References

{{Professional Baseball Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Illinois Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 1887 Sports leagues disestablished in 1910 Baseball in Chicago

History

Teams by season

Standings

Ballparks

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ... alumni

Notable alumni

See also

References

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
alumni