Harrisburg Giants
Encyclopedia
The Harrisburg Giants were a U.S. professional baseball team in the Negro Leagues, based in Harrisburg
, Pennsylvania
. They joined the Eastern Colored League
(ECL) for the 1924 season with Hall of Fame center fielder Oscar Charleston
as playing manager. The Giants became known primarily for their hitting; along with Charleston, outfielder/first baseman Heavy Johnson
, winner of the batting triple crown for the 1923 Kansas City Monarchs
, was signed away from the rival Negro National League
. Speedy outfielder Fats Jenkins
, a well-known professional basketball player and member of the New York Rens, also played for Harrisburg throughout its tenure in the ECL.
Harrisburg finished in the middle of the pack in its first season, winning 26 and losing 28 for a fifth-place spot (out of eight teams). In 1925, however, the Giants picked up the pace, challenging defending champion Hilldale
before falling just short with a 37-19 record. 1926 saw the Giants add shortstop/third baseman John Beckwith
from the Baltimore Black Sox
, and finish second again, this time behind the Bacharach Giants
.
In 1927 the Harrisburg Giants fell to fourth, with a 41-32 record. The club dropped out of the ECL the following year to play an independent schedule, whereupon most of its best players signed with other teams.
The team returned to take part in the American Negro League
in 1929.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. They joined the Eastern Colored League
Eastern Colored League
The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs, more commonly known as the Eastern Colored League , was one of the several Negro leagues, which operated during the time organized baseball was segregated.- History :...
(ECL) for the 1924 season with Hall of Fame center fielder Oscar Charleston
Oscar Charleston
Oscar McKinley Charleston was an American center fielder and manager in baseball's Negro leagues from to ....
as playing manager. The Giants became known primarily for their hitting; along with Charleston, outfielder/first baseman Heavy Johnson
Oscar Johnson (baseball)
Oscar "Heavy" Johnson was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He played catcher and outfielder. Johnson was one of the Negro League's foremost power hitters in the 1920s, reportedly weighing 250 pounds, and known for hitting home runs...
, winner of the batting triple crown for the 1923 Kansas City Monarchs
Kansas City Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. J.L. Wilkinson was the first Caucasian owner at the time...
, was signed away from the rival Negro National League
Negro National League (the first)
The Negro National League was one of the several Negro leagues which were established during the period in the United States in which organized baseball was segregated. Led by Rube Foster, owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants, the NNL was established on February 13, 1920 by a...
. Speedy outfielder Fats Jenkins
Fats Jenkins
Clarence Reginald "Fats" Jenkins was an African American professional baseball and basketball player from about 1920 to 1940 when both professional sports were racially segregated...
, a well-known professional basketball player and member of the New York Rens, also played for Harrisburg throughout its tenure in the ECL.
Harrisburg finished in the middle of the pack in its first season, winning 26 and losing 28 for a fifth-place spot (out of eight teams). In 1925, however, the Giants picked up the pace, challenging defending champion Hilldale
Hilldale Club
The Hilldale Athletic Club was an African American professional baseball team based in Darby, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia....
before falling just short with a 37-19 record. 1926 saw the Giants add shortstop/third baseman John Beckwith
John Beckwith (baseball player)
John Beckwith was an American infielder in baseball's Negro Leagues.Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he ranked among the Negro Leagues' career leaders in batting average, home runs, RBI and slugging percentage ....
from the Baltimore Black Sox
Baltimore Black Sox
The Baltimore Black Sox were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.- Founding :The Black Sox started as an independent team in 1916 by George Rossiter and Charles Spedden...
, and finish second again, this time behind the Bacharach Giants
Bacharach Giants
The Bacharach Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.- Founding :The club was founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor...
.
In 1927 the Harrisburg Giants fell to fourth, with a 41-32 record. The club dropped out of the ECL the following year to play an independent schedule, whereupon most of its best players signed with other teams.
The team returned to take part in the American Negro League
American Negro League
The American Negro League was one of several Negro leagues which were established during the period in the United States in which organized baseball was segregated...
in 1929.
External links
- The History of Black Baseball in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Afrolumensproject.org
- Harrisburg Giants State Historic Marker Historic Marker Database