1914 in the Negro Leagues

1914 in baseball
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The Chicago American Giants dominated black baseball in 1914, going 34-7 against other top black teams. The St. Louis Giants (2-0), New York Lincoln Giants (15-14), Cuban Stars (20-22), Indianapolis ABCs (24-32), Brooklyn Royal Giants (8-16), Chicago Giants (1-5) and Schenectady Mohawk Giants (0-7) were the other top black clubs.

Indianapolis's George Shively (.372) had the top average in the west and was second in doubles (17) and homers (6). Ben Taylor, his teammate, led in homers (7), doubles (24), steals (19) and triples (6). Horace Jenkins (9-1, 2.39 RA) was the top pitcher in the west. In the east, Louis Santop hit .517 for New York.

The American Giants' Frank Wickware threw a no-hitter on August 26, beating the ABCs 1-0. He walked George Shivley leading off the game, and after Shivley was thrown out attempting to steal, Wickware retired the next 26 men in a row.

In addition to Santop and Taylor, active Hall-of-Famers were Chicago pitcher/manager Rube Foster (11-8, 3.38; .450 at the plate), Chicago SS Pop Lloyd (.323, 6 3B), Chicago OF Pete Hill (.228), Cuban OF Cristobal Torriente (.358; 4-3 on the hill) and New York hurler Smokey Joe Williams (6-4).

Future major league mainstay Mike Gonzalez hit .247 for Cuba.

In exhibition games, Williams beat the Portland Beavers with a no-hitter, beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 and tied Rube Marquard and a few New York Giants 1-1.

Blackball pioneer Frank Leland died on November 16.

Source: The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway