Chicago Union Giants

In 1901 Frank Leland combined the Chicago Unions and Columbia Giants to form the Chicago Union Giants. Managed by Leland, they were the top team in the west. The most famous players in retrospect were Rube Foster in 1902 and Walter Ball in 1903. The team lost the Western title in a series with the Algona Brownies in '03, the one year they had serious competition in the west. In 1905 the team was renamed the Leland Giants after their manager and founder.

Sources: "The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues" by James Riley, "The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues" by John Holway