Kansas City Giants

While almost all professional baseball teams from Kansas City played in Kansas City, MO, the Kansas City Giants played in Kansas City, KS. A mid-level Negro League team in the first decade of the 20th century, their best year was reportedly 1909 when they won two games of a three-game series against the Leland Giants and claimed to have won the mythical Negro baseball championship (the St. Paul Gophers also made such a claim, based upon a three games to two victory over the Lelands).

Catcher Bill Pettus hit .417 in those three games. The club reportedly won 54 games without a loss that year in Kansas City against amateur or semi-pro squads, but lost four of twelve decisions in Chicago against the Cuban Stars, and had a record of 0-1-1 against Chicago semi-pro and collegiate teams.

Sources

• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• Chicago Tribune articles, 1909