Illinois Giants

Illinois Giants
Information
LeagueIndependent (1909-1910, 1919-1929)
LocationChicago, Illinois
Founded1909
Folded1929

The Illinois Giants were a semi-professional[1] barnstorming Negro league baseball team, documented as playing in 1909,[2] 1910,[3] and from 1919 to 1929.[4] They were based in Chicago.[5]

The Giants played throughout Illinois[5][6] and the Upper Midwest, including tours playing against local teams in the iron mining towns of northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.[7][8] Many of the other semi-pro teams they played against were white.[9]: 174–175 

Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe started his baseball career by playing for the team in 1920.[1][10] He played with the Giants until 1927.[9]: 175 

References

  1. ^ a b Megelsh, Michael (October 3, 2025). "Radcliffe, Theodore". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  2. ^ "Illinois Giants will Clash with Eagles". The Joliet Daily News. August 7, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  3. ^ "Baseball". Suburbanite Economist. August 5, 1910. p. 8. Retrieved February 5, 2026. The Normals walloped the Illinois Giants at Normal Park Sunday afternoon 3 to 1.
  4. ^ "Barnstorming and Independent Black Baseball Teams" (PDF). Center for Negro League Baseball Research.
  5. ^ a b "Cowden Defeats Illinois Giants". Decatur Daily Review. Decatur, Illinois. June 18, 1921. p. 5. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "Illinois Giants Colored Team to Play Tigers". Bureau Country Tribune. Princeton, Illinois. July 8, 1921. p. 2. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  7. ^ "Hurley Loses to Illinois Giants". Hurley Iron County News. Hurley, Wisconsin. July 22, 1922. p. 4. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  8. ^ "Illinois Giants to Play Manistique". Escanaba Daily Press. Escanaba, Michigan. September 22, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  9. ^ a b Holway, John (1975). Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues. New York: Dodd, Mead. ISBN 978-0-396-07124-2. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Kern, Thomas. "Ted 'Double Duty' Radcliffe". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
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