Philadelphia Giants
The Philadelphia Giants played from 1902 to 1911 and were one of the strongest teams in black baseball. They captured five eastern championships in six years.
Rube Foster, who later founded several midwestern teams and leagues, played for the team, as did Pop Lloyd, who many consider the greatest shortstop in the history of the Negro Leagues.
With many of society’s doors closed to them, black Philadelphians improvised and created their own institutions. No where was this more apparent than in the baseball world.
Negro League teams featured an exciting style of play with aggressive baserunning, over-the-shoulder catches and dazzling pitching. Still, access to the best stadiums, equipment and capital remained in the hands of the white teams.