The Chicago Unions were a professional, black baseball team that played in the late 19th century, prior to the formation of the Negro leagues.
George Richardson Jr. was a shortstop with the Chicago Union Giants the Algona Brownies from 1900 to 1903.
William Miller "Big Bill" Gatewood was a Negro leagues pitcher and manager for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League, and in its first few seasons. He pitched for the Leland Giants, Chicago Giants, St. Paul Colored Gophers, Chicago American Giants, New York Lincoln Giants, Cuban X-Giants, Philadelphia Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, St. Louis Giants, Indianapolis ABCs, Detroit Stars, St. Louis Stars, Toledo Tigers, Milwaukee Bears, Memphis Red Sox, Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, and Birmingham Black Barons.
The Algona Brownies were an independent interracial baseball team that played in the 1902 and 1903 seasons. They were based in Algona, Iowa, and was primarily made up of former members of the Chicago Unions, Columbia Giants, and Chicago Union Giants teams.
George Walter Ball was an American baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues. Born in Detroit, Michigan, from 1893 he played ten years as the only black player on minor white teams in Minnesota and North Dakota. For more than a decade beginning 1903, he played for major teams, mainly in the Chicago region. Sources say he was given the nickname "The Georgia Rabbit" and "Diamond."
George "Chappie" Johnson Jr. was an American baseball catcher and field manager in the Negro leagues. He played for many successful teams from 1895 to 1920 and he crossed racial boundaries as a teacher and coach.
William H. Binga was an American third baseman, catcher and manager in the pre-Negro league baseball era. Born in Michigan, Binga played most of his career in Chicago, Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
William Thomas Pettus was an American baseball first baseman in the Cuban League and Negro leagues. He played from 1902 to 1921 with several teams.
Nathan Harris was an American baseball third baseman and captain in the pre-Negro leagues. He played for many of the best teams between 1900 and 1910.
Henry William "Harry" Moore was an American baseball utility player in the pre-Negro leagues. He appears as "Harry Moore," "Henry Moore," and even "Mike Moore."
Charles Albert "Joe" Green was an American baseball outfielder and manager in the pre-Negro leagues and the beginning of the Negro National League.
Dangerfield F. Talbert was an American baseball third baseman in the pre-Negro leagues.
Tim Samuel Strothers was an American baseball catcher and first baseman in the pre-Negro leagues.
Harry Hyde was a Negro leagues pitcher and Infielder for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League. He played several years with Frank Leland and his Chicago Union Giants, playing with Dangerfield Talbert, Rube Foster, Chappie Johnson, Walter Ball, William Binga, and Charles "Joe" Green.
Albert Toney was an American baseball shortstop in the pre-Negro leagues. He played most seasons for Chicago teams such as Chicago Union Giants, Leland Giants, and Chicago Giants.
George Hopkins was an American baseball pitcher and second baseman in the pre-Negro leagues. He played many seasons for the Chicago Unions, and for Iowa's Algona Brownies and Minnesota's Minneapolis Keystones.
Joseph "Cannon Ball" Miller was an American baseball pitcher in the pre-Negro leagues. His first known games were played for the Page Fence Giants.
William Holland was a Negro leagues pitcher and infielder for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.
Sherman "Bucky" Barton was an Outfielder in the Negro leagues.
Willis Jones was an American baseball outfielder and manager in the pre-Negro leagues.
