127:
182:
renamed the
Richmond Giants. The roster was cobbled together quickly, and was an amalgamation of Jewell's ABCs, Taylor ABCs, or other former players in the Indianapolis area who were available for the weekend games. Given the quick roster composition, some players (such as the case with McMurray, traditionally a catcher, or Day, who would become a second baseman) played out of position.
530:, second baseman Otis Francis, and first baseman George Board, with Day in particular drawing heaps of praise, including the Palladium-Item's appraisal that "Day's playing at shortstop was a feature as it always is. Day is undoubtedly one of the greatest shortstops in minor league baseball today and he could make a few big leaguers go some to outshine him."
157:
ABCs teams, as well as the white
Indianapolis Indians, a minor league club, to share just two available ball fields (Washington Park and Northwestern Park). The arrangement was disastrous for Jewell's club, who consistently found themselves third on the pecking order for the two fields, severely affecting their gate receipts.
561:
Holland would face the Muncie
Valentines on September 1, a team with multiple former minor league prospects, and the Richmond Athletics on September 2, the city's all-star team. In his debut against the Valentines, Holland hurled a complete game one-hitter, striking out eleven hitters in a 6-1 Giants
546:
536:
Outfielder and sometimes-pitcher Jack "The
Fighting Poor Boy" Hannibal also proved immensely popular with the fans. The Indianapolis-based Hannibal was also a prolific boxer, and had appeared in Richmond the previous May in a bout against Christy Williams, also known as "Dayton's Dark Secret." It was
181:
Jewell, paired with
Richmond businessman George Brehm, seized the opportunity to forge a partnership, making Exhibition Park the home field for Jewell's ABCs the remainder of the season, and made the announcement official on June 2, 1918. The team, initially called the 'Richmond ABCs', would soon be
160:
After the 1917 season, Jewell pledged his ABCs would commit themselves to a barnstorming existence for the 1918, opting to play only road games rather than battle two more talented and better-funded teams for a spot on the either of
Indianapolis' premier diamonds. The result was disastrous; lopsided
553:
The Giants were scheduled to end their 1918 campaign during the Labor Day holiday weekend with consecutive doubleheaders on
September 1 and 2. With four games to play in approximately twenty-four hours, and their pitching ranks thinned by injury, the Giants enlisted the help of seventeen-year-old
156:
After the 1916 season, Bowser sold his team to
Indianapolis-based Black businessman Warner Jewell, who owned and operated a pool hall. The team was then known as 'Jewell's ABCs' for the 1917 season. After the Federal League Park in Indianapolis was demolished after the 1916 season, it forced both
570:
The Giants, buoyed by 1918 standouts
Holland, Day, McMurray, Lynch, Francis, Elzie McReynolds, and William Webster, returned to Richmond the next season. They played two games (one on May 11, the other June 6, 1919), splitting the pair with a 1-1 record. Holland started both games on the mound,
152:
broke out, which ultimately caused the club to split into two different factions, with each respective owner forming their own team. Since neither owner wanted to yield the 'ABCs' moniker to the other, the teams were quickly dubbed 'Taylor's ABCs' and 'Bowser's ABCs' by the press. Taylor's ABCs
523:, wrote that "with Charleston, Lynch, and Jones batting every pitcher all over the field the colored boys seem capable of taking on some of the bigger semi-pro teams in the state with the brand of ball the colored put up along with their amusing pranks, the club seems to have come to stay."
130:
Oscar
Charleston – pictured here on a 1920s baseball card, split the 1918 season between the Indianapolis ABCs and the Richmond Giants, suiting up no fewer than four times for the Giants before departing east with the ABCs on a barnstorming
169:
While Jewell's club couldn't find a home field, the exact opposite issue faced baseball organizers in Richmond, Indiana in 1918. The city had built Exhibition Park, a $ 12,000, 2,500-seat stadium in 1917 to house the minor league
515:
in 1895. The team became synonymous with Johnson, and even was sometimes referred to as the 'Springfield Chappies' during the 1918 season. The Giants defeated the Mints 16-7 in a shortened five-inning game.
562:
victory. The next day, he pitched an 11-inning compete game against the Athletics. Though he allowed only four earned runs and struck out thirteen hitters, the Giants lost 7-6.
504:, the Giants posted a 10-5-2 (.647) record on the season. The Giants scored 94 runs (5.7 runs/game) while yielding only 57 to their opposition (3.4 runs/game).
507:
The Giants played almost exclusively all-white teams, except for the July 28, 1918 game against the Springfield Mints. The Mints were managed by
931:
161:
losses and no-shows marred Jewell's short-run at a barnstorming-only schedule. By late May 1918, Jewell's club had seemed to quietly disband.
99:
that fielded a team in two different seasons. Though their existence was short, several Negro league stars played for the Giants, including
936:
585:
was formed in 1920, seven former Giants found teams in the new league. Connie Day, Otis Francis, and Oscar Charleston were signed by the
921:
112:
582:
926:
916:
555:
406:
153:
played most of their home games at Federal League Park, while Bowser's ABCs kept Northwestern Park for their home field.
100:
571:
striking out thirteen hitters in the first game, a 1-0 victory, and tossed a complete game one-hitter in a 1-0 loss.
578:-based Kokomo Black Devils to form a new team, the 'Hoosier Giants'. They disbanded at the end of the 1919 season.
178:, the Central League cancelled the 1918 season, leaving no team to play in the stadium that was barely a year old.
230:
601:. Third baseman James Lynch appeared with the Marcos in 1926, the team's second stint in the NNL.
519:
The day after beating the Mints and running their season record to 6-1, the local newspaper, the
266:
533:
In addition to Day's defense, James Lynch hit no fewer than four home runs in the short season.
284:
424:
92:
889:
8:
174:
of the Central League. Due to attendance issues and a dramatic player shortage caused by
126:
537:
alleged that out of one hundred professional fights in his career, he only lost five.
586:
512:
501:
493:
141:
96:
47:
338:
171:
115:
79:
69:
575:
508:
489:
590:
520:
388:
910:
598:
594:
449:
361:
356:
320:
253:
149:
108:
549:
Holland pictured (back row, first from left) in 1920 with the Detroit Stars.
526:
Highlights of the season included the double-play combination of shortstop
497:
485:
343:
248:
212:
297:
French Lick Plutos, West Baden Sprudels, Indianapolis ABCs, Jewell's ABCs
271:
175:
145:
164:
140:
Just before the 1916 baseball season, an irreconcilable dispute between
527:
325:
302:
289:
104:
545:
307:
465:
890:"Jack Hannibal boxing career summary accessed through Agate Type"
445:
429:
411:
393:
351:
Indianapolis ABCs, New York Lincoln Stars, Royal Poinciana Hotel
235:
217:
597:, while Arthur Coleman and Will Webster both appeared with the
437:
Louisville White Sox, Chicago American Giants, Chicago Giants
511:, a Negro leagues mainstay whose career had begun with the
225:
Louisville White Sox, Chicago Union Giants, Jewell's ABCs
369:
St. Paul Gophers, St. Louis Stars, West Baden Sprudels
333:
Louisville White Sox, Indianapolis ABCs, Jewell's ABCs
165:
Jewell's ABCs find home at Richmond's Exhibition Park
540:
484:Largely playing opposition from larger cities such
135:
908:
190:
121:
558:, an Indianapolis-based sandlot pitcher.
574:In late June 1919, they merged with the
544:
279:Indianapolis ABCs, Chicago Union Giants
125:
16:Negro League baseball team, 1918 to 1919
909:
932:Baseball teams disestablished in 1919
321:Jack 'The Fighting Poor Boy' Hannibal
604:
473:Only known Richmond native on team
13:
937:Baseball teams established in 1918
479:
14:
948:
922:Defunct baseball teams in Indiana
541:The debut of Bill 'Devil' Holland
136:A split in the ranks of the ABCs
879:Palladium-Item, August 26, 1918
243:St. Louis Stars, Jewell's ABCs
882:
873:
864:
855:
852:Muncie Star Press, May 5, 1918
846:
565:
185:
1:
870:Palladium-Item, July 29, 1918
839:
91:were an independent semi-pro
7:
927:Sports in Richmond, Indiana
917:Negro league baseball teams
861:Richmond Item, June 2, 1918
191:1918 Richmond Giants roster
59:Exhibition Park (1918-1919)
10:
953:
122:The founding of the Giants
75:
65:
53:
43:
31:
26:
21:
231:William 'Specks' Webster
37:Independent (1918-1919)
593:, Bill Holland by the
550:
285:James 'Home Run' Lynch
267:Otis 'The Cat' Francis
132:
583:Negro National League
554:right-handed pitcher
548:
129:
93:Negro league baseball
637:Indianapolis Merrits
589:, Will Jones by the
648:Anderson Panhandles
792:Richmond Athletics
758:Richmond Athletics
626:Richmond Athletics
551:
261:Indianapolis ABCs
133:
834:
833:
747:Muncie Valentines
692:Springfield Mints
587:Indianapolis ABCs
513:Page Fence Giants
477:
476:
383:Previous Team(s)
207:Previous Team(s)
142:Indianapolis ABCs
97:Richmond, Indiana
85:
84:
48:Richmond, Indiana
944:
901:
900:
898:
896:
886:
880:
877:
871:
868:
862:
859:
853:
850:
736:Piqua Coca-Colas
609:
608:
605:All-time results
442:Elzie McReynolds
339:Oscar Charleston
195:
194:
172:Richmond Quakers
116:Oscar Charleston
19:
18:
952:
951:
947:
946:
945:
943:
942:
941:
907:
906:
905:
904:
894:
892:
888:
887:
883:
878:
874:
869:
865:
860:
856:
851:
847:
842:
836:
725:Liberty Red Sox
681:Dayton Aviators
607:
576:Kokomo, Indiana
568:
543:
509:Chappie Johnson
482:
480:Meet the Giants
193:
188:
167:
138:
124:
89:Richmond Giants
22:Richmond Giants
17:
12:
11:
5:
950:
940:
939:
934:
929:
924:
919:
903:
902:
881:
872:
863:
854:
844:
843:
841:
838:
832:
831:
830:11-6-2 (.632)
828:
823:
820:
819:
816:
811:
808:
807:
804:
801:
797:
796:
793:
790:
786:
785:
782:
779:
775:
774:
773:10-5-2 (.647)
771:
766:
763:
762:
759:
756:
752:
751:
748:
745:
741:
740:
737:
734:
730:
729:
726:
723:
719:
718:
715:
712:
708:
707:
704:
701:
697:
696:
693:
690:
686:
685:
682:
679:
675:
674:
671:
670:Dayton Rubbers
668:
664:
663:
660:
657:
653:
652:
649:
646:
642:
641:
638:
635:
631:
630:
627:
624:
620:
619:
616:
613:
606:
603:
591:Chicago Giants
567:
564:
542:
539:
521:Palladium-Item
481:
478:
475:
474:
471:
468:
463:
462:Charles Cooper
459:
458:
457:Bowser's ABCs
455:
452:
443:
439:
438:
435:
432:
427:
421:
420:
417:
414:
409:
403:
402:
399:
396:
391:
389:Arthur Coleman
385:
384:
381:
378:
375:
371:
370:
367:
364:
359:
353:
352:
349:
346:
341:
335:
334:
331:
328:
323:
317:
316:
315:Jewell's ABCs
313:
310:
305:
299:
298:
295:
292:
287:
281:
280:
277:
274:
269:
263:
262:
259:
256:
251:
245:
244:
241:
238:
233:
227:
226:
223:
220:
215:
209:
208:
205:
202:
199:
192:
189:
187:
184:
166:
163:
137:
134:
123:
120:
95:team based in
83:
82:
77:
73:
72:
67:
63:
62:
61:
60:
55:
51:
50:
45:
41:
40:
39:
38:
33:
29:
28:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
949:
938:
935:
933:
930:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
914:
912:
891:
885:
876:
867:
858:
849:
845:
837:
829:
827:
826:Overall Total
824:
822:
821:
817:
815:
812:
810:
809:
805:
803:Farmland Nine
802:
799:
798:
794:
791:
788:
787:
784:Result/Score
783:
780:
777:
776:
772:
770:
767:
765:
764:
761:L 7-6, L 6-3
760:
757:
754:
753:
750:W 6-1, T 4-4
749:
746:
743:
742:
739:W 9-1, W 6-0
738:
735:
732:
731:
728:W 5-4, T 3-3
727:
724:
721:
720:
716:
714:Farmland Nine
713:
710:
709:
705:
703:Farmland Nine
702:
699:
698:
694:
691:
688:
687:
683:
680:
677:
676:
672:
669:
666:
665:
661:
659:Farmland Nine
658:
655:
654:
650:
647:
644:
643:
639:
636:
633:
632:
628:
625:
622:
621:
618:Result/Score
617:
614:
611:
610:
602:
600:
599:Dayton Marcos
596:
595:Detroit Stars
592:
588:
584:
579:
577:
572:
563:
559:
557:
547:
538:
534:
531:
529:
524:
522:
517:
514:
510:
505:
503:
499:
495:
491:
487:
472:
469:
467:
464:
461:
460:
456:
453:
451:
447:
444:
441:
440:
436:
433:
431:
428:
426:
423:
422:
418:
415:
413:
410:
408:
405:
404:
400:
397:
395:
392:
390:
387:
386:
382:
379:
376:
373:
372:
368:
365:
363:
360:
358:
357:Will McMurray
355:
354:
350:
347:
345:
342:
340:
337:
336:
332:
329:
327:
324:
322:
319:
318:
314:
311:
309:
306:
304:
301:
300:
296:
293:
291:
288:
286:
283:
282:
278:
275:
273:
270:
268:
265:
264:
260:
257:
255:
252:
250:
247:
246:
242:
239:
237:
234:
232:
229:
228:
224:
221:
219:
216:
214:
211:
210:
206:
203:
200:
197:
196:
183:
179:
177:
173:
162:
158:
154:
151:
150:Thomas Bowser
147:
143:
128:
119:
117:
114:
113:Hall of Famer
110:
109:Will McMurray
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
81:
78:
74:
71:
68:
64:
58:
57:
56:
52:
49:
46:
42:
36:
35:
34:
30:
25:
20:
893:. Retrieved
884:
875:
866:
857:
848:
835:
825:
813:
768:
580:
573:
569:
560:
556:Bill Holland
552:
535:
532:
525:
518:
506:
486:Indianapolis
483:
407:Bill Holland
249:George Board
213:Robert Prior
180:
168:
159:
155:
139:
101:Bill Holland
88:
86:
818:1-1 (.500)
755:September 2
744:September 1
566:1919 season
502:Springfield
186:1918 season
176:World War I
146:C.I. Taylor
66:Established
27:Information
911:Categories
840:References
528:Connie Day
425:Will Jones
303:Connie Day
144:co-owners
105:Connie Day
781:Opponent
733:August 25
722:August 18
711:August 11
615:Opponent
581:When the
377:Position
374:Reserves
201:Position
76:Disbanded
895:July 30,
700:August 4
494:Anderson
54:Ballpark
44:Location
706:L 12-4
695:W 16-7
689:July 28
684:W 13-2
678:July 21
667:July 14
645:June 23
634:June 16
470:unknown
806:L 1-0
800:June 6
795:W 1-0
789:May 11
717:L 2-0
673:W 3-0
662:L 4-3
656:July 4
651:W 6-2
640:W 4-1
629:W 6-2
623:June 9
500:, and
498:Dayton
490:Muncie
32:League
814:Total
778:1919
769:Total
612:1918
419:None
401:None
198:Name
131:tour.
897:2020
380:Age
204:Age
148:and
111:and
87:The
80:1919
70:1918
913::
496:,
492:,
488:,
466:OF
454:23
450:1B
434:21
416:17
398:20
366:36
362:RF
348:21
344:CF
330:27
326:LF
312:20
308:SS
294:29
290:3B
276:27
272:2B
258:37
254:1B
240:22
222:26
118:.
107:,
103:,
899:.
448:/
446:P
430:C
412:P
394:P
236:C
218:P
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