Page Fence Giants facts for kids

The Page Fence Giants were a professional baseball team made up of Black players. They were based in Adrian, Michigan, and played from 1895 to 1898. This team was one of the best in the country during the early days of Negro league baseball. The team got its name from the Page Woven Wire Fence Company in Adrian. J. Wallace Page, who started the company, was their sponsor.

The Team's Beginning

The Page Fence Giants started in 1894 and played their first game on April 9, 1895. Two important players, Bud Fowler and Home Run Johnson, helped organize the team. Gus Parsons was their manager. Bud Fowler carefully chose players who were known for good behavior. Five of the twelve players on the team were even college graduates!

Fowler played second base, and Johnson played shortstop. In their first year, 1895, the team traveled to 112 towns. They played against many different kinds of teams. They had an amazing record of 118 wins, 36 losses, and 2 ties. They also played 15 games against teams from the white Michigan State League (MSL), winning 8 of those games.

Team Success and Changes

In 1896, Charlie Grant took over from Bud Fowler at second base. The Page Fence Giants played a big series against another top Black baseball team, the Cuban X-Giants. The Giants won 10 out of 15 games, proving they were the best Black baseball team at the time. Home Run Johnson was the winning pitcher in the final game.

By August 1, 1896, the team had a record of 80 wins and only 19 losses. In 1897, they were even better, winning 125 games and losing only 12. They even had an amazing streak of 82 wins in a row! The 1898 season was the team's last. Many of their players later joined a new team called the Columbia Giants in Chicago.

Sometimes, the Giants' management disagreed with game results. This was often because the umpires were not fair. One record shows their impressive wins and losses:

• 1895: 121 wins, 31 losses
• 1896: 143 wins, 25 losses
• 1897: 129 wins, 10 losses
• 1898: 107 wins, 10 losses

Key Players of the Page Fence Giants

1896 Page Fence Giants team

Many talented players were part of the Page Fence Giants:

• Bud Fowler (1895): He was a co-founder of the team and played second base. He left the team in July 1895.
• Charlie Grant (1896–1898): Nicknamed "Cincy," he played second base.
• Billy Holland (1895–1897): A pitcher and outfielder. He was known for singing during games.
• Chappie Johnson (1896–1898): Played left field, first base, and catcher. He was often called "Junior" because he was younger than his teammate Home Run Johnson.
• William Binga (1895–1898): Played third base, catcher, and outfield.
• Grant "Home Run" Johnson (1895–1898): The team's shortstop and captain. He got his nickname for hitting many home runs in 1894.
• John W. Patterson (1895, 1896, 1897–1898): Played first base and third base. He later managed the team when it became the Columbia Giants.
• Sol White (1895): Played second base. He joined the Giants in June 1895 and later became famous for his many contributions to Black baseball. He was even chosen for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
• George Wilson (1895–1898): A left-handed pitcher known as the "Palmyra Wonder." He was one of the best pitchers of his time.
• George Taylor (1895–1898): Played first base.
• Sherman Barton (1898): Played outfield and was a pitcher.
• Peter Burns (1895–1898): A catcher.
• Augustus "Gus" Brooks (1895): Played center field.
• Joe "Cannon Ball" Miller (1895–1898): A right-handed pitcher and outfielder.
• Fred Van Dyke (1895, 1896): Played infield, outfield, and pitcher.
• Vasco Graham (1895–1896): A catcher.
• James Chavous (1895–1896): A right-handed pitcher.
• Frank Waters (1895, 1896): A young substitute pitcher from Adrian, Michigan.
• William Wendell Gaskin (1895–1896): The team's cook who sometimes played as a substitute pitcher.

Playing with the Adrian Demons

Some Page Fence Giants players also played for the Adrian Demons in 1895. The Demons were Adrian's team in the Michigan State League, which was a minor league. The Adrian Demons were special because they were the only team in that league with both Black and white players. A very famous player, Honus Wagner, even played for the Adrian Demons for three weeks in July 1895.

Bud Fowler and George Wilson left the Page Fence Giants before the end of their first season in 1895. They went to play in the mostly white Michigan State League. George Wilson had an excellent record of 29 wins and 4 losses with the Adrian Demons that year. He was considered the best pitcher in the MSL.