Leland Giants · Chicago, Illinois · 1910

First Annual Base Ball and Sporting Number

The Freeman's First Annual Base Ball and Sporting Number, April 16, 1910, introduced the Leland Giants one portrait at a time. John Henry Loyd, the wonder of the twentieth century. Bruce Pettway, the peer of all catchers. J. P. Hill, the equal, if not the superior, of any man playing baseball. Three of these five ended up in Cooperstown, and the paper knew it first.

The Freeman of Indianapolis opened its “First Annual Base Ball and Sporting Number” on April 16, 1910 by introducing the Leland Giants the way they deserved: one full portrait at a time, each with a caption that reads like an engraving on a trophy.

“JOHN H. LOYD, Leland Giants’ Star Second Baseman,” is John Henry Lloyd, spelled the way the caption spells him. The paper says he was “considered by every manager in the country to be the wonder of the twentieth century,” and credits his bat and glove with defeating “Detroit’s American League club, champions of the American League.” Then it gives up on itemizing and simply calls him “a ball team in himself.” The Hall of Fame agreed in 1977.

“BRUCE PETTWAY, The Peer of All Catchers,” stands holding a mitt in each hand, which feels right for a man the paper calls “the one star backstop of the whole baseball world.” He too “humbled the Detroit Tigers, the all-star team of the American League, and every base runner in the country.” Base runners never did solve Bruce Petway. Cooperstown has him now as well, and so it goes down this column. “J. P. HILL,” Pete Hill to the plaque room, is “considered the equal, if not the superior, of any man playing baseball.” “ANDREW PAYNE, The Wonder of the Outfield.” And “JAMES BOOKER, Star Catcher. Now Playing First Base for the Leland Giants. He is a star in any position,” photographed at full stretch, proving it.

The man these five played for got the biggest portrait on the page, and that 1910 Leland Giants club is remembered as one of the greatest teams ever assembled, in any league, anywhere. The Freeman didn’t wait for history’s permission. It printed the superlatives in April.