In 1886, a semipro team known as the Union Baseball Club was founded in Chicago. Under the leadership of Frank Leland, this team of black players worked its way to the top of Chicago's otherwise all-white semipro city league. In 1902, Leland recruited a talented young pitcher from Texas, Rube Foster, who soon established himself as one of the game's outstanding players, seized the leadership of the Union Baseball Club and founded the Chicago American Giants. This team would dominate the early years of the Negro National League, also founded by Foster.

Covering the years 1870-1953, this is a history of a legendary Negro League team. Sources include contemporary newspaper articles and interviews with veteran players. Many photographs, a comprehensive biographical dictionary and a detailed game log are included.