A 1901 advertisement for the Cuban X-Giants, managed by Soloman “Sol” White, in Washington D.C. The team played the Capital City–described by The Washington Times as “a contingent of colored ball players of this city,” and the team representing the United States Census Bureau at American League Park.
Sol White
According to the ad:
“The Cubans are known all over the United States and Cuba, having defeated such well-known clubs as the Cuban Giants of New York, Chicago Unions, Brother Hoods, Louisville, KY. Red Stockings, Norfolk, VA., Shelbournes of Atlantic City, and the San Francisco, of Havana Cuba. The Cubans will have their own private band.”
The previous week, the X-Giants played an 11-inning tie with the Philadelphia Athletics at Columbia Park–although the Athletics three biggest stars, Napoleon Lajoie, Harry Davis and Lave Cross did not participate, The Philadelphia Inquirer said, “Both teams put up a splendid article of ball and the game resulted in one of the best that has been played on the grounds this season.”
The Philadelphia Times was even more enthusiastic:
“The game itself was beyond all doubt one of the greatest ever witnessed upon the local diamond.”
The 11-inning tie against the Athletics
The ad said the club had won 114 games and lost just 22 in 1901, and described them as the “Colored Champion Baseball Club of the World.” In both 1900 and 1901 the X-Giants and the Cuban Giants each claimed to be “Colored Champion.”
In addition to Sol White, the roster included, Robert Jordan, Ray Wilson, Clarence Williams, John Nelson, Danny McClellan, Will Jackson, Johnny Hill, Robert “Ginney” Robinson, and Charles “Kid” Carter.
The X-Giants won both of the advertised games. The victory over the Capital City club was of such little note that no newspaper mentioned the score. The Washington Colored American simply said the X-Giants “Played stars and circles around the Capital Cities.”
They also beat the Census Department 8 to 0. The Washington Times said:
“The visitors had things their own way throughout the game, and at no time were they in danger of being defeated. They had a twirler (McClellan) in the box that knew the fine points of the game. He struck out nine of the localities and allowed but two of them to get the slightest semblance of a safe hit off his cannon ball delivery.”
Danny McClellan
The X-Giants beat one more local team, the Eastern Athletic Club, on October 9, and left the nation’s capital 117-22.
Baseball History Daily 