Knoxville Giants


The Knoxville Giants were a Negro league baseball professional team based in Knoxville, Tennessee between 1920 and 1932. The Knoxville Giants were a member of the Negro Southern League from 1920–1922 and 1931–1932.

History

The Knoxville Giants began play in the 1920 Negro Southern League as charter members of the eight-team league.
In 1920, the Knoxville Giants finished 2nd or 1st depending on the source. They are reported as finishing 55–21 and 34–30. The Giants had a 14-game winning streak during the season. Newspaper articles referred to the Knoxville Giants as the 1920 champions.
It was noted that Knoxville, in the era of segregated baseball, had an integrated fan base, often drawing 1,000–1,500 fans.
The Knoxville Giants finished 8th at 43–79 in 1921.
In 1922, the Knoxville Giants finished 44–27, 3 games behind the Nashville Elite Giants and 1.5 games ahead of the Memphis Red Sox.
The Knoxville Giants rejoined the six-team Negro Southern League in 1931.
The 1931 Knoxville Giants finished 6th with an 11–19 record.
In 1932, Knoxville did not play as a league member, with the league having expanded to eight-teams after the folding of the Negro National League. Knoxville is believed to have played as one of four teams that were an associate member of the 1932 Negro Southern League, playing games against league members, while not being an official member of the league.

The ballpark

The Knoxville Giants played at Booker T. Washington Park. Booker T. Washington Park had previously been known as "Brewer's Park." The ballpark was located in East Knoxville.

Notable players