HARRISBURG, Pa. — One of the crown jewels of Negro league baseball used to play right here in Central Pennsylvania.
The Harrisburg Giants were filled with talented baseball players, including Hall of Famers such as Oscar Charleston and Fats Jenkins.
The team was originally owned by a black entrepreneur known as CW Strothers. Local baseball historian Ted Knorr is one of the few keeping the Giants' legacy alive.
“He brought in players from all across the country," said Norr. "By 1903 or so it was a very good baseball team."
The Giants played all over the area including at what is now known as City Island. They had many battles with the Senators and oftentimes came out on top.
"The Senators were in white baseball minor leagues and the Harrisburg Giants were their parallel," Knorr explained. "Pretty much their whole existence and the Senators might have won once or twice over a dozen games."
The Giants were also known for their awesome outfield which featured Jenkins, Charleston, and Rap Dixon.
"When you have Charleston in center field you know it is going to be a pretty good outfield," said Knorr. "I feel pretty strong about it being easily defenseable as one of the greatest outfields in the segregated era."
They won the Eastern Negro League title in 1954 and continued to play on City Island through 1957.
The Senators have a Giants commemorative night every season to recognize and continue to keep the legacy and name of the team alive.