The story behind those uniforms Cubs will wear tonight vs. Pirates

You might have had trouble recognizing the Cubs this weekend as they opened a series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

On Saturday night, both teams wore powder-blue to raise awareness about prostate cancer during Father’s Day weekend. It’s the second consecutive season Major League Baseball has used the symbolic blue. Uniforms incorporate blue into the regular logos, and the caps are highlighted by a blue shadow tech heather crown and graphite visor.

On Friday night, the Cubs wore the uniforms once worn by Chicago Negro league team the Leland Giants — named after owner-manager Frank Leland.

Chris Creamer of sportslogos.net has the details behind the throwback game at PNC Park.

The Pirates wore uniforms once worn by the Homestead Grays.

Creamer points out that the Leland Giants were formed in 1901. After the 1910 season, they split into two Chicago teams, one remaining the Leland Giants, the other calling itself the Chicago Giants. The Leland Giants went on to be called the Chicago American Giants and played through 1952.