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Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 6/30/1918: John Donaldson Loses Brooklyn Royal Giants Debut To New York Lincoln Giants

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK




On Sunday, June 30, 1918, John Donaldson makes his much anticipated Brooklyn Royal Giants debut.  He is opposed by New York Lincoln Giants' starter Cyclone Joe Williams in the first game of a doubleheader at Olympic Field, Harlem.

GAME ONE - In an effective albeit losing effort, John Donaldson allows just one run on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts through nine innings pitched and wields a hit at the plate.

Lincoln Giants' second baseman Sam Mongin and Joe Williams himself lead New York with two hits apiece, and as fate would have it, Smokey Joe also scores the lone run of the game.  Williams hurls a gem on the mound, surrendering just two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over nine scoreless innings pitched for the win.

Brooklyn's third baseman Oliver Marcell, first baseman Eddie Douglass, and John Henry "Pop" Lloyd account for the Royal Giants' only other hits.  Catcher Louis Santop twice reaches safely and steals two bases.



GAME TWO - Brooklyn's Irvin Brooks holds the Lincoln Giants to a single run in the fifth.  The Royal Giants score once in the first, twice in the second, and one last time in the third en route to a 4-1 victory.  With today's twin bill split, John Henry Lloyd's team holds a commanding five games to one series advantage against manager Joe Williams' Lincoln Giants.


BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST: Restoring Baseball Great John Donaldson's Lost Legacy With Negro Leagues Historian and Founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.


Minnesota native Peter Gorton leads a group of historians dedicated to discovering the lost legacy of John Wesley Donaldson.  In this episode, we discuss the man, baseball career, and life of one of the more incredible and inspiring athletes to ever play the game, and how his amazing legacy became lost to a nation, most particularly Baseball's Hall of Fame.  

Original airdate: March 13, 2021.




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