Once Upon A Summer 7/28/1918: Silk Sox Clout John Donaldson's Offerings; Brooklyn Royal Giants Fall at Doherty's Oval

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

The News (Paterson, New Jersey),

Monday, July 29, 1918

On Sunday, July 28, 1918, the (Paterson) Silk Sox defeated the Brooklyn Royal Giants at Doherty's Oval, Clifton, New Jersey.

"Hard and timely hitting enabled the Silk Sox to defeat the famous Royal Giants of Brooklyn.  The visitors had Donaldson, who is rated as the best colored pitcher in the country, on the firing line, but the locals showed no fear of him.  They clouted his offering to all corners of the lot and won by a score of 9 to 6." - Passaic Daily Herald (Passaic, New Jersey), Monday, July 29, 1918

The Passaic Daily News (Passaic, New Jersey), Monday, July 29, 1918

The Silk Sox score early, often, and late.  Southpaw John Donaldson in the first inning yields two doubles and a single en route to an early 2-0 deficit.  Clifton scores once more in the second and twice in the third for a 5-0 lead.  Afterwhich, left fielder Howard Lohr homers off Donaldson in the fifth.  

Meanwhile, Sox starter Jimmy Clinton holds the Royal Giants scoreless through the sixth. 

Brooklyn, in the top of the seventh inning, finally registers a run.  With one out, center fielder Tom Fiall lashes a single, steals second base, and scores on a misplay by Peploski, the Sox third baseman. 

Clifton extends their lead against Donaldson to 7-1 in the bottom half of the frame.

With two outs and two on in the top of the eighth, John Donaldson singles home only the Royal Giants' second run of the game.  But the Sox answer yet again with two more runs in the home eighth.  This time Donaldson threw errantly in an attempted pick-off at first, allowing a run to score.  He nonetheless allows three hits, including a double by Jimmy Clinton before the frame is through.

Brooklyn appears to awaken from their slumber in the ninth, but as they say, it's too little too late.  A four-run outburst highlighted by Oliver Marcell's (Wadell) two-run single and John Henry Lloyd's two-run double all goes for naught.

Silk Sox starter Jimmy Clinton holds the Giants to six late runs on eleven hits (only one for extra bases) and two walks with three strikeouts for the win.

John Donaldson has certainly had better days.  The local hosts offer no quarter.  Donaldson yields nine runs on 16 hits (seven for extra bases) and two walks with three strikeouts in a losing effort.  Sixteen hits are the most rendered in one game by Donaldson in a Royal Giant uniform.  He has now yielded 40 hits over his last three starts and 27 innings pitched.

"... the Sox managed to emerge the victors despite the fact that the visitors had Donaldson, the world's best colored pitcher, on the mound for them." - The News (Patterson, New Jersey), Monday, July 29, 1918

The Morning Call (Paterson, New Jersey), Monday, July 29, 1918

BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

ONCE UPON A SUMMER, 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

• 6/28 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Acquire Midwest Pitching Great, John Donaldson
• 6/30 - John Donaldson Loses Brooklyn Royal Giants Debut To New York Lincoln Giants
• 7/3 - John Donaldson Poised To Make Brooklyn/Queens Debut At Dexter Park
• 7/4 - John Donaldson Twirls Shutout Over Cuban Stars In Dexter Park Debut
• 7/7 - Joe Williams Wins Second Straight Decision Over John Donaldson; Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill
• 7/13 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 7/14 - John Donaldson Defeats Bushwick; Royal Giants Split Twin Bill At Dexter Park
• 7/15 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Series Opener From Atlantic City Bacharach Giants
• 7/16 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Game Two from Bacharach Giants; John Donaldson Earns The Victory
• 7/17 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Wrap Up Series With Bacharach Giants at Atlantic City
• 7/18 - N.Y. Ship League Team Defeat Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, New Jersey
• 7/21 - Cuban Stars Double-Up Brooklyn Royal Giants; John Donaldson Takes Loss at Dexter Park
• 7/24 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Bow To Stan Baumgartner and Bethlehem Steel at Allentown, PA
• 7/27 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Camp Dix Soldiers

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S STARTS w/ BROOKLYN:

1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?)W, 6K* (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park)
6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox, Doherty's Oval, N.J.)

• LINE: 63 innings, 25 runs, 68 hits, 12 walks, 25 strikeouts, 3.57 ERA

 

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