From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK
On Thursday, July 4, 1918, in this season's first clash between these Eastern Independent Club rivals, the Brooklyn Royal Giants and Cuban Stars split games of a double-header at Dexter Park, Woodhaven, Queens.
GAME ONE - Making his second start for Brooklyn, but closer to the matter, his home field debut for the Royal Giants, left-hander John Donaldson mesmerizes Dexter Park's holiday crowd with a demonstration in subtle efficiency. The midwestern southpaw limits the Cuban Stars to just five hits, one for extra bases, and a walk with six strikeouts in a complete-game shutout victory, his first as a member of the Royal Giants. Left fielder Isidro Fabre is the lone Cuban Star with multiple hits, including a double against Donaldson.
"The Cubans failed to take advantage of several chances to score, but in the main Donaldson's pitching was too effective to overcome." - The Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York), Friday, July 5, 1918
Cuban Stars starter Evelio Calderin by no means pitches badly, surrendering three runs on only five hits and one walk with two strikeouts, albeit in a losing effort. Leadoff batter Joe Hewitt leads Brooklyn with two hits and a run scored, shortstop John Henry Lloyd laces a triple and scored a run in four at-bats, and Oliver Marcell accounts for Brooklyn's third and final run. John Donaldson, batting fifth in the lineup, is held hitless in two at-bats.
GAME TWO - Brooklyn's Tom Williams starts the second game, opposed by right-hander Isidro Fabre for the Stars. The visitors jumped out to a 5-0 lead just two and a half innings into the game. All Brooklyn can muster is a run in the bottom half of the third and one other run in the sixth. Joe Hewitt and John Henry Lloyd are the only Royal Giants to cross home. John Donaldson shares time in right field with Irvin Brooks, neither of whom wield a hit. Cuba's Isidro Fabre limits the Giants to just seven hits and no walks with two strikeouts for the win. Stars second baseman Rogelio Crespo, Leon, and Fabre each hit for extra bases. Tom Williams yields five runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in a losing effort.
ONCE UPON A SUMMER, 1918:
- Brooklyn Royal Giants Acquire Midwest Pitching Great, John Donaldson
- John Donaldson Loses Brooklyn Royal Giants Debut To New York Lincoln Giants
- John Donaldson Poised To Make Brooklyn/Queens Debut At Dexter Park
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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