Once Upon A Summer 8/2/1918: Brooklyn Royal Giants Open August Back in New Jersey

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

The month of August kicks off with minor discrepancies centered around two games versus the Camp Dix Soldiers.

"Camp Dix, N.J., Aug. 2 - The Brooklyn Royal Giants easily trimmed the Camp Dix team here last Saturday afternoon by a score of 8-2.  Transfers had weakened the soldier boys' nine and a makeshift team had to be put in the field.  The batting of Joe Hewitt, Johnny Pugh, and Thompson and fielding of Hewitt featured." - The Donaldson Network

In reporting the Camp Dix match as "last Saturday," it dates this particular game to July 27, 1918.  However, as noted in the Bridgewater (N.J.) Courier News, that same day, the "Brooklyn Giants" (perhaps mistakenly called the Dodgers?) apparently defeat Camp Dix, 13 to 9.  The question remains whether if on July 27, 1918, the Royal Giants defeat Camp Dix by a score of 8 to 2 or 13 to 9, and if, in fact, two distinct games were played.  In either event, right-hander Irvin Brooks is credited with the victory.

• BOXSCORE: Trenton Times Advisor (Trenton, N.J.), Sunday, July 28, 1918, via THE DONALDSON NETWORK; Brooklyn 8; Camp Dix 2.

"The Dix baseball team was handed a drubbing this afternoon on the local diamond by the Brooklyn Royal Giants.  The final score does not show how badly the soldiers were trimmed." - The Trenton Times Advisor (Trenton, N.J.), Sunday, July 28, 1918 / THE DONALDSON NETWORK

This game account is in question (?)

The Courier News (Bridgewater, New Jersey),

Tuesday, July 30, 1918

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Sunday, August 4, 1918, Hackensack, N.J. 

"ROYAL GIANTS AGAIN TRIM PROSPECT NINE"

"The Royal Giants repeated their victory of last week again defeating the Prospect Heights team in a loosely played game that failed to hold the spectators' interest.  The final count stood 8 to 3.  The Giants succeeded in annexing twice as many hits as the losers, and the slugging of Wilson, Smith and Stewart was the feature of the battle." - Trenton (N.J.) Evening Times, Sunday, Aug. 4, 1918 / THE DONALDSON NETWORK

The keywords here are "last week" and "again," which entails a previously played game.  Their first encounter most likely took place on Friday, July 26, on Brooklyn's way back to New Jersey from Pennsylvania, where two days prior, they battled Bethlehem.  If not, then, on, about, or after Monday, July 29, a day after playing Doherty's Silk Sox.

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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*
• 7/28 - Silk Sox Clout John Donaldson's Offerings; Brooklyn Royal Giants Fall at Doherty's Oval

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