Once Upon A Summer 8/4/1918: Brooklyn Royal Giants Forfeit Game to Glendale at Farmer's Oval

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

On Sunday, August 4, 1918, the Brooklyn Royal Giants forfeited their game against Glendale at Farmer's Oval in an odd if not unnecessary incident. 

The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY),

Monday, August 5, 1918

The matter centers around right fielder Johnny Pugh who, in the top of the eighth inning with a count of

no balls and two strikes, steps outside of the batter's box.  After a short delay, home plate umpire Wagner orders the participants to "play ball."  But a reticent Pugh refuses to comply.  After which, Farmer starter Chad See throws a pitch over the plate for strike three.  Pugh steps back into the batter's box in defiance of the umpire, citing his initial right to call for time.  But because he refuses to reenter the batter's box upon the order to resume play, and despite being afforded upwards of three minutes to return to the dugout, Pugh refuses to disperse promptly.  Thus, home plate umpire Wagner to the dismay of Pugh, follows through on his threat to declare the game a forfeit.

Fresh off a victory over the Prospect Heights nine at Hackensack, the Royal Giants bow quietly at Glendale.  Farmer starter Chad See allows just six hits (all singles) and seven walks in a complete-game shutout victory. 

With no outs and the bases loaded in the first inning, John Henry Lloyd, right fielder John Donaldson, and Johnny Pugh leave all runners stranded.  Brooklyn poses another threat in the seventh, but second baseman Joe Hewitt is thrown out at home while attempting to score on Pop Lloyd's base hit.

Giant starter Gifford McDonald puts forth a representative albeit losing effort, allowing two runs on six hits (only one for extra bases) and three walks.

With the Farmers victory, the season series between Glendale and Brooklyn is now tied at two.

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• ICYMI: On Saturday, August 3, 1918, the Brooklyn Royal Giants defeat the Prospect Heights club, 8 to 3.

 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
• 8/3 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Prospect Heights at Hackensack*

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