OTD Negro Independent Era 8/23/1899: The Cuban X Giants Defeat the Burlington, New Jersey, Local Nine

From the desk: GO TALK TO E.B. LAMAR

The Times (Philadelphia, PA), 

Thursday, August 24, 1899

On Wednesday, August 23, 1899, the Cuban X Giants, in a return trip to the outskirts of Philadelphia, defeat the Burlington, New Jersey, local nine.

CUBAN X GIANTS

In the early going, neither starting pitcher allows the opposition to gain a firm footing.  Cuban X Giant starter William Seldon is opposed by Woods for Burlington.  

A see-saw affair unfolds.  After a scoreless opening frame, the teams trade a run each in the second.  The X- Giants pull ahead with a run in the fourth.  Afterwhich, both sides this time trade two runs each in the sixth.  There's a lull in the seventh, but the action picks right back up in the eighth when Burlington pushes across the game-tying run.  

But with two runs in the home half, the Giants again retake a 6-4 lead.  The ninth inning repeats the previous frame as Burlington plates one, whereas the X-Giants plate two en route to an 8-5 final margin of victory.  

This marks the Cuban X Giants' second win against Burlington this season.

Daniels, the shortstop, leads Burlington with three hits, including a double and triple, center fielder Hoover wields two hits with a double, and third baseman Carfrey scores twice.  Woods allows eight runs on twelve hits (six for extra bases) and one walk with two strikeouts in the loss.  However, a misplay by Hooper, the center fielder, contributes greatly towards Burlington's loss.

The true brains behind the Cuban X Giants, catcher Clarence Williams, leads the team with four hits, two extra bases, and three runs scored.  Third baseman Andy Jackson accounted for two doubles, while first baseman Ray Wilson and left fielder Will Jackson wielded one each.  

Featuring future Hall of Famers up the middle, shortstop Sol White posts a hit and a run scored with four assists in the field, and second baseman Frank Grant likewise posts one hit with four fielding assists and nary a misplay by either.

William Seldon helps himself at the plate with three singles.  Seldon holds Burlington to five runs on the mound on eleven hits and two walks for the win. 

⚾

The Cuban X Giants are formed by and comprised of breakaway players from the Original Cuban Giants.  They operate under a cooperative agreement.  E.B. Lamar is merely their business agent hired by Clarence Williams and the players.  Lamar's brother suggested the team adopt X in order to better distinguish themselves from their ex-team.