On Sunday, September 8, 1935, a charity doubleheader is staged at Ebbets Field for the Crispus Attucks Community Council of Brooklyn. "The Council, named for a Negro patriot killed in the Boston Massacre of 1770, conducts relief work among Brooklyn's Negros."
The first game pits the New York Cubans, winners of the Negro National League's second half, against the 1934 champion Philadelphia Stars. The second game features the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Negro National League first-half winners, versus the Brooklyn Eagles. No less than ten future Hall of Famers, including the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, participate in the twin bill benefit.
"The Cubans-Philly game will be a grudge battle because it was the Cubans, second-half champions, who knocked the Stars out of a chance to defend their league title in a series the other weekend." - Times-Union.
GAME ONE - The Philadelphia Stars and New York Cubans duel to a two-all tie. Extra innings are not played to begin the second game on time.
Right-hander Webster McDonald starts for Philadelphia and is opposed by Johnny Taylor for New York. After five scoreless innings, Philly takes a 2-0 lead in the sixth. The Cubans knot the game in the eighth. Johnny Taylor yields just two hits and three walks with five strikeouts through seven innings pitched. In relief of Taylor, southpaw Neck Stanley allows one hit and one walk over the final two innings. Webster McDonald surrenders nine hits, two for extra bases, and three walks with six strikeouts.
Left fielder Chaney White, second baseman Obie Lackey, and center fielder Lloyd Davenport account for Philadelphia's three hits. Meanwhile, first baseman Jud Wilson and catcher Biz Mackey are held hitless in four at-bats apiece. Right fielder Ted Page and McDonald score for Philly.
New York left fielder Lázaro Salazar leads the Cubans with three hits, including a double. Center fielder Alejandro Oms also doubles. Playing third base, Martín Dihigo and right fielder Clyde Spearman each singled and scored.
GAME TWO - The Brooklyn Eagles open with a run in the third, but the Crawfords promptly answer with two in the fourth. Brooklyn ties the score in the bottom half of the fourth, then retakes the lead in fifth. But the Eagles would score no more. Pittsburgh left-hander Leroy Matlock holds the Eagles scoreless over the final four frames.
In the meantime, the Crawfords erupt for two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, and five more in the eighth. After holding Pittsburgh hitless over the first three innings, Brooklyn Eagle starter Leon Day is knocked out of the box, but not before yielding twelve runs on twelve hits and five walks with three strikeouts through 7.1 innings pitched. Right-hander Will Jackman fares no better, allowing four hits while failing to retire a batter. In relief of Jackman, Terris McDuffie limits the Crawfords to a single hit over the final 1.2 innings.
The Crawfords get credited with eight outfield putouts and fifteen infield putouts but only three infield assists and one by shortstop Chester Williams. The point here is the Brooklyn Eagles make solid contact, alas to no avail. First baseman George Giles and second baseman Harry Williams lead Brooklyn with two hits each. Williams and left fielder Fats Jenkins both hit for extra bases and scored. Catcher Tex Burnett accounts for Brooklyn's third run. But it's worth noting Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe was not a participant. Otherwise, Pittsburgh Crawford starter Leroy Matlock allows eight hits and no walks with three strikeouts for the win.
All nine Crawford batters hit safely. Chester Williams and Matlock lead the team with three hits each. Leadoff man Cool Papa Bell wields two hits and scored twice; catcher Josh Gibson goes 2 for 4 with two runs scored; first baseman Oscar Charleston singled and scored in four trips, and third baseman Judy Johnson and right fielder Jimmy Crutchfield each hit for extra bases.
The Negro National League championship games between the
Pittsburgh Crawford and the New York Cubans are forthcoming.
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